meet...
SPENCER
ANGELINA
A lifelong sports enthusiast, excited to continue their passion for tennis and volleyball while studying abroad. With their sports gear packed, Spencer is eager to find similar activities in Vancouver that bring the same energy and community they enjoyed back home.
ALEX
a local university student looking for an opportunity to pursue new hobbies, interests and possibly expand their social circle. Alex does not know much about how to get started in a program in their area and hoping to explore what the local city has to offer beyond their usual routine.
feels socially isolated and overwhelmed by the transition to a new culture and city. Making friends at school has proven difficult, as it seems everyone else has already formed their own social circles. She’s looking for ways to connect with others and build new friendships.
INTERNATIONAL
INTEREST & HOBBIES
INTERNATIONAL
DISCOVER ACTIVITES
DOMESTIC
DISCOVER ACTIVITES
who are vea’s users
Spencer enjoys playing volleyball back in his home country
“I love volleyball, I hope I can still continue playing when I move!”
“I hope people play volleyball in Canada, I’ll bring my ball just in case. I wonder where I can find information on joining volleyball leagues.”
“Signing up for this app is fun! It’s asking me all sorts of questions about my hobbies!”
“This is perfect! I can’t wait to attend future events!”
When packing for his studies abroad, he makes sure to bring his volleyball to play abroad
When packing for his studies abroad, he makes sure to bring his volleyball to play abroad
Unsure of local volleyball leagues, he stumbles upon the event sharing app and creates a profile
Based on his profile, AI matches Spencer with local drop ins and leagues
STORYBOARD - SPENCER
Angelina just landed in Vancouver, BC ready to start her studies
“Wow I can’t wait to start school and meet new people!”
“It’s hard to meet people in my classes, it feels lonely at times.”
“Wow! this app is generating a bunch of event options to attend!”
“Today I met my first friend and picked up a new hobby!”
When packing for his studies abroad, he makes sure to bring his volleyball to play abroad
During her first semester, she feels isolated and misses home due to lack of social interaction with her peers
After discovering the social interaction app she creates a profile with hobbies and interests.
After looking at her recommendations, she attends a local event and meets new friends!
STORYBOARD - ANGELINA
Alex is walking to her class when she notices a poster promoting a new social app
“This app sounds interesting, I’ll scan the QR code to sign up. I’ve been wanting to try new activities.”
“I’m worried my current schedule won’t align with any times. I don’t want to commit to anything long term.”
“This is great! There’s so many activities I’ve wanted to pick up but never found the time or place. ”
“I love this new and exciting routine! I’ll try out some new activities next week with friends! ”
When packing for his studies abroad, he makes sure to bring his volleyball to play abroad
Upon signing up she notices she can add her class schedule and availability
Her personalized events lists has so many recommendations that work with her schedule
By organizing her entire schedule, Alex has control over her own schedule to balance school/social life
STORYBOARD - ALEX
loading screen
events
homepage
profile
calendar
event recommendations
manual search for events
sync
calendar
make
an account
make an account
make an account
make an account
edit profile preferences
event
information
event
information
filter view of
calendar screen
select event & add to calendar
select event & add to calendar
onboarding tutorial
user flow
design issues identified from Playtesting & Interviews
Through our user testing, we identified common feedback and behaviors based on our observations and user insights.
Build Credibility of the events provided
Streamline Navigation
Content and Visual Presentation
Consistency across pages
Prioritize Inclusivity and Accessibility
Why are these issues
Simplify and clarify navigation icons to make them more intuitive, as unclear icons can hinder users from easily finding features or completing tasks, leading to frustration. Reduce the learning curve and minimize the effort required to understand how interactions work or where actions lead. facilitate easy recognition and memory recall, guiding intuitively from point A to B in their journey to find activities that interest them
Failing to address inclusivity and accessibility leads to an unintentional exclusion of diverse user groups, which limits our apps reach and usability for international students in the lower mainland.
more options in personalization of user avatars
checking the designs in various modes + greyscale
provide language options
adjustments in text size and contrast of elements
Information overload makes it challenging to focus on essential details, particularly for international students already navigating unfamiliar environments, languages, and lifestyles. The content should aim to simplify this experience, rather than adding another layer of complexity during searches. Having strong visual hierarchy is crucial to guide users’ attention, making information easier to process, retain, and act upon.
Inconsistent design styles and the use of redundant information can lead to confusion and fails to meet user expectations. When buttons are placed close together, it's important to differentiate elements by using distinct colors for different actions— for example, the list of interests should not share the same color as the "Next" button, as this can cause ambiguity in their functions. Improved organization and flow across pages, in visual design and content presentation.
Without features like reviews or indicators, users struggle to trust the events, as distinguishing legitimate ones from scams becomes challenging. This lack of trust can undermine confidence in the platform and discourage user engagement. As an app designed to highlight tailored events and provide seamless navigation to match user interests, it’s essential to establish ways to build credibility and ensure users feel confident in the authenticity of the events provided
navigation improvements
accessibility & inclusivity
content optimization
consistency across pages
trust & credibility
Team Labubu
Maria Bitoon | 301460543
Sabrina Chang | 301421443
Angela Lu | 3014427712
Download VEA now and start planning your next adventure!
VEA