Friendli – Google AI Hackathon
Friendli – Google AI Hackathon
AI-powered connection app
AI-Powered Connection App
Product design, UX/UI design, interaction design
Product design, UX/UI design, interaction design
Timeline: 2 weeks
Team: Nekruz Ashrapov (full-stack developer), Liang L. (full-stack developer), Mariia Konash (designer)
My role: Product, UX/UI, Research, Front-end
Timeline: 2 weeks
Team: Nekruz Ashrapov, Liang L. (developers)
My role: Product, UX/UI, Research, Front-end, wireframes
2 weeks
Nekruz Ashrapov, Liang L. (full-stack developers)
Product, UX/UI, Research, Front-end
How can we make a new technology accessible for senior users? With a focus on human-to-human communication, an intuitive interface, and straightforward user flows, Friendly's Gemini AI matching algorithm is designed to make new technology accessible for senior users.
How can we make a new technology accessible for senior users? With a focus on human-to-human communication, an intuitive interface, and straightforward user flows, Friendly's Gemini AI matching algorithm is designed to make new technology accessible for senior users.
Google AI Hachathon
Google AI Hachathon
"Build a creative app that uses Google’s Generative AI tools. Push the boundaries of what Gen AI apps can do with Gemini!" – that was the prompt given to us.
"Build a creative app that uses Google’s Generative AI tools. Push the boundaries of what Gen AI apps can do with Gemini!" – that was the prompt given to us.
Our solution
Our solution
Potential business profit ????
Potential business profit ????
Subscription model
Subscription model
Additional premium features like video calls, priority matching, or access to exclusive events could be offered for a monthly or annual subscription fee.
Additional premium features like video calls, priority matching, or access to exclusive events could be offered for a monthly or annual subscription fee.
Catered subscriptions to different needs and budgets with varying levels of premium features.
Catered subscriptions to different needs and budgets with varying levels of premium features.
Advertising revenue
Advertising revenue
Potential to partner with relevant businesses like senior care facilities, healthcare providers, or pharmaceutical companies to display targeted ads within the product.
Potential to partner with relevant businesses like senior care facilities, healthcare providers, or pharmaceutical companies to display targeted ads within the product.
Product validation ????
Product validation ????
National Poll on Healthy Aging (2023)
National Poll on Healthy Aging (2023)
34% of adults aged 50-80 reported feeling isolated in the past year.
34% of adults aged 50-80 reported feeling isolated in the past year.
MedicareFAQ (2024)
MedicareFAQ (2024)
57% of seniors reported feeling lonely, including over half of married seniors (53%).
57% of seniors reported feeling lonely, including over half of married seniors (53%).
Defining product direction
Defining product direction
Hierarchy
Hierarchy
Directing the eyes to the most crucial elements on the page.
Directing the eyes to the most crucial elements on the page.
Simplisity
Simplisity
Reducing all non essential elements to eliminate confusion.
Reducing all non essential elements to eliminate confusion.
Accessibility
Accessibility
Maintaining a focus on accessibility to minimize confusion.
Maintaining a focus on accessibility to minimize confusion.
User satisfaction
User satisfaction
Meeting the user's expectations with a sense of accomplishment.
Meeting the user's expectations with a sense of accomplishment.
Delving into design decisions 1/2
Delving into design decisions 1/2
Full user profile preview
Full user profile preview
- Felt too visually busy.
- Doesn't show why this profile was selected as a good match.
- Easy to miss the "Next" button.
Felt too visually busy.
Doesn't show why this profile was selected as a good match.
Easy to miss the "Next" button.
Full user profile preview with statistics
Full user profile preview with statistics
- May feel too complicated for senior users.
- Doesn't show full profile right away.
- Some data may be unnecessary to display.
May feel too complicated for senior users.
Doesn't show full profile right away.
Some data may be unnecessary to display.
Full user profile preview with statistics (condensed)
Full user profile preview with statistics (condensed)
- May feel too simplified.
- Less context.
May feel too simplified.
Less context.
Delving into design decisions 2/2
Delving into design decisions 2/2
Check boxes
Check boxes
- Doesn't support all account requirements such as profile picture and description text.
- Users are limited to available options.
Doesn't support all account requirements such as profile picture and description text.
Users are limited to available options.
Complete account set up while signing up
Complete account set up while signing up
- May feel too complicated.
- No skipping option.
May feel too complicated.
No skipping option.
A/B testing key insights
A/B testing key insights
Stuck when needing help
Stuck when needing help
Older users were frustrated when they couldn't find next steps.
Older users were frustrated when they couldn't find next steps.
Doesn't feel human
Doesn't feel human
Older users felt disconnected from suggested accounts when AI was strongly emphasized in the selection process (I found this comment extremely interesting).
Older users felt disconnected from suggested accounts when AI was strongly emphasized in the selection process (I found this comment extremely interesting).
Lack of clear explanation
Lack of clear explanation
Some senior users were unsure about the need to answer certain questions.
Some senior users were unsure about the need to answer certain questions.
Success metrics
Success metrics
Accessibility
Accessibility
Large default font sizes
High contrast
Minimal visual noise
Large default font sizes
High contrast
Minimal visual noise
Functionality
Functionality
Companion search
Minimal clicks
Encourages interaction
Companion search
Minimal clicks
Encourages interaction
User oriented
User oriented
User needs come first
Made for people
Feels human
User needs come first
Made for people
Feels human
If I had more time…
If I had more time…
In the time frame of the hackathon, I focused on the signup process and account browsing. If I had more time, I would also work on chat boxes, video calls, and communication methods.
In the time frame of the hackathon, I focused on the signup process and account browsing. If I had more time, I would also work on chat boxes, video calls, and communication methods.
Learnings
Learnings
Team work
Team work
I learned a lot about being part of a team with developers, especially since I was the only designer. I got better at sharing my design ideas in a way that made sense to them. Plus, I feel like I understand developers better now.
I learned a lot about being part of a team with developers, especially since I was the only designer. I got better at sharing my design ideas in a way that made sense to them. Plus, I feel like I understand developers better now.
Unbiased thinking
Unbiased thinking
I learned not to be biased when assuming user needs. I had to completely rethink my design approach after researching my users.
I learned not to be biased when assuming user needs. I had to completely rethink my design approach after researching my users.
Other projects
Mariia Konash 2024
Created with Figma, Framer and Caffeine
Mariia Konash 2024
Created with Figma, Framer and Caffeine
