Social Networks

2023

A nostalgic, game-driven social app for iOS and Android that connects friends through memory-based gameplay. QuickTalk combines interactive fun with branding inspired by family moments and childhood adventures.

Fostering real friendships

THE PROBLEM

Designing solutions for player engagement, onboarding, and branding. The alpha lacked an early hook and a clear, cohesive tone.

Developer
Mustafa Azak

Client
First Draft Ventures

Lead Designer
Sky Monaco

Product Owner
Joshua Nguyen

THE PROCESS

QuickTalk wanted to reconnect friends with a daily question game that tested how well they knew each other.

We reshaped the app by studying
the loneliness epidemic.

  • We analyzed societal trends on loneliness and declining friendships, referencing sources like The New York Times and Prof. Galloway. This research informed user goals: fostering meaningful connections, sparking conversations, and creating shared experiences.

  • Informed by our research, the core game loop is crafted for close friend groups like partners, college friends, and exes, aiming to foster deeper connections through meaningful shared experiences.

  • We turned our findings into design strategies by analyzing competitors, gathering user feedback, and emphasizing light emotional connections. This shaped features like conversation starters, simple gameplay, and user-tested interaction design.

  • We finalized a refreshed UI kit, ensuring consistency across all app elements. Inspired by retro, warm aesthetics, the branding established a cohesive identity. We delivered polished mockups, improved onboarding flows, and integrated retention features like streaks and push notifications, ready for development.

Tapped into HQ, Duolingo, and BeReal to craft engaging player loops for friends.

Chose a nostalgic childhood theme to evoke core memories and drive engagement.

PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS

  • Simplified onboarding by introducing gameplay first, delaying account setup.

  • Redesigned navigation with bottom tabs and clearer section names for intuitive use.

  • Created nostalgic visuals and ensured a consistent, engaging tone across the app.

  • Simplified friend invitations and added instant incentives to boost engagement.

THE SOLUTION

We turned insights into solutions, refining onboarding, enhancing gameplay, and crafting a distinct visual identity. Our redesign and engaging game loop fostered deeper connections and seamless interactions between friends.

Gamified onboarding and enhanced UX to make answering and guessing more engaging.

Added a daily CTA for friends to answer questions and deepen connections.

  • Onboarding Optimzied

    Simplified onboarding by prioritizing gameplay and reducing form fields.

  • Navigation Fixes

    Improved navigation with bottom tabs and descriptive section names.

  • Brand Design

    Crafted a nostalgic design with playful colors and consistent UI styles.

  • Core Gameplay

    Chatbot UX let players match answers to friends, with results revealed after each round.

THE IMPACT

We improved player retention and engagement with foundational UX improvements. QuickTalk resonated with players, bolstering its value as a platform for connections and shared experiences.

QuickTalk launched on the App Store, delighting close-knit groups with gameplay.

Rebranded with a new hook, we onboarded players with gameplay to learn about friends.

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

  • Enhance notification copy tone to boost retention and re-engagement.

  • Add personalized features like memory timelines for deeper connections.

  • Conduct further user testing to refine branding and gameplay.

  • The project scope excluded long-term data reporting for future updates.

Building friendships through play, we foster connections and lasting engagement in a fun, gamified way.