SparkMate reimagines the university experience by addressing the challenges of social isolation and fostering meaningful connections. Through a hybrid app and smart bracelet, students can discover events, join groups, and track social milestones. By blending digital convenience with real-world interactions, SparkMate creates a supportive platform where students can build confidence, form friendships, and make the most of their university journey.

As University Students, our team all shared the same experience: the transition to university life often leaves students like us feeling isolated and disconnected, as they struggle to build new social connections while being distanced from their existing support networks.

While many existing initiatives (Social networking apps, University Societies, etc.) aim to address student loneliness, we raised the question of why they often fail to effectively foster meaningful connections or provide tailored support for diverse needs.

After identifying this problem area, we conducted background research and competitor analysis to better understand the gaps and opportunities for creating a more impactful solution.

Existing platforms addressing student loneliness often fall short in key areas. While digital tools like Social Networking apps are accessible, they tend to foster shallow connections, and in-person activities, though engaging, lack flexibility. Many solutions also fail to sustain long-term engagement or combine online and offline elements effectively.

Two user personas were created to represent the diverse concerns and circumstances of potential users, reflecting different cultural backgrounds and needs.

The first persona highlights a first-year international student struggling with language barriers and cultural adjustment, seeking a supportive community to ease their transition.

The second persona represents a local student balancing academics and social life, looking for meaningful connections and flexible ways to engage with peers. Together, these personas capture the varied challenges students face and guide the development of inclusive, adaptable solutions.

As a result, we have developed the following problem statement:

After identifying the problem statement, our Design Goal was to create a solution that fosters meaningful connections for students by offering a mix of activity-based and social options tailored to different comfort levels, with interest-based recommendations and group features to ease social anxiety, while encouraging long-term friendships through regular follow-ups.

After further discussion and multiple ideation methods, our group developed the initial concept of a friend-connecting app integrated with a smart bracelet. Below are some of the sketches showcasing our early ideas for the features:

In this phase, we refined SparkMate to address key usability issues identified during testing. By improving feature terminology, enhancing navigation cues, and simplifying event registration, we aimed to create a more intuitive and user-friendly experience. The result is a polished design that aligns with user expectations and reduces cognitive load, proven by a higher SUS score through Usability Testing.

High-Fidelity Iteration: App Interface
‍This phase focused on refining SparkMate to resolve usability challenges uncovered during testing. We clarified feature terminology, such as renaming “Club Recommendations” to “Recommended Societies,” introduced a progress bar for better navigation on the achievement screen, and streamlined event registration with clear options like “Register as a group” and “Register as an individual.” These enhancements, supported by usability testing and improved SUS scores, resulted in a more intuitive and polished user experience.

High-Fidelity Iteration: Bracelet Design
‍We kept the existing bracelet design due to time constraints, as user testing and System Usability Scale (SUS) scores confirmed users understood its functionalities well. While feedback noted aesthetic concerns, such as the screen’s appearance when turned off, we plan to explore different material colors in future iterations.

Developing SparkMate was both challenging and rewarding. I enjoyed every part of the process, from ideation to prototyping, despite the difficulties of juggling multiple tasks. Teamwork was essential, as we supported each other through communication gaps and technical hurdles, proving that effective work arrangements are key to success. I’m incredibly proud that our Capstone project was shortlisted for the ADP University of Sydney Industry Award, a testament to our hard work and dedication. While there’s always room for improvement, the final outcome reflects our commitment to creating meaningful and impactful designs.