Social Ring
A wearable ring paired with a mobile app, designed to melt the Seattle Freeze by sparking real-world connections. With an adventure theme at its core, it helps users break the ice, dive into meaningful conversations, and create genuine connections—all while exploring exciting new experiences in the real world.
Skills
Tools
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User Research
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User Journey Map
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Wireframing
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Prototyping
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Interaction Design
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UI/UX Design
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Usability Testing
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Video Prototyping
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Customer Experience Design
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Cross Function Collaboration
Background
When I first arrived in Seattle, I quickly realized something—making friends here wasn’t easy. People seemed a bit distant, which I later learned is called the Seattle Freeze. It wasn’t just me; during a design course, my teammates and I realized we all faced similar struggles. That sparked the idea for Social Ring, designed to turn socializing into an adventure and make forming connections easier.
This project integrates multiple delivery mechanisms: an interactive product that enhances user experience by optimizing how users interact with the ring and app, a carefully crafted customer experience that guides individuals from initial engagement to meaningful connections, and an information experience that creates a sense of discovery through thoughtful, engaging language.
Type
Mobile Design & UX/UI Design
Role
Research & UX/UI Designer
Lead Video Produce
Timeline
Apr. - Jun. 2023
Research
Define Research Goal
How can people in Seattle form meaningful connections and develop the skills to improve socialization and break the 'Seattle Freeze'?
Primary Research
We interviewed 4 Seattle residents, both long-time locals and newcomers, to learn about their social habits and experiences. They all shared that they had encountered the 'Seattle Freeze' phenomenon at some point.
Secondary Research
After further research online, we found that Seattle residents value their personal space and tend to keep to themselves. This can sometimes give off a distant or unwelcoming vibe, leading to more superficial interactions when socializing in the city.
Research Findings
Surface-level Connection
Users experienced mainly surface-level connections and desired more organic and genuine relationships.
Invisible Barriers
Users could still feel a gap to initiate a conversation with others.
Lack of social skills
Remote work has been a big contributor in effective social skills
Cold Sholder
Experienced multiple negative effects from cold shoulders, effecting the social outlook
Comfort Zone
Experienced the need to try their first step to go out and meet people.
The opportunities
We start by looking at negative dating experiences to map out various types of relationships related to the Seattle Freeze, patterns, and possible feedback loops that could be tackled.
Define
Meet Sam & Alexis
Sam and Alexis emerged from background research and user interviews.
Sam Blue, an introvert struggling to make friends after moving to a new place, served as the primary persona throughout the project to keep user needs central to the design.
Alexis, an extrovert who tends to overshare, provided a contrasting perspective, helping balance the design for different social behaviors.
Pain Points:
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Having limited social skills as a result of the pandemic and remote work.
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Having challenges to know how to initiate conversations.
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Establish surface-level connections with others due to the "Seattle Freeze".
Needs:
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Take a step out of the comfort zone to meet people
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Forge organic and genuine connections
Design
i. Brainstorming
Three brainstorming sessions were conducted to explore ideas, evaluate problems, and identify opportunities within the problem space. The focus was on encouraging creative thinking, then narrowing down ideas to find the best solution. This process ensured a well-rounded approach to addressing challenges in the redesign.
Round 1: Idea Generation
25 ideas were generated and categorized into groups:
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Mobile app
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Community
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Social Media
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Gaming
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New Product
Round 2: Narrowing down
Each team member contributed two ideas per category, resulting in 10 promising short story concepts. This collaborative effort helped generate a strong foundation for exploring creative solutions in the redesign.
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Party bus app
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Lifestyle matcher
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Hobby based app
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Speed dating app
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Virtual world
6. LinkedIn socialization service
7. Social ring
8. Coding connection game
9. Date planning notification service
10. Dating profile building service
Round 3: Storytelling
The session focused on narrowing the ideas down to the top 5, with a full story created for each. A SWOT analysis was then conducted to evaluate and identify the strongest solution for implementation.
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Lifestyle matcher
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Video speed dating
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Hobby based app
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Party bus 4u
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Social ring
ii. Product Overview
The device is a custom-sized wearable with an integrated color-changing LED display, connected to a mobile app designed to encourage users to form meaningful, organic in-person connections. Users can create a personal account, input their interests, and highlight topics they feel confident discussing with others, making interactions more comfortable and authentic.
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The Social Ring vibrates gently when in proximity to another user with similar interests, as indicated by the information inputted in the app. This subtle alert encourages users to connect with nearby individuals who share common interests.
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As the users approach each other, the LED display changes color, signaling a match. The color-coded system helps users identify who they can connect with, sparking organic conversations around shared interests.
A simple fist bump between rings reveals the common interests on the LED display, providing an easy and natural way to kickstart a conversation.
iii. Shaping the experience
Customer Journey Map
A customer journey map was created to explore key touchpoints in the user experience with the Social Ring, focusing on the primary persona, Sam. The map illustrates Sam’s journey as she breaks through the Seattle Freeze using the Social Ring, highlighting her responses, interactions with the ring, and her ability to form meaningful connections by the end. This helps identify opportunities for enhancing the user experience.
iv. Market Analysis
Business Lean Canva
A lean canvas was developed to outline the business plan and model, focusing on differentiating the product in a competitive market.
New Findings:
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Unique Value Proposition:
Emphasize promoting in-person and physical interactions, encouraging meaningful connections with others, rather than relying on digital communication. -
Customer Segments & Early Adopters:
Identify the target groups and early adopters who will integrate and benefit most from the product.
Competitor Analysis
Smart bracelet that sends LED light signal and vibration to the user's partner to remain connections
Records user's heartbeat through the locket interface. Double touch the interface to feel user's partner's heartbeat
Smart ring that detects user's sleep and physical activity
Popular dating app-based services
v. Prototyping
Preparing
As the UX researcher, prototyping protocols were created to run sessions with volunteer user groups to validate the product concept and interface. Eight participants were selected based on the following protocol:
Volunteers completed a questionnaire on social difficulties, openness to new experiences, and ranked interests from a simplified list. Participants were manually matched and scheduled for onboarding.
Step 1
Onboarding sessions, led by Team Houston, introduced the Social Ring product and features. Participants were then tasked with finding another user in a busy library and discussing shared interests.
Step 2
Afterward, users provided feedback on their experience, highlighting improvements and enjoyable elements. The app's UI was also shown, and the collected data helped refine the product and UX design.
Step 3
To simulate the ring's functionalities, we used LED lights with battery powered and remote controlled to mimic how the ring would change lights and costume phone vibration settings to mimic the vibration of the ring.
The ring will glow into a green light when users fist-bump. Observer will then audibly relay the matching interests between users.
The ring will shine a blue light that increase/decrease brightness with proximity
Vibrate settings, grow stronger/weaker depend on proximity
Location: Odegaard Library
Prototypings
To gain hands-on experience with how the product would work, an experience prototype was created to test the Social Ring concept. Three methods were developed to simulate the ring’s functionality.
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2 Shadows + Light Control + Verbal Cues
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2 Shadows + 1 Overwatcher
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2 Shadows + 1 Overwatcher + 1 Searcher
The Ring Experience
Prototype Iteration 1
We had two team members as participants' shadows to give our users verbal instruction on proximity and shared interest prompts when they approached each other. The shadows would activate the LED lights in the two observees' hands when they were about 20 feet apart and increase the intensity of the light as the user approached each other.
Result
Our participants failed to appropriately use our light effects as cues on time, and we couldn't incorporate vibration effects.
2 Shadows + Light Control + Verbal Cues
Prototype Iteration 2
To test out integrating the vibration functionality of the ring. We have a hidden overwatcher in the crowd to facilitate over earbuds to guide participants with vibration intensity, with the phones we provided, and prompt them with their shared interest after they found each other. Our shadows continued to follow them for observation and conduct light activation.
Result
Since the participants could accurately follow the instructions that was given by our overwatcher, the iteration went well. They were both able to notice the change in light colors but we still find it too easy for them to locate each other. We are looking for a more challenging process.
2 Shadows + 1 Overwatcher
Prototype Iteration 3
We wanted to test how users might need to hunt down their ring match in a public space. We utilized the settings from the last iteration and modified it. One participant was requested to take a dit and remain semi-hidden and stationary while the other participant came to look for them as a searcher.
Result
It was challenging for the searcher to locate the other participant for this time. They were able to follow the overwatcher's cues correctly and pay attention to the light color, for a longer time.
2 Shadows + 1 Overwatcher + 1 Searcher
User Feedback
3 experience prototype simulations + 5 user interviews
Quotes from interviews:
"The ring experience felt similar to a video game, like I was having an adventure."
"It would be nice to connect with more interests instead of just one."
"The combination of the light and vibration helped with finding other people."
"It would be better to have a feature to keep track of who you connect with, maybe it can be in the app?"
We conducted 5 interviews with our prototype participants to get some feedback about their like/dislike of their overall experience and challenges they faced while using the Social Ring. Most participants felt like having an adventure when using the Social Ring. The combination of light and vibration work well to keep them to notify them when there was a match somewhere nearby. They liked the idea of being able to fist bump with their match since it gave them a sense of interactivity.
During the prototyping, we limited to some specific interests such as music and gaming. Participants reflected that they would like to have more options such as the types of music (jazz, pop, etc.) to help them forge a better connection. The participants would also like to have something to keep their fist bump records to make it memorabilia, which we included on our final app prototype's history page.
Deliver
Product Website
We created a product description and promotion website for Social Ring. The website features an introduction section that highlights the product's purpose and benefits, along with detailed information on how Social Ring works.
Customer reviews were provided to highlight the positive experiences of our users. Guiding the potential customers to follow the flow of the webpage and download the app to make the next move, purchase the Social Ring
Wireframes - Mobile app
1. Account set up & order the Ring
2. Connect the ring with app
3. How it works
4. Interests setting
5. History matches
App Prototype Iteration
Before
After the ring experience, we presented a broad category list of interests with wellness-inspired green tones to match with other ring wearers.
Result
Participants felt the information from the list was overwhelming and the conversations felt short and stunted.
After
Feedback led to several changes. Instead of displaying all categories, users now select from pre-generated AI interests or search broad topics for niche suggestions.
Additionally, the color scheme was updated to warm tones of yellow and orange, promoting a sense of connection and togetherness.
Themed Experience
All user testing feedback was collected and used to refine the solutions, finalizing the Social Ring design into a high-fidelity prototype. The design now includes added UI interactions and a consistent theme throughout the entire user experience.
An 'Adventure' theme was chosen to align with the Social Ring's goal of promoting exploration and encouraging users to embrace new connections.
Phrases like "Let your Journey Begin," "Destiny," and "Explore the Unknown" were incorporated to evoke a sense of discovery and stepping into uncharted conversations.
This theme is also reflected in the timeline, designed like a treasure map. The final color scheme—featuring shades of orange, yellow, and gold—enhances the adventurous atmosphere, inspiring users to embark on their own journey of forming new connections.
Video prototyping
After finalizing the product prototype and themed experience, scenario design, shot lists, and storyboards were created for the video prototype. An interview style inspired by The Office was incorporated to form a direct connection with the audience, sharing user experience stories in a more relatable and approachable way.
Review
Project Takeaways
The primary challenge in creating the Social Ring was addressing the difficulty of breaking the ice in the "Seattle Freeze." While user testing showed that people enjoyed the goal and experience of the ring, more introverted users still felt nervous or hesitant. This is an area that could be further refined in future iterations to better cater to all personality types.
What's next?
Our users feel that adding more colors during the searching process would help, such as colors to indicate people you match interests with, or levels of proximity (aside from the brightness of the light).
Another consideration is developing a separate functionality for users seeking romantic connections through the ring. Exploring how to program the ring to seamlessly switch between intentions—whether for friendship or romance—could provide added versatility and appeal to a broader audience.
One of our users really enjoyed how they were audibly told their interest during our experience prototype simulation. Even though that was to simulate what the ring would display, for accessibility purposes, it would be reasonable to consider an auditory feature in the ring as well.
Feedbacks about the final product
"I really like the history capture feature. Giving people a chance to recall with whom they connected. I am wondering what else could be built out of that feature."
Prof. Wobbrock, University of Washington
"Very cool to have a physical indicator, not just a phone notification"
an anonymous user
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