QFeed is inspired by the popular U.S. app, GAS, which allows teenagers to connect anonymously through polls and questions. Recognizing cultural differences, QFeed adapts the GAS concept to better suit Korean teens' social behaviors, particularly their tendency to form friendships outside of school.
Problem Statement
Existing anonymous social apps like HYPE restrict interactions to classmates, overlooking significant friendships that Korean teens form in after-school groups, such as academies or church. Additionally, the hint system fails to account for the limitations of Korean language initials, making it ineffective in generating meaningful interactions.
User Research Approach
From June 7 to June 14, 2023, I conducted interviews with 5 users, including 3 HYPE app users and 2 Instagram/Facebook users. The interviews explored their experiences with anonymous SNS apps, daily routines, and the groups where they felt the strongest sense of belonging.
Key Insights
Out-of-School Socialization
Many Korean teens reported closer friendships with peers from after-school academies than with classmates.
Language Limitation
The current hint system in HYPE, which uses Korean initials, made it challenging for users to identify who voted for them, as many Korean names share similar initials.
Hesitation in Direct Messaging
Teens expressed difficulty initiating conversations on Instagram, especially with people they’re interested in, making it hard to connect in a meaningful way.
Key Features & Localization Strategy
To address these user insights, I designed QFeed with features tailored to Korean teens' social landscape.
Expanded Social Circles
QFeed allows users to connect not only with classmates but also with friends from academies, church groups, and other after-school activities, aligning with how Korean teens socialize.
Refined Hint System
QFeed introduces a more contextualized hint feature that addresses the ambiguity caused by similar initials in Korean names, making it easier for users to engage without confusion.
Flexible Polling Options
Users can create and respond to polls that feel relevant to their interests and friendships, keeping interactions dynamic and engaging.
Official Q : Questions provided by Q-FEED | 1 set of 10 questions | Recharged every 3 hours
Personal Q : Questions created by the user | 2 questions provided initially | 2 more recharged every 24 hours
User Flow
The structure is designed to guide users through various fortune categories seamlessly:
Choose a Fortune Type
Users select a fortune category, such as love or career.
Draw Three Cards
Users explore their past, present, and future fortunes within the selected category.
Interact and Discover
By clicking on a card, users enter a 3D space filled with symbols, allowing for a deep, interactive fortune-telling experience.
Wireframes
I created low-fidelity wireframes to iterate on key screens, including the feed, poll creation, and hint system. These wireframes helped define the overall user journey and establish layout priorities.
Design System
To ensure consistency, I developed a design system with a primary color palette, typography, and iconography specifically chosen to appeal to a teenage audience.
QFEED combines "Question" and "Feed" to represent the basis of anonymous communication, while also phonetically pronounced as "큐피드 (Cupid)" in Korean, symbolizing a mediator for conveying the emotions of teenagers.
Final Screens
The completed UI design of QFeed offers a clean, modern interface that emphasizes anonymity while making social interactions intuitive and enjoyable for teens. Key screens include:
Feed Page
where users can view polls and respond anonymously.
Poll Creation Page
where users can create and share polls with friends from various social groups.
Messaging and Hint Pages
allowing users to connect in a way that feels safe and private.
Official Q
Choose friends related to various questions
If the desired friend isn’t on the list, search directly
Scroll through and answer questions on the Personal Q feed posted by friends
First Place Indicator
After selecting an answer, you can see which response received the most votes
Question
Anonymously vote on questions without revealing who you are
Results
Server Instability
The unexpected influx of users led to server issues, underscoring the importance of scalable infrastructure.
Resource Limitations
Managing QFeed alongside full-time work became challenging, ultimately leading to the project’s closure.
Recognition
QFeed was showcased at the NE(O)RDINARY (2023 Korea Side Project Fair), where it won the popularity award in the app category, highlighting the strong interest and positive reception from the local community
Reflection
This project highlighted the importance of cultural adaptation, scalability, and proactive planning. Despite its end, QFeed served as a valuable learning experience in addressing user-specific needs and designing with cultural relevance in mind.
