Buddi Networking App-- 2022
Role
Lead User Experience Researcher
Tools
Figma, Miro, Adobe Illustrator
Team
Amadeus Cameron
Guy Casseiri
Nina Otto
Celine Pyun
Duration
10 weeks
With the rise of remote and/or hybrid workplaces, new hires are having a hard time networking and/or building connections, and are feeling more isolated than ever before. Buddi is an app that helps connect new hires to their work culture and expand their network within the company. Get to know your coworkers over a spontaneous lunch!
As the lead researcher for Buddi, I helped push our team forward by using creative research methods to uncover valuable insights. I was also deeply involved in user testing, UI design, and brainstorming sessions. This project was a true team effort, and its success is due to the incredible talent and collaboration of the amazing people I had the privilege to work with.
The Context — How Work Changed
The COVID-19 pandemic flipped the way we work on its head, making remote and hybrid setups the new normal. People weren’t complaining—no more commutes, the freedom to roll out of bed and start the day, and, let’s be real, staying in pajamas way past noon.
Remote/Hybrid work is popular
So when companies started calling people back to the office, workers weren’t exactly thrilled. Remote work wasn’t just a nice perk anymore—it was a way of life.
"I Barely know my Co-workers"
While remote and hybrid work offered flexibility, it unintentionally created a significant problem: a sense of disconnection from workplace culture. Workers felt isolated and struggled to form genuine relationships with their colleagues. One hybrid worker shared:
The End of Casual Chats
The problem? Remote work took away the natural, spontaneous interactions of the office. Quick chats by the coffee machine or someone’s desk were replaced by scheduled meetings. As one worker put it, “It feels like every interaction needs an agenda now.”
Down the Research Rabbit Hole
To understand this issue, we researched workplace culture, interviewed 10+ employees across industries, and conducted 30+ surveys—gathering 200+ data points that revealed key insights on remote and hybrid work challenges.
What the Data Revealed:
Genuine Connections Are Fading
Remote/hybrid work environments don’t naturally foster genuine connections. Workers missed the casual, candid interactions that were a hallmark of in-office culture.
Every Conversation Feels Too Formal
The “schedule-ness” of interactions was a major pain point. People didn’t want every conversation to be planned and formalized.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
How might we help new hires connect with their work culture through spontaneous meetups with coworkers?
Rapid-Fire Crazy 8's Ideation
We spent a lot of time brainstorming, using techniques like Crazy 8’s to come up with ideas. There were so many late-night discussions, I lost count!
Goodbye Awkward Silences, Hello Buddi!
One idea finally stood out—Buddi! A networking app designed to spontaneously connect coworkers and bring back those casual, unplanned interactions.
Test 1: Raw spontaneity
We randomly approached people in our school cafeteria and asked if they’d like to meet someone new. After pairing them up, we noticed that while people were open to meeting, conversations quickly fizzled out when they had no common ground to start with.
Test 2: Curated connections
This time, we matched participants based on their interests, goals, and backgrounds. For example, a design major who loves gaming was paired with another gamer. Even with minimal details—just job/major, age, and interests (no photos)—the conversations were much more engaging! Some even exchanged emails.
Key Learnings From The Tests:
Openness to Connection
People are eager to meet new people and expand their social circles
Importance of Common Ground
Matching based on shared interests leads to stronger connections than random pairings
Identifying our User Flows
Once we verified that our idea worked, we started designing the user interface. We identified two main user flows needed in our app:
Sneak Peek of our UI Refinement
Once we nailed down the two main actions, we dove into designing and refining our user interface through extensive UI testing. Here's a peek at the evolution of our UI, from low-fidelity to high-fidelity.
Enhancing our Dashboard Page
At first, we thought a Venmo-style dashboard would keep users engaged and connected with their ‘Buddis’. But user testing showed it wasn’t useful. So, we shifted focus to more relevant content, like company events and local meetups, to help users connect in meaningful ways.
'HOME' BEFORE
'HOME' AFTER
Refining the Invite Confirmation Screen
Initially, we believed a confirmation screen for sending invites would provide positive feedback to users. However, user testing revealed that this screen offered no value. Instead, users preferred a summary of their choices, allowing them to double-check and edit their information if needed.
'SENDING INVITE' BEFORE
'SENDING INVITE' AFTER
Improving the Invite Screen Layout
Users disliked the location being at the bottom of the 'invite screen' because it was a crucial piece of information for spontaneous plans. To improve usability, we moved the location higher up for better visibility and faster scanning.
'INVITE' BEFORE
'INVITE' AFTER
My take-aways…
Teamwork Builds Confidence
Now, challenges don’t scare me—they excite me. With the right mindset and the right conversations, there’s always a way forward!
Collaboration is Magic
Late-night brainstorms and creative sessions turned a tough project into an exciting challenge. The right people make even the hardest problems feel doable!
Bring on the Tough Challenges!
Now, challenges don’t scare me—they excite me. With the right mindset and the right conversations, there’s always a way forward!
