Root Pals
UX | UI | design research | branding
Root Pals is a safe and friendly Pen-Pal app exclusively for connecting to cultures. To find out more about your own or you might want to learn and explore!
Project Purpose
The purpose of this project was to help people stay grounded in their roots and create a community of people. Due to various factors, some might be afraid or ashamed to share their culture with others; However, Root Pals is a safe space for people to openly share this part of themselves with others.
Project Goal
Reconnecting people to their culture. Sharing it with others helps keep it alive; Whether through sharing recipes, celebrating traditions or holidays, or speaking the language.
Why is it important?
Our research shows that it is important for people to keep their heritage alive for various reasons: it helps them understand where they came from, create connections through shared experiences, and feel represented in undiversified spaces. People can honor their upbringing and ancestors when they stay connected to their culture.
What is Root Pals?
Root Pals is a digital pen pal system made for people to create connections and share their culture with each other.
Final Root Pals App
User Journey
The Root Pals App shows the user step-by-step how to create your profile, pick the perfect Pal, and finally write an E-letter! At the beginning of the app, the user is asked to fill out a questionnaire about who you are and what you’re looking for, in order for it to pick out the best possible matches.
Home page
The Home Page, presents users with a dynamic scroll of personalized notifications for the letters they've received. Additionally, it serves up a delightful array of monthly recipes, featuring popular dishes from around the globe. Complementing these features is a vibrant community page where users can personalize their experience by adding their own photos and engaging in a lively exchange of likes and comments with fellow members.
Questionnaire
Embarking on the journey of profile creation, the initial step involves the user responding to thoughtfully crafted questions. These queries delve into the languages they are proficient in, their fluency levels, and their areas of keen interest. This meticulous process ensures that the app adeptly generates profiles tailored to best match the user's preferences and aspirations.
Pick a Pal!
Culminating in the final stride towards discovering your ideal pen pal match, users are empowered to specify the type of individual they wish to encounter. Whether defining preferences or opting for a serendipitous selection, this step marks the key to unlocking a tailored and delightful pen pal connection.
Your pals!
Upon inputting all the information, the app reveals 16 potential connections. The user is given the privilege of selecting up to three pen pals from this curated assortment. Once the choices are made, the chosen pen pals appear on the Friends page.
Writing an E-letter
With this final step, users gain the freedom to select their desired recipient for a heartfelt letter. Navigating to the letter page, users can elevate their expression by customizing fonts, embellishing with stickers, and attaching files. With a simple click of the "send" button, they embark on the anticipation of establishing a meaningful root connection.
Next steps
With more time my partner and I could’ve loved to expand this project further by doing branding and packaging. We wanted to create scrapbooks, journals, and penpal letter kits.
What I learned
This endeavor provided me with the opportunity to delve extensively into the realm of UX/UI in app design, enabling me to adeptly navigate the intricacies of accessibility considerations. Additionally, it honed my skills in efficient and targeted research tailored to the specific requirements of this project.