Pupspot-AR

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Executive Summary

IDXF — Idea Forge is a mobile platform designed to address fragmentation in the creative economy, where professionals waste over 10 hours a week across disconnected tools with no structured way to find collaborators. I led the end-to-end UX process from research through to a validated, developer-ready prototype, conducting user surveys, competitor analysis, and four live experiments with over 100 participants before committing to a single design direction. The core experience centres on AI-driven project matching, a gesture-based explore interface built around familiar interaction patterns, and a phygital NFC networking system that achieved a 98% success rate in testing. A rewards and contribution tracking system was introduced in response to direct user feedback, incentivising ongoing collaboration and community engagement. The final UI was delivered using Google's Material 3 components alongside a comprehensive design system, ensuring consistency and a clean handoff for Flutter development. Post-launch, the platform received over 42,000 social media impressions and 110 supporters, validating both the product direction and the design decisions made throughout the process.

Pupspot-AR

Design Challenge And Responsibilities Overview

Challenge

The creative economy is fragmented, leading to creative isolation, inefficiency, and a struggle to launch new ideas.

Opportunity

Create an "always-on" digital ecosystem that solves these problems by providing a flexible space for creatives to connect, collaborate, and co-create.

Timeline

9 Months

Disciplines

  • User Experience Design
  • User Interface Design

Responsibilities

  • UX Research
  • UX/UI Mobile Design
  • Prototyping
  • Content

Tools

  • Figma
  • Replit

Our Vision

To provide some background on our vision, we believe the creative economy is evolving into a truly collaborative ecosystem. Through our platform, we aim to facilitate a future where creatives can accomplish several key objectives. These include overcoming isolation and inefficiency, discovering new ideas and partners, managing projects from concept to completion, and cultivating genuine, team-based relationships within a single, integrated platform.

The Process

Initial Problem Discovery

The creative industry is a thriving $124 billion economy that is fragmented and isolating for many of its participants. While platforms like LinkedIn and Fiverr offer a space for visibility and transactional work, they often fail to foster the meaningful connections and long-term collaborations that are crucial for growth. This leaves a significant void for a true “third space” where creatives can connect, co-create, and thrive together.

This disconnect is a significant barrier to success. Research indicates that over 50% of freelancers struggle to find local work opportunities, and networking is often perceived as impersonal and transactional. Furthermore, a “pay-to-win” model on many platforms makes it difficult for emerging talent to gain visibility, leading to creative isolation and inefficiency.

Our objective is to design a solution that bridges this gap. The goal is to create an always-on digital ecosystem that not only provides tools for ideation and project management but also empowers creatives to build a supportive community. By blending digital convenience with the power of real-world human connection, we aim to turn daily creative challenges into collaborative opportunities.

So, the core problem is that the creative economy is fragmented and existing platforms are transactional, failing to provide a space for meaningful, long-term collaboration.

UI for Launch

Post Designs Outcome

Market Validation

  • Initial social media outreach garnered over 42,000 views and 110+ supporters, confirming strong demand.
  • The final exhibit was highly effective for user acquisition.
  • Testing with RCA students provided valuable early feedback.

Product Development

  • The platform's features, including AI matchmaking and NFC-enabled wearables, are validated by data-driven experiments.
  • The neobrutalistic design emphasises functionality over ornamentation.
  • The platform is built on four core sections: Explore, Search, Create, and Ideate.

My Key Takeaways

  • Traditional platforms underperform, validating the need for a dedicated creative matching system.
  • User tests showed a need for structured guidance during ideation, leading to the inclusion of planning tools.
  • A colour-coded wearable system boosted user confidence.

Next Steps

  • Further develop the app for real-time collaborations and mentorship.
  • Prototype the physical tag with enhanced NFC capabilities.
  • Conduct pilot tests in dedicated networking spaces to refine the user experience.