HalfHalf

01 welcome page
02 profile: add your name
03 Join with a group
04 Set up your meetup requirement
05 Map with matching recommendations
06 Calendar with you meetup plans
07 Group chat

Inspiration

The idea for HalfHalf came from a problem I faced during college group projects. When we wanted to meet off campus, everyone had a different starting point and schedule. My friends and I also often wondered where to go that would be convenient for the whole group.

We would check routes separately and go back and forth in chat. Sometimes, the place we chose was easy for one person to reach but meant a much longer trip for everyone else. I wanted to make it easier to find a meetup spot that feels fair to the group.

What it does

HalfHalf is a meetup-planning platform for people starting from different locations. Each person enters where they are coming from, and HalfHalf calculates and compares their estimated distances to potential meetup spots. It helps the group find a place that is convenient for everyone, so no one has to do all the route-checking or travel much farther than the others.

How we built it

HalfHalf is a meetup-planning platform for people starting from different locations. Each person enters where they are coming from, and HalfHalf calculates and compares their estimated distances to potential meetup spots. It helps the group find a place that is convenient for everyone, so no one has to do all the route-checking or travel much farther than the others.

Challenges we ran into

One major challenge was translating my visual ideas into a clear, consistent interface. I had to revise my prompts and design choices several times before the website began to reflect the experience I envisioned.

I also underestimated the complexity of building a map-based platform. Finding potential meetup spots is only one part of the problem; connecting a map to accurate business listings and route information requires additional data and services. I had to narrow the prototype’s scope and focus on demonstrating the core idea.

Finally, I encountered bugs that appeared after reloading the site. I tested the experience repeatedly, adjusted the setup, and refined my prompts to identify and resolve issues. These challenges taught me to approach building as an iterative process: test, learn, and improve one step at a time.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I’m proud that HalfHalf is built around a clear principle: a good meetup spot should take everyone’s journey into account. I carried the project through independently, shaping its direction and refining its design into a finished prototype. I’m also proud that the project has a distinct, welcoming visual style that makes its purpose easy to understand: helping groups decide where to meet together.

What we learned

I learned that creating a complete, well-rounded website involves much more than making its main feature work. The design, user flow, data, and technical reliability all need to come together to create a smooth experience. With HalfHalf, I also saw how a seemingly simple map feature can depend on complex place and route information. The process taught me to balance what I wanted to build with what I could make work well, and to improve the project through careful iteration.

What's next for HalfHalf

Next, I’d like to connect HalfHalf to live place and route data, so groups can compare realistic travel distances or times to potential meetup spots. I’d also like to let users share options with friends, vote on a place, and contribute local updates. These improvements would help HalfHalf move from a prototype toward a tool people can use to plan real meetups.