Community Connect

Inspiration

We were inspired to build Community Connect after seeing older adults in our own families and communities slowly become more isolated. Technology keeps getting more advanced which can make it hard for older adults to keep up. Many of them want community and new friendships but the interfaces they encounter are confusing, crowded, and not designed for them. On top of that we saw that when older adults did try to make new connections online, they were often targeted by scams, fake accounts, or bots. After experiencing that once, many of them stopped trying to reach out online entirely because they no longer felt safe or confident. That is why we wanted to build something that gives them back trust. The main idea behind Community Connect is authentication. We worked on a way to confirm real profiles and add safety checks so that older adults can feel like they are communicating with real people. Our goal is to create meaningful connection that feels as trustworthy as an in person community interaction.

What it does

Community Connect is an app that helps older adults safely build real friendships and join local activities. It keeps the interface very simple to use. Users can create a profile, list their interests, find nearby community events, join interest based discussion groups, and connect with other verified real people. The app uses authentication and identity verification so that older adults are protected from scams and fake accounts. The goal is to make social connection online feel trustworthy, easy to understand, and similar to the comfort of in person community.

How we built it

We built Community Connect by first identifying our main problem and defining our target demographic, which required researching the specific needs and limitations of older adults. From there we brainstormed features that would reduce cognitive overload and promote ease of use such as large buttons, minimal screens, and clear navigation flows. We then used Figma to design our prototype, creating wireframes and high fidelity screens using tools like auto layout, components, and variant sets. Throughout the process we used prompting strategies with AI tools to help improve our UI ideas and test different layouts. We also considered a simple mathematical approach for interest matching so that friend recommendations would be based on shared interests rather than randomness. By combining user research, accessible interface design, and basic recommendation logic we were able to create a concept that feels simple, safe, and realistic for older adults to use.

Challenges we ran into

Understanding how to design for users who do not adapt quickly to new technology
Removing complexity without oversimplifying the product
Making the UI clean, accessible, and emotionally comforting
Learning how to communicate with older adults without being condescending
Ensuring safety without making the sign-up process too frustrating

Accomplishments that we're proud of

In the prototype we built using Figma, each user must complete an age verification step and submit a simple identity check before being able to add friends. Once verified, users can create a profile listing their interests and view a “Suggested Friends” list that uses a matching algorithm. Users with higher match scores appear higher on the list. Then, they can send a “Connect” request, which the other user accepts or declines. The request system ensures the connection is mutual and consensual, reducing the risk of unwanted contact or scam attempts.

The large-button interface design makes it easy for older adults to tap through the verification steps, create their profile, and connect safely. The combination of verified accounts, interest-based matching, and simple UI is what sets this feature apart.

What we learned

Throughout this process, we learned a lot about:

User research — since we aren’t elderly ourselves, we had to research deeply to understand their biggest frustrations, motivations, and barriers.
Designing for accessibility — we studied what makes interfaces actually usable for seniors (larger text, high contrast, simple navigation, fewer choices).
Figma UI prototyping — we learned how to use features such as component sets, auto-layout, responsive frames, icon libraries, and interactive prototypes.
Prompt engineering — we practiced writing clearer prompts that tools like Figma’s AI, ChatGPT, and other LLMs could actually understand and generate useful output from.