Matchway

App - Matchway (Coexistence Track)

link to video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18WmV2h821flzZORRFHD3a-7Y6JJw6qXh/view?usp=sharing

What is the problem your solution addresses? According to the College Board, around 40% of full-time college students at private universities and 60% at public universities live in off-campus housing. With longer commutes and being more physically distanced from on-campus events, this transition can be difficult for many. Of the 33 responses to our initial survey, we found that more than half walk home every day. Moreover, the two most prominent concerns of students were staying safe while commuting to-and-from campus and feeling disconnected from their friends and campus culture. Unfortunately, many do not have a choice because they cannot afford any other option. Our mobile app Matchway creatively addresses students’ parallel safety and social concerns by building a sense of connection while alleviating anxiety about safety with a buddy system. While at its core, the app is about building community, it’s also a means for students to safely commute and coexist with other students and environments in the area.

Why did you pick this solution, and how does it address the problem? As current off-campus students, we’ve had our fair share of worries and struggles. Based on our own experiences and the results of our research, safety and community are the top two priorities for students (and therefore, the two foci for our app!). Matchway matches groups of students based on the time and location of their commutes. Prioritizing the community-building aspect of the walking experience, we highlight a “friends” feature that allows students to build and maintain long-term friendships. The app records how many walks students have taken with each other, emphasizing achievements and “streaks'' they've unlocked with other students the more they walk with them. By positively affirming the choice to take a walk with a new student, Matchway gently urges college students to connect with more people in their area. Matchway exists at the intersection of community and safety, helping create strong friendships rooted in trust and security that can one day move beyond the app and into the remainder of students’ college lives.

Built With

• figma