Inspiration
The increasing isolation and lack of interaction in modern neighborhoods inspired us. Local, face-to-face connections are often neglected as people become more digitally connected. We wanted to create a platform that connects neighbors and strengthens community bonds through small, everyday activities and needs.
What it does
Our app offers a range of features designed to encourage neighborly interaction and mutual support. It allows users to connect in real-time, sharing updates on safety alerts, neighborhood events, lost and found items, and more. The platform also facilitates the exchange of goods through garage sales and giveaways, as well as services like babysitting, pet walking, and home repair assistance. By promoting small acts of collaboration, the app strengthens local bonds and makes neighborhoods feel more connected and supportive.
Key Features:
- Safety Alerts: Real-time notifications about important safety concerns in the neighborhood, such as crime reports or weather emergencies.
- Events: A space to post and discover local events, from block parties to community meetings, encouraging more face-to-face interaction.
- Lost and Found: A place for neighbors to help each other recover lost pets or belongings.
- Garage Sales/Thrifting: A marketplace for neighbors to buy, sell, or give away items, promoting sustainability and local exchange.
- Volunteer and Assistance: Neighbors can offer or request help with everyday tasks, from running errands to home repair. -Transportation and Tech Support: Resources to coordinate carpools or offer help with tech issues, especially for older adults or those in need.
How we built it
We started by designing the app in Figma, focusing on creating a clean and user-friendly interface that’s easy to navigate. Our goal was to ensure the platform would be accessible for users of all ages and tech proficiency levels, especially older adults who may need extra support with technology. Figma helped us visualize and refine the layout and user experience before moving on to the development phase.
Once we had the design in place, we attempted to develop the app using AWS Amplify through syncing it with figma, which helped us generate some of the component code. However, we encountered delays in completing the development because the auto layout in Figma took longer than expected to finalize. This slowed down our progress in integrating the design with the code.
Challenges we ran into
One of the main challenges we faced was deciding on the right balance between functionality and simplicity in the design. We wanted to include many features without overwhelming the user interface. Additionally, we encountered difficulties while working with new platforms, such as AWS Amplify. Although it helped generate some of the component code, navigating and integrating it into our design was a learning curve, which slowed down our development process.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We’re proud of the app’s intuitive and aesthetically pleasing design. The layout is simple, yet functional, and encourages users to explore the various features without feeling lost or confused. We’ve also designed the app to be inclusive, keeping the needs of older adults and non-tech-savvy users in mind, which is something we’re particularly proud of.
What we learned
Through this process, we enhanced our Figma and UI/UX design skills. More importantly, we learned how critical it is to focus on user needs, especially when designing for a diverse audience. Balancing accessibility and functionality was a key lesson for us, and it shaped our approach to the entire project. Specifically, we improved our skills in using Figma's auto layout feature to streamline the design process, and we gained experience in incorporating AWS Amplify with Figma to generate component codes that we plan to use in further app development.
What's next for neighborly
Our next steps are to focus on seamlessly integrating the design with the code, ensuring the app runs without errors. While we’ve already started this process, we plan to dive deeper into using AWS Amplify to generate and refine component codes. Our main priority is making sure the app’s layout and functionality are aligned, ensuring a smooth user experience. This will help us continue developing more features and prepare the app for future scalability and user engagement.
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