Inspiration
We noticed RMIT students were missing out on campus events because information was scattered across Discord, Facebook, emails, and bulletin boards. A friend missed free pizza because they didn't see the Facebook post. Another friend had to search 5 different servers just to find event details. We thought: What if there was ONE place to discover everything happening at RMIT?
What it does
RMITogether is a social event discovery app for RMIT students that:
- Shows real-time feed of events, study groups, free food alerts, and clubs
- Lets students RSVP and check-in to events
- Gamifies participation with points, badges, and leaderboards
- Students earn rewards (cafe vouchers, merch, discounts) for engagement
- Builds community by connecting students with shared interests
How we built it
Frontend (2 hours):
- React.js with Tailwind CSS for fast UI development
- Created 4 key screens: Feed, Event Detail, Profile, Leaderboard
- Used hardcoded mock data for demo purposes
Design (1 hour):
- Designed mockups in Figma
- Generated high-fidelity prototypes using Banani
- Focused on Instagram/TikTok-style aesthetic for engagement
Gamification System (1 hour):
- Designed points structure (10 pts per event, 25 pts check-in, etc.)
- Created badge system (Social Butterfly, Event Creator, Study Legend)
- Mocked leaderboard calculations
Video & Documentation (1 hour):
- Recorded 4-minute demo video
- Wrote README with project scope and setup instructions
Challenges we ran into
Time Constraint: Building a full app in 5 hours meant prioritizing MVP features over perfection
- Solution: Focused on core flow (feed → event → profile) and used mock data
Real-Time Architecture: Designing a backend that handles live updates without seeing it implemented
- Solution: Documented the architecture with Socket.io + MongoDB in README
Gamification Balance: Making points feel rewarding without being exploitative
- Solution: User research and adjusted point values to feel achievable
Design-to-Code Speed: Converting designs to working UI quickly
- Solution: Used component-based React to reuse code (EventCard, Badge components)
Accomplishments that we're proud of
Solved a real problem — Identified genuine pain point at RMIT and created a tangible solution
Engaging gamification system — Designed rewards that incentivize daily engagement without feeling forced
Beautiful, modern UI — Created Instagram/TikTok-quality design that appeals to students
Full user flow working — Can scroll feed → click event → see profile → view leaderboard
Comprehensive documentation — README clearly explains project scope, tech stack, and future roadmap
4-minute demo video — Polished demo that shows the app in action and explains the concept clearly
What we learned
Technical:
- React component reusability saves time in rapid prototyping
- Mock data is sufficient for MVP demos
- Design-first approach accelerates development
Product:
- Real student feedback validates ideas quickly
- Gamification requires careful balance to avoid gaming the system
- Community features are key to solving isolation problems
Team:
- Clear communication and task division is essential
- Focusing on MVP over perfection leads to better outcomes
- Celebrating small wins keeps momentum high
What's next for RMITogether
Short Term (Next 2 weeks):
- [ ] Integrate MongoDB for persistent data
- [ ] Implement Firebase Authentication for user login
- [ ] Add real check-in verification (location-based or QR code)
Medium Term (Next month):
- [ ] Beta launch with 100 RMIT students
- [ ] Collect user feedback and iterate
- [ ] Add push notifications for trending events
- [ ] Integrate with RMIT's official calendar system
Long Term:
- [ ] Expand to other Australian universities
- [ ] Monetize through sponsored events and campus organization partnerships
- [ ] Build analytics dashboard for event organizers
- [ ] Add video streaming for hybrid/virtual events
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