Third Place

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Our Inspiration

As college students, we’re often asked about our hobbies and interests—sometimes even encouraged to list them on our resumes. But when it comes time to fill out that section, many of us struggle. “What do I enjoy outside of schoolwork?” we ask ourselves. It’s easy to assume we don’t have time for hobbies, but the truth is, we just need the right push to discover them. People of all ages have experienced this struggle, especially adults looking to find new passions and communities. Having meaningful hobbies is key to leading a healthy and fulfilling life. Third Place was created with this vision in mind: to empower people to reconnect with what makes them passionate and improve their sense of community.

What is Third Place?

Third Place is an innovative platform that helps users find hobbies and connect with communities around them, fostering engagement, social well-being, and personal growth. The platform aggregates data on a wide range of hobbies, including how to get started, the average costs involved, and locations where users can meet others who share their interests. Implementing our own datasets for browsing different hobbies and local groups; allowing users to seamlessly browse and filter hobbies.

The Design Process

We utilized Flutter to create a smooth web experience and Figma to create a sleek, intuitive design that enhances the user experience. These technologies ensured a both functional and visually appealing service. Flask powers the backend, managing data processing and web services. This combination of frontend and backend technologies creates a platform that not only promotes individual well-being but also fosters meaningful connections within communities.

Challenges We Encountered

Prioritizing and delegating tasks is one area we realized that we had room for improvement. Early on in the event our backend was lagging behind our front end, which eventually slowed down overall efficiency. In retrospect, assigning one more person to help develop the backend we wouldn't have faced as many issues down the line. However, the greatest challenge we faced was trying to implement SQL for database management. We dedicated over 10 hours to learning and attempting to implement it, but ultimately, we were unable to get it to work as expected. Although it was a setback, we maintained a "glass half full" mentality. We pivoted, focusing on developing a functional system using python dictionaries as a substitute for SQL, which facilitated progress to building a fulfilling project.

Our Proudest Accomplishments

We’re incredibly proud that, despite working with unfamiliar technologies, we built a functional product. Likewise, our determination allowed us to work late into night while maintaining high morale. Another notable achievement is our success in troubleshooting the various hardware and software issues that popped up throughout the night.

What We Learned

This project provided the opportunity for us to gain technical skills in full-stack development and web design. We now approach challenges creatively and adapt to roadblocks. Attempting to integrate SQL taught us to persevere and focus on solutions even when plans don't go accordingly.

What's next for Third Place?

Looking ahead, we plan to integrate SQL for database management to scale the platform and handle larger datasets efficiently. Additionally, we will transition from a website to a mobile application, facilitating users access and ability to engage with our platform on the go. The app will allow us to expand features such as direct communication with local communities. We will also integrate user authentication to provide customized experiences and enable users to track their hobbies and communities. Users will also be able to vote for and add new hobbies and groups with ease. Our mission is to continue refining Third Place into a space where people—whether young teens or elderly folk—can effortlessly find new hobbies, build communities, and contribute to a more connected, compassionate world.