On & Off

Time:

Spring 2018, 10 weeks

Type:

Team project, worked as UX designer/ strategist

Design main focus:

UX research, UX Design, business analysis, business model design

Problem Statement

The increase of technology and individuals’ constant relationship to smart devices are impacting the ways humans interact with one another and making it more difficult to create in-person relationships.

Opportunity Statement

There is an opportunity to use social networks solve the problems of the board game industry and to use board games to solve the problems of online social networks.

Mission

Our mission is to promote real, offline, face-to-face interactions that are stress free. We want to create a platform of inclusivity and community that will build relationships beyond an online profile.

Vision

On and Off will become the go-to platform to meet people in your community, online and offline.

How does it work?

On & Off promotes offline interaction based on geolocation, availability, and tabletop games! We believe meeting over a tabletop games is an optimal situation to meet someone offline for the first time. By playing games, players can bond with new people through a common activity that promotes conversation. A tabletop game provides a singular language and an interaction framework that decreases the awkwardness when meeting someone new. On&Off provides a less stressful environment to meet new people in reality.

• App connects users, hosts, and board game availability based on location.
• Users are rewarded points every time a board game is played and all the pieces are returned at the host locations.
• Users can redeem those points for board game purchases, food, and beverages through our point reward system 
• Users can collect points when purchasing games and other items from company partners.

Drivers of Change

Five forces analysis

Key success factors

Social Networks

• Privacy + Security
• User Experience
• High Rate of Users at Key Time Frame

Tabletop Games

• Relevance to Time Period
• Physical Experience 
• Understandable

Stakeholders' map

Balanced scorecard

Interviews

Online Survey

Primary research insights

• Some people like board games as ice breaker when meeting new friends if they are easy and meaningful enough to get to the core of who a person is.
• Ice breakers are really good for international students because they don’t know anyone in the new setting.
• More and more people accept meeting people online.
• People play digital board games because they are bored, not really from a social aspect.
• There are wishes for an easier and less awkward way to meet people.

Value proposition

App Users

• For millennials
• who seek face-to-face relationships,
• Our social network will create stress-free hangouts to connect our users to the community around them.
• We do this by connecting them online through a social network app and in person through board games.
• Unlike other social networks that foster digital relationships,
• we use technology as a mean to bring people to have experiences in reality.

Board Game Manufacturers

• For board game manufacturers
• who seek greater adoption and awareness for their products
• Our social network will create a market to expose and adopt new board games as well as classic board games.
• We do this by connecting companies to their user online through a social network app and bringing the physical board games to the users to experience
• Unlike other means of communication (advertisements, websites, etc.) that only foster one way, limited communication
• we use a platform as a means to reach and communicate to the users directly.

Hosts

• For cafes, bars, and universities
• who seek greater sales and foot traffic.
• Our social network will give incentives to visit their stores and buy their products.
• We do this by connecting our social network to local businesses that need customers and facilitating product purchasing.
• Unlike other means of communication (advertisements, websites, etc.) that provides limited brand awareness,
• we use events and experiences to create fonder memories and value to the host retail.

Ambassador

• For board game enthusiasts attending universities
• who seek flexible ways to gain scholarships and spread board game joy.
• Our social network will give students a way to learn professional skills
• We do this by giving students responsibility and providing them with accountability.
• Unlike other student programs that only offer partial experiences,
• we hope to build up our ambassadors for success in the future.

Short-term business model canvas 

Long-term business model canvas

Flow diagram