RESEARCH QUESTIONS & OBJECTIVES
METHODOLOGY & PROCESS
INSIGHTS & SYNTHESIS
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT & PROTOTYPE
REFLECTIONS
Our interdisciplinary team set out to explore the psychological weight of social media — how constant validation-seeking and digital fatigue shape self-worth and attention. Using a design-thinking lens, we examined the tension between online connection and emotional well-being.
We asked: What if digital interactions could foster empathy instead of anxiety?
Could rethinking interface elements like the “Like” button lead to healthier engagement?
Our objective was to design systems and experiences that reframe validation through genuine connection.
We used the Double Diamond method to address the issue and STEEPLE Analysis and explored all possible reasons to understand the topic better.
Our research revealed that users crave recognition but resent dependence on metrics. Authentic connection comes from narrative, not numbers. This insight led us to explore interventions that extend beyond the screen — bridging digital empathy with physical, real-world touchpoints.
We developed bold concepts: AR-enabled offline events, gamified social challenges, and interaction models without “Like” buttons. Our focus was on translating these insights into a cohesive visual narrative — through storyboarding, motion design, and animation that illustrated user journeys and emotional shifts.
Collaborating across disciplines reshaped how I view digital design, not only as an interface creation, but as behaviour orchestration. Visual storytelling became my way of humanising data, turning insights into empathy. This project taught me that design for well-being starts not with features, but with feeling.
Team : Zheung Li, Brian, Olivia, Johnny, Art Direction : Sneha Nayak & Niveditta.
RESEARCH CONTEXT
Connect
Home
DESIGN AS A FORCE OF GOOD
Subject : Design Thinking , MA Product Design
Oct 2024 - Dec 2025
Type : User Interface Re-Design
What if we reimagine social media to prioritise mental well being ?
VALIDATED SOLUTION
How can we create a positive community that prioritizes mutual support and meaningful connections between individuals, rather than relying solely on the social value system built around the "like" button?
IDENTIFIED PROBLEM
niveditta
umasankar