Playground
App design
PROGRAMS
Figma
Illustrator
After Effects
Adobe Express
IN COLLABORATION WITH
Ashley Collins
Anabel Dent
Caitlyn Wong
Playground is an app developed during a 24-hour Design-A-Thon hosted by the University of Florida Gator User Design club. Based on the theme "Reimagining Community", my team designed an app to help adults discover and connect with communities through play. Using personality tests, users are able to identify with their play personality from 8 characters and explore the city through chatrooms and live event updates.
This project was awarded Best Overall Design award at the UF GUD 2025 Design-A-Thon.
1. The Challenge
As part of the University of Florida’s Gator User Experience Design-A-Thon 2025, my team was tasked with addressing a critical challenge: how might we leverage UI/UX design to foster deeper community engagement in an increasingly digital world? With the event’s theme, "Reimagining Communities," as our guide, we set out to explore how design can bridge social gaps, build trust, and create more inclusive, connected spaces — both online and offline. Through research, ideation, and prototyping, we aimed to develop user-centered solutions that not only bring people together, but also empower them to sustain meaningful relationships within their communities.
2. Our Solution
We created Playground — a mobile app designed to help adults rediscover the joy of connection through play. Playground offers a fresh, interactive approach to meeting new people and building communities by combining the fun of personality-based exploration with real-world activities.
3. User Research
Our user research highlighted that users primarily seek belonging, connection, and community through shared interests and values. They want platforms that are fun, accessible, inclusive, and well-moderated, offering features like user profiles, discussion forums, real-time chat, event management, and AI-driven content recommendations. Many users feel lonely, stressed, and unsure how to find like-minded people, but are motivated by a desire to incorporate more play into their lives to boost creativity, happiness, and well-being. Ideal users are active on social media, open to attending events, and value consistent, playful interactions to form lasting connections.
To foster meaningful engagement, Playground uses the framework of 8 play personality types to match users with communities that align with their natural ways of interacting and having fun. The personalities include: The Collector, The Competitor, The Creator, The Director, The Explorer, The Joker, The Mover, and The Storyteller.
4. Design
Upon onboarding, users take a playful personality quiz that matches them with one of eight unique characters, each representing different social strengths and interests. Based on their personality type, users are guided to themed chatrooms where they can meet like-minded individuals, share experiences, and plan outings. The app also encourages exploration by recommending city-wide events, pop-up activities, and hidden local gems tailored to each user’s personality type.
By blending digital connection with in-person engagement, Playground reimagines how adults find belonging in their communities, making social discovery feel approachable, personalized, and most importantly, fun.
