The Challenge
Existing apps like WhatsApp and iOS Messages are primary options for most families when deciding where to communicate. However, they lack:
- The ability to organize conversations by "Topics." Users are left to create redundant group subsets.
- Native features for decision making. Third-party providers fill this void, but each have varying UX.
- Families as the primary target audience. Most apps that target families focus on safety for kids, rather than orienting their designs around better family decision-making.
The Outcome
Solving these challenges led to the creation of FamilyChat — a free-to-use iOS mobile app. This app improves family decision-making by pairing standard messaging functionality with thoughtfully selected features:
- Pinned Messages — Surface important information
- Alerts — Notify the whole family
- Polls — Make group decisions democratically
- Events — Coordinate schedules
- Images — Share moments together
Results
- Qualitative feedback from three user trials showed a majority of positive responses: "familiar", "clean", and "useful"
- ~28% of users reduced their overall count of group chats compared to existing messaging apps
- First CS team and first student-sponsored project to win Best in Show at UCF's Senior Design Showcase
Research
The target audience spanned ages 16–76, divided into three groups: younger (16–35), middle-aged (36–55), and older (56–76). User interviews and competitive analysis of apps like Clubhouse, Slack, Discord, and Headspace informed the design direction.
Key insights from research:
- Color theming inspired by Clubhouse
- Message styling patterns from Slack
- Topic organization modeled after Discord
- Playful design language drawn from Headspace
Design Process
The design evolved through wireframing, visual design iterations, and high-fidelity prototyping. Authentication was simplified by removing account passwords to help older users navigate the app more easily. Custom avatars were designed to give each family member a unique identity.
STEM Day & Senior Design Showcase
FamilyChat was tested at UCF's STEM Day event, providing valuable feedback that led to a project realignment before the final Senior Design Showcase. The video presentation is available at youtu.be/LG5ixiqMXjg.