When we became parents, our life changed in many ways.
one of them was that our new all-about-the-kids daily routine affected our social life. our schedule didn't sync with our single friends anymore, and the few parent-friends we had, lived too far away for us to hang out regularly.
one of them was that our new all-about-the-kids daily routine affected our social life. our schedule didn't sync with our single friends anymore, and the few parent-friends we had, lived too far away for us to hang out regularly.
We started feeling a bit isolated,
and I soon found out lots of parents feel the same.
and I soon found out lots of parents feel the same.
After realizing this was a broad problem,
I decided to try to find a solution.
I decided to try to find a solution.
bffamily • Meeting app for families • 2016
Branding, UX Design, UI Design
Branding, UX Design, UI Design
Why is this happening?
First, I wanted to better understand the problem - what causes loneliness in early parenthood? I spoke with parents and narrowed it to these 2 main reasons:
1. Busy new schedule
New parents have little time for plans with their friends.
New parents have little time for plans with their friends.
2. Daily routine revolves around the home area
This makes it is difficult to hang out with friends who live far away on a regular basis. it requires paying for a babysitter/driving with the kids/leaving one parent at home with the kids. all are possible but are more difficult thus tend to happen less often, and with some families, never happen at all.
This makes it is difficult to hang out with friends who live far away on a regular basis. it requires paying for a babysitter/driving with the kids/leaving one parent at home with the kids. all are possible but are more difficult thus tend to happen less often, and with some families, never happen at all.
"Let's meet other parents!"
Connecting with new parents that live close by can be a great solution - parents can hang out while their kids are playing together.
(That's a 2 for 1!) but some people find it difficult to meet and connect with other parents:
(That's a 2 for 1!) but some people find it difficult to meet and connect with other parents:
Why is this so hard?
The main difficulties in finding new parent-friends that I found were:
1. Chances of randomly meeting the right people are not high.
Parameters for a potentially good match are mainly:
Parameters for a potentially good match are mainly:
• Nearby residence
• Kids should be about the same age
• Common interests (things to talk about)
• Common preferred activities
• All family members should generally get along
• Kids should be about the same age
• Common interests (things to talk about)
• Common preferred activities
• All family members should generally get along
2. Reaching out is difficult
More than half of a total of 13 parents I talked to (plus myself) stated they struggle with reaching out and starting a conversation with other parents at public places.
More than half of a total of 13 parents I talked to (plus myself) stated they struggle with reaching out and starting a conversation with other parents at public places.
3. Establishing and maintaining a relationship is challenging
Sometimes you talk to a parent from your kid's kindergarten. you have a nice conversation, you even exchange numbers. but then... nothing happens. because you're busy. or tired. or you both are just too introverted to make the first call.
Sometimes you talk to a parent from your kid's kindergarten. you have a nice conversation, you even exchange numbers. but then... nothing happens. because you're busy. or tired. or you both are just too introverted to make the first call.
The vision
Most moms/dads eventually find some nice parents to hang out with. sometimes it happens because the kids became friends at kindergarten. a lot of the time it's not really a perfect match, you don't really have a lot to talk about. but you make it work anyway. that's nice.
but what if
your potential soulmate is a mom that lives around the corner, and you never get to meet her? what if a perfect cool dad who likes the same things as you and has kids the same age lives 2 blocks away and you never meet him?
imagine your kids playing together, having dinner together, while you actually enjoy a nice conversation with people you really like.
that would be great, wouldn't it?
imagine your kids playing together, having dinner together, while you actually enjoy a nice conversation with people you really like.
that would be great, wouldn't it?
Market research (2016)
When I did this research back in 2016, I found some apps for meeting friends, and a few that were designated for mom-friends.
after using them for a while, these were some pain points I found:
1. The dating app vibe
Friend-meeting apps felt like dating apps. they were filled with guys looking for girls. all the messages I got were from men.
2. It's still awkward
as much as I want it not to be the case - It is embarrassing to put your picture and name out there as someone who needs an app to find friends. in a way you're actually saying - "I don't have friends and I need help". moreover, it's awkward to make the first step and to contact someone, even on an app. it's also awkward to try to talk with someone you don't know and get a conversation going.
so, the awkward factor is definitely still there.
3. And then nothing happens
Conversations die fast and rarely continue to the real world.
after using them for a while, these were some pain points I found:
1. The dating app vibe
Friend-meeting apps felt like dating apps. they were filled with guys looking for girls. all the messages I got were from men.
2. It's still awkward
as much as I want it not to be the case - It is embarrassing to put your picture and name out there as someone who needs an app to find friends. in a way you're actually saying - "I don't have friends and I need help". moreover, it's awkward to make the first step and to contact someone, even on an app. it's also awkward to try to talk with someone you don't know and get a conversation going.
so, the awkward factor is definitely still there.
3. And then nothing happens
Conversations die fast and rarely continue to the real world.
Bffamily
A mobile app that connects families who live nearby.
Main goals:
• Making the right matches and considering all family members
• Breaking the ice - overcoming the awkwardness
• Helping to maintain the relationship
• Making the right matches and considering all family members
• Breaking the ice - overcoming the awkwardness
• Helping to maintain the relationship
