2026 UX Capstone Project : Soiréa
Project Goals:
Make hosting feel less overwhelming
Turn event planning into an inclusive shared experience
host. collaborate. make new friends.
user interviews
user interviews
REAL FRIENDS, Real opinions.
User Interviews reveal real needs, frustrations, behaviors, and motivations that assumptions alone can’t capture.
PRIMARY USERS • PERSONA
PRIMARY USERS • PERSONA
SOPHIA
The Anxious Host
“There’s an uncertainty before every event...
What should I bring?
Will I know anyone?
Will I feel comfortable there?”
Sophia, 31 Years Old
New York, NY
Writer, Fashion
Needs
Clear Pre-Event Info
Who is Going to the Event?
Conversation Starters
To Contribute Somehow
Pain points
Should I Bring Something?
Not Knowing Anyone But the Host
Confusing Group Chats
oliver
The Thoughtful Host
“Hosting isn’t hard because of the event ... it’s hard because everything lives in my head.”
Oliver, 35 Years Old
Austin, TX
Marketing Director, Tech Start-Up
Needs
One Platform to Manage the Party & Guests
His Friends to Help Him Plan
Smart Planning Tools
Pain points:
Disorganized Group Chats
Difficulty Balancing Budget
Forgets to Follow up With Friends
Worries About Pleasing Everyone
BENCHMARKING
Batch is optimized for high-stakes group events (bachelor / bachelorette trips, milestone birthdays, group getaways).
Evite is an RSVP digital invitation platform for creating and managing traditional events like holidays, potlucks and family gatherings.
Facebook Event feature that lets users create, discover, and RSVP to gatherings while coordinating details and communicating with attendees in one place.
Fast, modern invites with a social vibe
SMS-first RSVPs and real-time updates
for friends and informal gatherings
WHAT THESE APPS LACK
SAVED GUEST PROFILES
No Info About Guests Attending
No Way to Know Guests Interests
Guests Don’t Know All People Coming
DEEP COLLAB TOOLS
No Way to Assign Guest Tools
No Way to Get Feedback from Guests
No Input from Guests (Voting)
helpful suggestions
Assumes the Host Already Has a Plan
No Activity, Music, Theme Suggestions
No Budget Tracking
party planning tools
No Way to Track Progress on Party Set-up
No Singular Place to Store Plans
No Vender Coordination
design system
wireframes
