Hummy start page

From silent scrollers to engaged storytellers — making social media a space for real conversations and connections

Hummy is a new social media platform designed to foster meaningful discussions through topic-based groups. Our challenge was to transform passive users into active participants by creating a safer, more engaging space for sharing and interaction.

Hummy

Challenge

Hummy is a fresh, new social media platform built around topic-based groups where users can share, discuss, and connect. But there’s a catch — many social media users tend to lurk rather than engage. Research shows that actively posting, commenting, and sharing content leads to a more fulfilling online experience, yet many remain passive. Our challenge? Turning those silent scrollers into active participants and making Hummy the go-to space for meaningful interactions.

Insight

The key to engagement is creating a space where users feel safe sharing without fear of negative comments. We wanted to ensure that group discussions stayed relevant and positive, fostering real connections based on shared interests. However, we faced a challenge — without the right structure, group topics could become too shallow, leaving users uninspired to participate. Our solution? A design that gently nudges users toward creating meaningful groups, encouraging rich discussions, and making Hummy a place where people actually want to contribute.

Solution

Our redesigned group creation process guides users toward crafting topics that spark curiosity and encourage sharing. By subtly steering users toward deeper, more engaging group themes, we create a safer, more inviting space where no one feels hesitant to speak up. And because real engagement thrives when people have something to look forward to, we’ve introduced an exciting events feature! Our research revealed that users are far more likely to interact when they have scheduled meetups, discussions, or themed activities to participate in. With these changes, Hummy becomes not just another social media platform, but a dynamic space for real conversations, connections, and community building.

Process

I began the project by identifying the target audience for Hummy. Initially, the scope included the entire Gen Z demographic, but I quickly realized that this was too broad — this generation covers people at vastly different stages of life. To create a more focused and meaningful solution, I narrowed the audience down to those aged 15–18.

With a clear target in mind, I conducted interviews with users in this age range. The data I gathered was then clustered to uncover key insights about their behavior on social media. This analysis helped me understand how Gen Z interacts online and what barriers prevent them from being more active. These insights guided my approach, helping me align Hummy’s design goals with user needs and behaviors.

Armed with this understanding, I created wireframes to test early concepts and validate the most important features through an MVP. The goal was to see how users interacted with these core features and whether the design encouraged them to engage more actively with others on the platform.

To refine the design, I conducted multiple rounds of A/B testing, comparing different design elements and interaction patterns. The results didn’t initially meet expectations, so I iterated on the wireframes — adjusting layouts, improving usability, and fine-tuning the experience to better align with user behavior.

Once the changes began producing the engagement levels I was aiming for, I moved on to developing high-fidelity (hi-fi) prototypes. This stage allowed me to explore the visual design in greater depth, focusing on the look and feel of the product. The result was a polished, intuitive platform designed to resonate with Gen Z’s preferences while fostering genuine interaction and connection.

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