App Design for Casual Hangout Planning

Role: Product Designer (End-to-End) Timeline: 2 months Platform: iOS Mobile App

This project came from a simple but very real problem: friends want to hang out, but planning it is always messy.

From research and personal experience, I noticed the same pattern:

plans start in group chats

messages get lost

nobody agrees on a date or location

one person ends up doing all the work

Most existing event apps felt too serious or too complex. They’re built for big events, not casual plans like brunch, clubbing, or a quick hangout after work. The client wanted an MVP that helps friends plan hangouts easily, without making it feel like a task.

The goal was to ship a simple MVP that could go to market quickly

I focused on:

making hangout planning fast and low-stress

reducing back-and-forth messages

helping groups move from idea → confirmed plan

keeping the experience fun, social, and visuaL

The discover section helps users find places and ideas, making planning feel easier and more spontaneous.

I made Groups the foundation of the app. Because in real life, plans happen inside friend groups, not isolated events.

Users join or create groups first, then plan hangouts within them. This help reduce friction.