Instagist - Room Based Social Media App

Instagist is a room-based social media app designed to shift online interaction from noisy, algorithm-driven feeds to focused, human conversations. By combining topic-based rooms, a calm global timeline, and interest-driven connections, Instagist creates a social experience centered on context, intention, and genuine engagement.

Most social platforms optimize for attention, not conversation. Endless feeds, vanity metrics, and low-context interactions leave users overwhelmed, disengaged, and disconnected. People want spaces where discussions feel relevant, personal, and safe, not competitive or performative.

Instagist replaces the traditional feed-first model with a room-first social structure, supported by a thoughtful global timeline. Users can “cook” posts, explore what others are cooking, and enter rooms where conversations are contextual, structured, and meaningful. Social connection is driven by shared interests rather than popularity.

I led the product end-to-end, shaping the experience from early discovery to final, developer-ready designs. My work spanned UX strategy, information architecture, interaction design, visual systems, prototyping, and handoff, ensuring clarity, scalability, and strong product foundations.

Research revealed that people engage more authentically in smaller, focused spaces. Structure improves conversation quality, context increases relevance, and visual calm encourages participation. These insights informed the decision to prioritize rooms, reduce feed noise, and design for conversation over consumption.

Rooms are the core of Instagist, topic-driven spaces where content, tone, and interaction are clearly defined. Each room feels like a shared environment rather than a broadcast channel, helping users express themselves freely and engage deeply with others who share their interests.

The timeline offers a lightweight discovery layer where users can cook posts and see what others are cooking across the platform. Unlike traditional feeds, it’s designed for calm exploration, not infinite scrolling, encouraging users to move from discovery into richer, room-based conversations.

Every post on Instagist lives within a clear context, either a room or the timeline. This reduces noise, removes pressure to perform, and makes interactions feel intentional. Content is shared to contribute, not to compete.

Replies are structured into clean, readable threads that make discussions easy to follow. This design choice supports real dialogue, reduces clutter, and encourages thoughtful back-and-forth instead of shallow engagement.

Users can connect directly with one another, forming relationships based on shared rooms, interests, and conversations. Profiles evolve through participation, shifting social value from follower counts to meaningful interaction.

The experience is designed to feel easy, natural, and low-pressure. Motion is playful but subtle, layouts breathe, and nothing fights for attention. Users move through one room at a time, staying present in the moment instead of getting lost in endless scrolls.

The visual style is clean but expressive. Neutral foundations keep things calm, while room-based accent colors add personality and mood. A token-driven system powers consistency behind the scenes, making the product flexible, accessible, and ready to scale without losing its vibe.

Accessibility was treated as a core requirement, not an afterthought. High contrast text, readable typography, clear tap targets, and reduced cognitive load make Instagist inclusive and comfortable for a wide range of users.

The final product delivers a compelling alternative to feed-based social media. It supports intentional conversation, builds authentic communities, and provides a scalable foundation for future social and creator-driven features.