The Michigan Daily:
Missed Connections
Interaction design
UI design
Kathy Wang (UX)
Jeffrey Qiu (UX)
Figjam
Overview
Share stories of almost-moments
Sometimes, it’s the almost-moments that stay with us—a smile across the library, a quick glance in the elevator. If you ever met someone and wondered “what if?”, you can share your story on a Missed Connections site to reminisce and connect with others who have felt a similar spark.
Platform to share, read, and discover Missed Connections
The goal was to create a platform for people within and beyond Ann Arbor, Michigan, to browse, post, and read “Missed Connections”.
Collaborated with developers to launch
We finished designs and handoff in less than 3 months, and had weekly conversations with developers and stakeholders at The Michigan Daily to ensure designs aligned with capacity and regulations. The platform is now launched and free for everyone to enjoy!
Background
User asks admin to upload
Most current solutions for sharing Missed Connections rely on Instagram pages or other manual systems.
User can upload themselves
My solution would be hands-free, the posting process removes the need for a person verifying and posting it. It can all be done on the platform.
Adapting to company policies
While the ideal outcome of a Missed Connections post might be to reconnect two individuals, The Michigan Daily prioritized user safety and compliance with internal policies.
To avoid the risks associated with account creation and personal data storage, we shifted focus to the joy of storytelling—appealing to the broader audience who delights in sharing and reading engaging narratives.
Designs
Read and explore
Compose and post
Posts are submitted directly through the platform, eliminating the need for admin approval.
Upvote for screening
Browse by sort and filter
Design System
By establishing consistency and maintaining strong accessibility standards for text size and color contrast, this approach meant developers could easily implement components and users could get a cohesive experience.
Reflection
I had ownership over this project– building a design system from the ground up, leading its visual aesthetic development, and complementing functionality with style.
Systems thinking
In addition to visual design, I practiced systems thinking through considering character count limits, how information would populate into the cards, and responsive design.
Collaboration
I worked closely with developers throughout, which helped us identify constraints and their workarounds quickly, ultimately leading to a smooth handoff. We are all excited for it to launch to the residents of Ann Arbor and beyond!
I’ll be back to update this page when it does :)