Splash 소셜 네트워킹 애플리케이션 by Junjie Xu is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award 철상 in 모바일 기술, 애플리케이션 및 소프트웨어 디자인 Competition Category.

철모바일· 2025

Splash 소셜 네트워킹 애플리케이션

by Junjie Xu

A' Design Award 철상 Winner in 모바일 Category

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The Design

About Splash 소셜 네트워킹 애플리케이션

Splash는 대학생들이 실제로 만나 새로운 친구를 사귈 수 있도록 돕기 위해 개발된 소셜 네트워킹 애플리케이션이다. 사용자는 전화번호로 가입하며 홈 화면에서 다가오는 이벤트를 확인할 수 있다. 클릭 한 번으로 이벤트에 참여할 수 있고, 새로운 모임도 몇 초 만에 만들 수 있다. 매칭은 시간, 위치, 공통 관심사를 기반으로 이루어진다. 2촌 인맥 연결과 비공개 전화번호 교환 기능은 신뢰와 안전을 뒷받침한다. 알림 기능은 참석을 유도한다. Splash는 iOS와 안드로이드용으로 개발되었으며, 캠퍼스 내 사교 활동의 비용과 시간 장벽을 없애준다.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 철상

Splash 소셜 네트워킹 애플리케이션, 이 작품은 A' Design Award 철상 수상작으로, 잘 디자인된 창작물에 기대되는 전문적·산업적 요건을 충족하는 좋은 디자인에 수여되는 권위 있는 인정입니다. 철상 수상작은 창작자의 뛰어난 기술, 높은 전문성, 전문가다운 이해, 창의적 역량을 보여 줍니다. Splash 소셜 네트워킹 애플리케이션, 이 작품은 높이 평가받고 감탄과 사랑을 받는 창작물로서 실용적이고 혁신적일 것으로 기대됩니다. 이 철상 수상 디자인은 업계 모범 사례를 통합하며 노하우와 재능으로 연결된 유능한 기술적 특성을 갖추고 있습니다. Splash 소셜 네트워킹 애플리케이션, 이 작품은 철저함으로 존중받으며 삶의 질을 개선하여 세상을 더 나은 곳으로 만들도록 디자인되었습니다.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Splash is an instant offline social networking app designed for college students to seamlessly meet new friends with one-click matching based on time, location, and preferences. Unlike traditional apps, Splash removes financial and time barriers to socializing, leveraging real-time event creation, smart notifications, and second-degree connections for trust. The design prioritizes speed, spontaneity, and safety, ensuring frictionless interactions that foster real-world friendships.
Dimensions & Packaging: Platform: iOS (Swift), Android (React Native)
Backend: Firebase (Firestore, Authentication), Google Cloud Functions
Event Matching Algorithm: Real-time interest and availability-based pairing
User Authentication: Phone number-based login with OTP verification
Privacy & Safety: End-to-end encryption for phone number exchanges
Data Storage: Cloud-based with GDPR compliance
Package Size: 40MB initial app download
Tags: social networking, campus friendship, offline socializing, real-time event matching, college networking, friend meetup app, spontaneous meetups, Firebase app, community building, event-based networking
Production Technology: Splash was built using Swift for iOS development with a Firebase backend for real-time event matching and authentication. We employed React Native for cross-platform scalability, leveraging Google Cloud Functions for instant event processing. The UI was crafted using Figma, focusing on minimalistic yet engaging interaction flows. Our design methodology followed Lean UX and rapid prototyping, allowing for iterative user testing and agile improvements.
Design Challenge: The biggest challenge was balancing spontaneity with user safety and trust. Unlike traditional networking apps, Splash required instant but meaningful social matching, ensuring low drop-off rates while maintaining a seamless UX. We tackled this by leveraging second-degree connections for social proof, implementing privacy-first phone exchange, and designing a minimal-input event creation process. Rapid iteration and real-world testing allowed us to optimize engagement.
Research: Research Type: Market & UX Research
Objective: Validate the demand for frictionless campus socializing
Methodology: Surveys, interviews, prototype testing
Data Collection: 500-person survey at CMU, 100+ user interviews
Participants: College students (18-24)
Results: High interest in a free, instant social meetup app
Insights: Users prioritize low effort, real-time availability, and social safety
Impact: Splash removes financial/time barriers to forming friendships, making socializing more accessible
Inspiration: Splash was inspired by the struggle of making real-life friends on campus without investing excessive time or money. We saw a gap—students craved spontaneous, effortless social interactions. Drawing from Uber’s instant matching model, we designed Splash to remove the friction in meeting new people. Our research included a 500-person CMU survey and 100+ user interviews, refining our MVP for real-world needs. With fast iterations and data-driven UX, we built a seamless, intuitive experience.
Project Duration: Pittsburgh PA, Sep 2023 - Mar 2024
Operation Flow: Users sign up with their phone number and sync contacts to discover friends. The homepage displays upcoming events, allowing users to join with one click. Event initiators can create meetups in seconds, while AI-powered notifications increase engagement. Users confirm participation by exchanging details and uploading a profile image. Smart reminders ensure attendance. The app fosters real-world connections effortlessly, reducing social friction.
Team Members: Junjie Xu
Image Credits: Junjie Xu