Splash Socialno omrežje by Junjie Xu is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Železna nagrada A' Design Award in Oblikovanje mobilnih tehnologij, aplikacij in programske opreme Competition Category.

ŽeleznaMobilno· 2025

Splash Socialno omrežje

by Junjie Xu

Železna nagrada A' Design Award Winner in Mobilno Category

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The Design

About Splash Socialno omrežje

Splash je aplikacija za socialno mreženje, ustvarjena, da študentom pomaga v živo spoznati nove prijatelje. Uporabniki se prijavijo s telefonsko številko in na domači strani vidijo prihajajoče dogodke. En klik zadostuje za pridružitev dogodku, novo srečanje pa je mogoče ustvariti v nekaj sekundah. Ujemanje temelji na času, lokaciji in skupnih interesih. Povezave druge stopnje in zasebna izmenjava telefonskih številk podpirajo zaupanje in varnost. Opomniki spodbujajo udeležbo. Splash je zasnovan za iOS in Android ter odpravlja stroškovne in časovne ovire pri druženju na kampusu.

The Recognition

About the Železna nagrada A' Design Award

Splash Socialno omrežje je prejemnik Železne nagrade A' Design Award, prestižnega priznanja, ki se podeljuje dobrim oblikovanjem, ki izpolnjujejo profesionalne in industrijske zahteve, pričakovane od dobro zasnovanih stvaritev. Prejemniki Železne nagrade kažejo veliko spretnost, visoko specializacijo, strokovno razumevanje in ustvarjalne zmožnosti svojih ustvarjalcev. Od Splash Socialno omrežje se pričakuje, da bo visoko cenjena, občudovana in ljubljena stvaritev, ki je praktična in inovativna. To oblikovanje, nagrajeno z Železno nagrado A' Design Award, vključuje najboljše prakse panoge in ima kompetentne tehnične lastnosti, povezane s strokovnim znanjem in talentom. Zaradi svoje temeljitosti si Splash Socialno omrežje zasluži spoštovanje in je zasnovan tako, da zagotavlja izboljšave kakovosti življenja, ki pomagajo narediti svet boljši kraj.

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