Splash Shaqada Koowaad: Barnaamij Bulsho oo Isku-xidhka Bulshada by Junjie Xu

Splash Shaqada Koowaad: Barnaamij Bulsho oo Isku-xidhka Bulshada by Junjie Xu is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Abaalmarinta Birta ah ee A' Design Award in Naqshadeynta Tiknoolajiyada Moobiilka, Abikaasyoonada iyo Softweyrka Competition Category.

BirMoobiil· 2025

Splash Shaqada Koowaad: Barnaamij Bulsho oo Isku-xidhka Bulshada

by Junjie Xu

Abaalmarinta Birta ah ee A' Design Award Winner in Moobiil Category

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The Design

About Splash Shaqada Koowaad: Barnaamij Bulsho oo Isku-xidhka Bulshada

Qoraalka Buugga: Splash waa barnaamij isku-xidhka bulshada oo loo abuuray si ay ardayda kolleejka u caawiyaan inay la kulmaan saaxiibbo cusub si toos ah. Isticmaalayaashu waxay isku diiwaan gashadaan lambar taleefan waxayna arkaan dhacdooyinka soo socda bogga hore. Guji kaliya ayaa lagu biirayaa dhacdo, dhacdooyinka cusub ee kulanka waxaa la abuuri karaa dhowr ilbiriqsi gudahood. Isku-xirku wuxuu ku salaysan yahay waqtiga, goobta, iyo danaha la wadaagaan. Xidhiidhada heerka labaad iyo is-weydaarsiga lambarrada taleefanka gaarka ah waxay taageeraan kalsoonida iyo badbaadada. Xasuusinnadu waxay dhiirigeliyaan ka qeyb-galka. Splash waxaa loo dhisay iOS iyo Android, waxayna ka saartaa caqabadaha kharashka iyo waqtiga ee curyaanka ka dhigi kara xidhiidhka bulshada ee jaamacadda.

The Recognition

About the Abaalmarinta Birta ah ee A' Design Award

Splash Shaqada Koowaad: Barnaamij Bulsho oo Isku-xidhka Bulshada waa guuleystaha Abaalmarinta Birta ah ee A' Design Award, aqoonsi sharaf leh oo la siiyo naqshado wanaagsan oo buuxiya shuruudaha xirfadeed iyo kuwa warshadeed ee laga filayo hal-abuurro si wanaagsan loo naqshadeeyay. Guuleystayaasha Birta waxay muujiyaan xirfad weyn, takhasus sare, fahan khabiir iyo awood hal-abuur oo abuurayaashooda. Splash Shaqada Koowaad: Barnaamij Bulsho oo Isku-xidhka Bulshada waa hal-abuur la filayo inuu noqdo mid aad loo tixgeliyo, la ixtiraamo oo la jecel yahay, wax ku ool ah oo cusub. Naqshadahan ku guuleystay Abaalmarinta Birta ah ee A' Design Award wuxuu isku daraa hab-dhaqannada ugu wanaagsan warshadda wuxuuna leeyahay sifooyin farsamo oo karti leh oo ku xiran aqoon iyo hibo. Dhammaystirkeeda awgeed, Splash Shaqada Koowaad: Barnaamij Bulsho oo Isku-xidhka Bulshada waa mudan ixtiraam, waxaana loo naqshadeeyay inay keento hagaajin nololeed oo ka caawisa in adduunka laga dhigo meel ka wanaagsan.

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