BuddyBCN
Your bridge to a new world
BuddyBCN is a platform designed to help students in Barcelona build meaningful connections, integrate into the local community, and combat loneliness. By combining digital and physical spaces, BuddyBCN provides AI-driven recommendations, social events, and a welcoming hub for international and local students.
The Challenge
Moving to a new city can be exciting but also isolating, especially for international students. Despite Barcelona’s vibrant social scene, many newcomers struggle to form meaningful connections. Key challenges include:
Lack of Social Integration: Traditional ways of meeting people, such as university events and online groups, often feel impersonal or overwhelming.
Difficulty Finding Friends: Students seek a safe, welcoming space to connect with like-minded individuals.
Limited Access to Information: Many students struggle to navigate bureaucratic processes and find relevant community events.
Moving to a new city can be exciting but also isolating, especially for international students. Despite Barcelona’s vibrant social scene, many newcomers struggle to form meaningful connections.
Key challenges include:
Lack of Social Integration: Traditional ways of meeting people, such as university events and online groups, often feel impersonal or overwhelming.
Difficulty Finding Friends: Students seek a safe, welcoming space to connect with like-minded individuals.
Limited Access to Information: Many students struggle to navigate bureaucratic processes and find relevant community events.
Moving to a new city can be exciting but also isolating, especially for international students. Despite Barcelona’s vibrant social scene, many newcomers struggle to form meaningful connections.
Key challenges include:
Lack of Social Integration: Traditional ways of meeting people, such as university events and online groups, often feel impersonal or overwhelming.
Difficulty Finding Friends: Students seek a safe, welcoming space to connect with like-minded individuals.
Limited Access to Information: Many students struggle to navigate bureaucratic processes and find relevant community events.
The Solution
BuddyBCN was developed to create an engaging, student-focused platform that fosters community through personalized social experiences:
Personalized Connections: AI-driven matchmaking based on interests and needs.
BuddyBCN Hub: A physical space offering study areas, social events, and student-friendly amenities.
Emotion Recognition Technology: AI-enhanced cameras detect emotional states and suggest activities to boost engagement.
AI-Generated Personalized Trips: Smart travel recommendations tailored to user preferences.
Inclusive & Accessible Community: A digital and physical ecosystem that ensures all students feel welcome.
BuddyBCN was developed to create an engaging, student-focused platform that fosters community through personalized social experiences:
Personalized Connections: AI-driven matchmaking based on interests and needs.
BuddyBCN Hub: A physical space offering study areas, social events, and student-friendly amenities.
Emotion Recognition Technology: AI-enhanced cameras detect emotional states and suggest activities to boost engagement.
AI-Generated Personalized Trips: Smart travel recommendations tailored to user preferences.
Inclusive & Accessible Community: A digital and physical ecosystem that ensures all students feel welcome.
BuddyBCN was developed to create an engaging, student-focused platform that fosters community through personalized social experiences:
Personalized Connections: AI-driven matchmaking based on interests and needs.
BuddyBCN Hub: A physical space offering study areas, social events, and student-friendly amenities.
Emotion Recognition Technology: AI-enhanced cameras detect emotional states and suggest activities to boost engagement.
AI-Generated Personalized Trips: Smart travel recommendations tailored to user preferences.
Inclusive & Accessible Community: A digital and physical ecosystem that ensures all students feel welcome.
User Research & Key Insights
Target Market: Students aged 18-27 in Barcelona (224,080 students, including 24,476 international students).
Market Trends: Growth in international student enrollment and an increasing need for social integration.
Top Pain Points Identified Through Surveys & Interviews:
Difficulty making friends and integrating socially (primary focus)
Lack of accommodation options
Challenges with bureaucratic processes
Target Market: Students aged 18-27 in Barcelona (224,080 students, including 24,476 international students).
Market Trends: Growth in international student enrollment and an increasing need for social integration.
Top Pain Points Identified Through Surveys & Interviews:
Difficulty making friends and integrating socially (primary focus)
Lack of accommodation options
Challenges with bureaucratic processes
Target Market: Students aged 18-27 in Barcelona (224,080 students, including 24,476 international students).
Market Trends: Growth in international student enrollment and an increasing need for social integration.
Top Pain Points Identified Through Surveys & Interviews:
Difficulty making friends and integrating socially (primary focus)
Lack of accommodation options
Challenges with bureaucratic processes
Design & Development Process
BuddyBCN followed a structured, research-driven approach to refine its user experience:
Ideation Phase: Used "How Might We" (HMW) questions, empathy mapping, and brainstorming techniques like Crazy 8 and Crazy 1
User Journey Mapping: Identified pain points in social integration and designed an engaging, student-friendly solution.
Prototyping & Testing: Created low-fidelity and high-fidelity app prototypes. Conducted usability tests with real students to refine the platform.
BuddyBCN followed a structured, research-driven approach to refine its user experience:
Ideation Phase: Used "How Might We" (HMW) questions, empathy mapping, and brainstorming techniques like Crazy 8 and Crazy 1
User Journey Mapping: Identified pain points in social integration and designed an engaging, student-friendly solution.
Prototyping & Testing: Created low-fidelity and high-fidelity app prototypes. Conducted usability tests with real students to refine the platform.
BuddyBCN followed a structured, research-driven approach to refine its user experience:
Ideation Phase: Used "How Might We" (HMW) questions, empathy mapping, and brainstorming techniques like Crazy 8 and Crazy 1
User Journey Mapping: Identified pain points in social integration and designed an engaging, student-friendly solution.
Prototyping & Testing: Created low-fidelity and high-fidelity app prototypes. Conducted usability tests with real students to refine the platform.
Usability Testing Key Findings
Users struggled with interface navigation (e.g., table booking confusion).
Need for better clarity in booking events and trips.
High interest in AI-generated travel planning and social gamification features.