NOCIW





Introducing Nociw, a platform that lets you share media and connect with people in your local area who share your interests. By focusing on what's happening nearby and what matters to you, Nociw makes it easy to find and connect with your community. Explore how I designed this user-friendly platform to bring people together in meaningful ways.



Role



Chief Product Officer



Brief



As CPO, I led ideation, planning, and design.



Timeline



From Nov 2020 - June 2024



Background & Problem





The idea for Nociw was conceived before I joined the team, inspired by the challenges faced during the COVID-19 global pandemic. One major issue was the lack of local connectivity for essential needs such as finding blood donors, plasma, food, and other resources. Existing platforms were unable to address these specific needs effectively.

The founder envisioned creating a Public Map to help connect people and solve these problems. Upon joining, my first task was to build a platform that not only facilitates engagement and connection among users but also retains them on the platform.



Solution





Initial Thoughts

From the beginning, I was focused on building a platform where people could connect in their localities, but the question was: why would they connect?



Why not a need-based app?

One of our team members suggested creating a need-based platform like Uber or Zomato. However, this approach wasn't feasible because we didn't have a specific need to address. Instead, we wanted our users to solve their problems using the platform we provided.

Additionally, a need-based app wouldn't help us retain users, as they would leave the platform once their need was fulfilled.



Strong Thoughts





Location



After extensive brainstorming, discussions, surveys, and meetings, we decided to build a social media platform that prioritizes content based on the user's posted location, showing the nearest content first.


This way, we achieved our initial goal of creating a location-based media-sharing platform.



Interests



We came up with the idea of adding interests to narrow the method of connecting with like-minded people. For example, if a designer wants to connect with another designer nearby, they can simply select the "design" interest.


The content will then be prioritized based on both the user's location and interest, providing the best results.



Community



To effectively entertain and retain local users on our platform, we recognized the importance of local communities. Integrating local communities ensures that users feel a sense of familiarity, in line with Jakob's Law of UX.


Moreover, this approach allows us to target our product more effectively to specific audiences, enhancing user engagement and retention.



Brand Identity





Color





For our brand color, we chose a shade of blue (#1569C7) that reflects our core values and resonates with our industry. Blue symbolizes trust, reliability, and professionalism, essential qualities in our platform for local community engagement and media sharing. It instills a sense of security, which is crucial for fostering connections and trust among our users. Additionally, blue promotes a feeling of calmness and intelligence, aligning perfectly with our mission to create a user-friendly and trustworthy platform for local interactions and content sharing.



Logo





The initial step in our brand design journey was crafting an iconic and distinctive logo. The founder of Nociw expressed a desire for a logo featuring the alphabet "N". As a designer, my responsibility was to create a logo that not only fulfilled this request but also established a unique identity and fostered a sense of connection among our users.



Design





Sketching out flows and wire-framing





With numerous flows mapped out, I began sketching and designing screens as grayscale wireframes in Figma.





some of my many sketches.



Hi-fidelity Screens & Prototype





I revisited my grayscale wireframes, bringing them to life with color and photos. I created a version ready for prototyping and testing to gather feedback.





Value Proposition Testing





I outlined my objectives before testing the usability and flow of the prototype:

  • Do users find value in the app and its features?
  • What confusion do users encounter?
  • What can be improved?

I tested the prototype with family and friends, guiding them through it and asking questions to understand their thought processes.



Screens!





The hard work paid off after 2 years, resulting in meticulously crafted app screens that showcase a seamless and engaging user experience.



Future Vision





Looking at my screens now, it's tempting to keep iterating and bring more ideas to life. Since this project relies on user-generated content and follows a growth timeline, I'll step back and list the features I would add if given the opportunity.

If I had enough resources and time, I would create:



1. Nociw Local Battleground:

​

To make Nociw stand out from other social media platforms, I envisioned the Nociw Local Battleground. This feature is like a multiplayer game where users earn points based on the local engagement of their content.

The goal is to boost content quality. Users level up with these points, earning badges and spots on the local leaderboard. If content gets more than three reports, the user loses points. More than nine reports in 21 days will trigger a review by the Nociw team. If the content violates guidelines, it will be deleted, and the user's account will be frozen for nine days or as needed.



2. Local Community:


We recognized early on that local communities are essential for fostering a sense of familiarity among users. However, we had to postpone this plan due to pressing user needs. Given the opportunity,

I would focus on developing this feature, ensuring users can connect with local communities, and enhancing their sense of belonging and engagement on the platform.



3. Local TV:

​

Inspired by my small town's local TV channel, I envisioned a feature called Local TV for Nociw. This would allow local vendors to market their products and shops directly through their phones and share important information.

This feature would blend seamlessly into Nociw, making it easier for local businesses to reach their audience and for users to stay informed about local news and updates.



4. Local Freelancers:


As we aimed to help people connect locally and solve their problems, I came up with the idea of Local Freelancers. This feature would enable users to connect with local job seekers and collaborate on projects. It would support local talent by allowing people to find the right collaborators nearby, simplifying personal meetings, and fostering mutual assistance.

As a Product Designer behind the project, I'm always ready with better plans to execute. The features listed above—Nociw Local Battleground, Local Communities, Local TV, and Local Freelancers—are just a glimpse of my vision for creating a more engaging and connected local experience on Nociw.



More of Nociw





Marketing Posters:


These posters are designed to market Nociw to college students, our ideal audience for exploring new things. We've strategically placed these posters in spots where students spend most of their time— hostels, cafes, stationery, etc.

Giving a clear message that if you see one of these posters while waiting for your coffee or cramming for exams, remember, Nociw is just a scan away!



NFT:


NFT or the NOCIW Festival of Talents is an extravagant online event aimed at encouraging the younger generation mainly college students to showcase their talents and get exposed to fellow passionate students with the same talents on a huge scale, all made possible with the NOCIW platform.



Social Media:


Here are some of my finest creations for Nociw, specifically designed for social media marketing. Each piece is crafted to capture attention, engage our audience, and effectively communicate the unique features and benefits of Nociw. These designs aim to boost brand visibility and foster a strong connection with our users across various social media platforms.



Thanks for sticking with me till the end! Your dedication deserves a high-five ✋



& Don’t forget to Download Nociw.