Secondary Research

Prototyping

Video Editing

Wireframing

Concept Creating

Figma

Adobe After Effects

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Google Slides

Blob

Blob

Blob

A fun way to explore common interests in a safe online space for everyone.

A fun way to explore common interests in a safe online space for everyone.

A fun way to explore common interests in a safe online space for everyone.

Timeline

March 4-5 2023

Team

Amaris Gil, Lucia Pineda, DeeDee Kwon, William Choi

1st place – Google Studio Forward Design Sprint

Timeline

March 4-5 2023

Team

Amaris Gil, Lucia Pineda, DeeDee Kwon, William Choi

1st place – Google Studio Forward Design Sprint

Timeline

March 4-5 2023

Team

Amaris Gil, Lucia Pineda, DeeDee Kwon, William Choi

1st place – Google Studio Forward Design Sprint

Background

This year, Google Studio Forward and California College of the Arts hosted a design sprint featuring 20 teams of 5 students, totaling approximately 100 participants. Students from all CCA Design Programs were eligible to participate. Each team was tasked with the same challenge: to "explore social-graph spaces and paradoxical problems for underrepresented or marginalized users–those who do not conform to existing social-graph patterns–in the current technological climate." The winning team received $1,000 and the opportunity to present their refined proposal and sprint experience at an upcoming Google Ads UX Assembly.

This year, Google Studio Forward and California College of the Arts hosted a design sprint featuring 20 teams of 5 students, totaling approximately 100 participants. Students from all CCA Design Programs were eligible to participate. Each team was tasked with the same challenge: to "explore social-graph spaces and paradoxical problems for underrepresented or marginalized users–those who do not conform to existing social-graph patterns–in the current technological climate." The winning team received $1,000 and the opportunity to present their refined proposal and sprint experience at an upcoming Google Ads UX Assembly.

Project Brief

Subcultures created through social media can leave marginalized communities feeling excluded. How can the internet be more inclusive, and how can we encourage more of these positive communities?

Subcultures created through social media can leave marginalized communities feeling excluded. How can the internet be more inclusive, and how can we encourage more of these positive communities?

How might we create a fun way to explore common interests in a safe online space for everyone?

How might we create a fun way to explore common interests in a safe online space for everyone?

Proposed Solution

A social media app geared towards ALL Generation Z users, including marginalized communities:


• Anonymous representation and sharing to avoid reinforcing stereotypes based on human characteristics

• Content sharing and ratings as a form of communication, not words This is to steer clear of cyberbullying and harmful speech

• Shared interests as a basis for exploring profiles to foster genuine connections

A social media app geared towards ALL Generation Z users, including marginalized communities:

• Anonymous representation and sharing to avoid reinforcing stereotypes based on human characteristics

• Content sharing and ratings as a form of communication, not words This is to steer clear of cyberbullying and harmful speech

• Shared interests as a basis for exploring profiles to foster genuine connections

entice

Find other blobs around the world with similar interests

engage

"Follow" other blobs, rate their content, and add their posts to your profile

explore

Discover more content to add to your profile

evolve

The more you interact with "Blob", the more your blob will grow! Blob color is based on category interest

Design Process

1

Concept Creation

1

Concept Creation

4

Style Guide

4

Style Guide

2

Persona

2

Persona

5

Blob Concept

5

Blob Concept

3

Wireframes

3

Wireframes

6

Final Presentation

6

Final Presentation

1

Concept Creation

In the first phase of the sprint, our team gathered together to come up with social media ideas based on the design brief: How can the internet be more inclusive, and how can we encourage more of these positive communities?

In the first phase of the sprint, our team gathered together to come up with social media ideas based on the design brief: How can the internet be more inclusive, and how can we encourage more of these positive communities?

Understand

We researched:
• Cyberbullying
• Marginalization
• Lack of representation
• Negative stereotypes

Doing so helped us clearly understand who are marginalized communities and what their needs are.

We researched:
• Cyberbullying
• Marginalization
• Lack of representation
• Negative stereotypes

Doing so helped us clearly understand who are marginalized communities and what their needs are.

Define

In our research, we found keywords for a more inclusive community such as similar interests, support, and security. Then we asked ourselves probable solutions such as:

• How might we monitor content to ensure non-toxic behavior?
• How might we connect people in a safe space online?

In our research, we found keywords for a more inclusive community such as similar interests, support, and security. Then we asked ourselves probable solutions such as:

• How might we monitor content to ensure non-toxic behavior?
• How might we connect people in a safe space online?

Sketch

With a few questions in mind, we moved on to sketching concepts using the 'Crazy 8s' method, where we sketched eight crazy ideas in eight minutes.

With a few questions in mind, we moved on to sketching concepts using the 'Crazy 8s' method, where we sketched eight crazy ideas in eight minutes.

Decide

We shared our ideas with the team, selected our favorites using the dot voting method, and combined them into a single solution.

That’s how 'Blob' was born!

We shared our ideas with the team, selected our favorites using the dot voting method, and combined them into a single solution.

That’s how 'Blob' was born!

2

Persona

Our persona helped us clearly define the target audience:

Meet Isabel, a young Gen Z student. She enjoys watching true crime shows, listening to music, and making art. Although she would like to find others that share her interests online, she is anxious about cyberbullying.

Our persona helped us clearly define the target audience:

Meet Isabel, a young Gen Z student. She enjoys watching true crime shows, listening to music, and making art. Although she would like to find others that share her interests online, she is anxious about cyberbullying.

3

Wireframes

Our team combined different ideas as to how the interface of the application should look like. From low-fidelity wireframes on paper, to high-fidelity wireframes on the computer, we prototyped the 'Blob' app.

Our team combined different ideas as to how the interface of the application should look like. From low-fidelity wireframes on paper, to high-fidelity wireframes on the computer, we prototyped the 'Blob' app.

Low fidelity wireframes and initial concepts of Blobs' user interface.

Low fidelity wireframes and initial concepts of Blobs' user interface.

From left to right is the evolution of Blob's user interface of the landing page.

From left to right is the evolution of Blob's user interface of the landing page.

A screenshot of a section of the prototype made in Figma.

A screenshot of a section of the prototype made in Figma.

4

Style Guide

Creating a style guide for Blob was one of the most fun parts of this project! Our style guide drew inspiration from space's captivating colors which reflect excitement, universality, and otherworldliness. With users entering this world as blobs, we stepped away from human form and welcomed alien form.

Creating a style guide for Blob was one of the most fun parts of this project! Our style guide drew inspiration from space's captivating colors which reflect excitement, universality, and otherworldliness. With users entering this world as blobs, we stepped away from human form and welcomed alien form.

5

Blob Concept

Our idea for "Blob" was to completely avoid the form of human discrimination and cyberbullying by using a non-human avatar.

As your interests evolve, so does your Blob's size and colors. Blobs can be as diverse as us humans, so it's an ideal replacement for actual human images.

Our idea for "Blob" was to completely avoid the form of human discrimination and cyberbullying by using a non-human avatar.

As your interests evolve, so does your Blob's size and colors. Blobs can be as diverse as us humans, so it's an ideal replacement for actual human images.

6

Final Presentation

Download

Reflections

Don't be afraid to let your creativity run wild and come up with some weird concepts, because they can sometimes develop into designs that make the world a better place. Brainstorming and coming up with a solid idea took the most time in the sprint (it took us 3 rounds of Crazy 8s!). It’s really important to have a solid idea before starting to prototype, but at the same time, don’t overthink it or else you’ll get stuck in a loop.

Don't be afraid to let your creativity run wild and come up with some weird concepts, because they can sometimes develop into designs that make the world a better place. Brainstorming and coming up with a solid idea took the most time in the sprint (it took us 3 rounds of Crazy 8s!). It’s really important to have a solid idea before starting to prototype, but at the same time, don’t overthink it or else you’ll get stuck in a loop.

From left to right: Lucia Pineda, DeeDee Kwon, William Choi, Amaris Gil.

From left to right: Lucia Pineda, DeeDee Kwon, William Choi, Amaris Gil.

©2025 Amaris Gil

©2025 Amaris Gil

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