Project Branca
Connect students anywhere everywhere
The Problem
At the University of Toronto, many students live scattered across the city—yet proximity didn’t translate to connection. Our research uncovered a growing issue: students felt alone, disconnected, and unsure how to meet others nearby.
At the University of Toronto, many students live scattered across the city—yet proximity didn’t translate to connection. Our research uncovered a growing issue: students felt alone, disconnected, and unsure how to meet others nearby.
Client
UofT Innovation Hub
Services
UX/UI Design Strategized Branding User Research Interactive Prototype
Industries
Higher Education
Date
Feburary 2023
The Outcome
Enter Branca—a mobile platform designed to foster local student connections in a respectful, low-pressure environment. From neighborhood forums to opt-in visibility controls, Branca empowers users to form real-world relationships at their own pace.
The final concept helps students:
✅ Discover peers nearby
✅ Join or host community events
✅ Start conversations within their local area
✅ Always stay in control of what they share
It's not just a social app—it’s a bridge to belonging.
The Outcome
Enter Branca—a mobile platform designed to foster local student connections in a respectful, low-pressure environment. From neighborhood forums to opt-in visibility controls, Branca empowers users to form real-world relationships at their own pace.
The final concept helps students:
✅ Discover peers nearby
✅ Join or host community events
✅ Start conversations within their local area
✅ Always stay in control of what they share
It's not just a social app—it’s a bridge to belonging.
Click screens to view prototyped demo
How We Got There
Research
We began by surveying and interviewing UofT students across the GTA. The results? A clear pattern of isolation—even in densely populated buildings. Most students were open to connecting, but hesitant to make the first move.
How We Got There
Research
We began by surveying and interviewing UofT students across the GTA. The results? A clear pattern of isolation—even in densely populated buildings. Most students were open to connecting, but hesitant to make the first move.
Meet Amelia, the Alienated—a student who lives just minutes from peers but feels worlds apart. Like many, she wants to connect, but fears awkwardness, rejection, or privacy intrusion.
We needed a way to help students like Amelia reach out without overstepping—to create a path from “stranger” to “neighbor” in a way that felt natural and safe.
Meet Amelia, the Alienated—a student who lives just minutes from peers but feels worlds apart. Like many, she wants to connect, but fears awkwardness, rejection, or privacy intrusion.
We needed a way to help students like Amelia reach out without overstepping—to create a path from “stranger” to “neighbor” in a way that felt natural and safe.
Prototyping & Testing
We moved fast from hand-drawn wireframes to clickable mid-fidelity prototypes using Marvel. With six defined tasks and a think-aloud protocol, we tested Branca with students from various Toronto neighborhoods.
Feedback confirmed what we hoped: users appreciated Branca’s balance between connection and privacy. Features like profile control and neighborhood filters helped users feel safe while still curious to engage.
Prototyping & Testing
We moved fast from hand-drawn wireframes to clickable mid-fidelity prototypes using Marvel. With six defined tasks and a think-aloud protocol, we tested Branca with students from various Toronto neighborhoods.
Feedback confirmed what we hoped: users appreciated Branca’s balance between connection and privacy. Features like profile control and neighborhood filters helped users feel safe while still curious to engage.
Final Thoughts Branca isn’t just an app—it’s a quiet nudge toward community. For students like Amelia, it means knowing someone nearby sees them, hears them, and might just say hi back.