Afterparty: Crowdfunding for Events
Mobile App
ROLE
Product Design Lead
SUMMARY
We set out to make event planning and execution easier. Aftrparty is a tool to help crowdfund events like birthday parties, barbecues, roadtrips and anything else you can think of.
OVERVIEW
In an era where digital platforms predominantly focus on documenting past experiences, Aftrparty emerges as a forward-thinking social application dedicated to the future of event planning. Recognizing the shift away from traditional social media platforms among Gen Z users, particularly the decline in Facebook event utilization, Aftrparty aims to fill the gap with a solution tailored to the modern user's needs for sharing and organizing future events.
CHALLENGE
With Facebook projected to lose 44% of its user base in the coming years, there's a clear void in effective tools for event planning among younger generations. This gap was evidenced by the increasing trend of individuals sharing event-related content, such as party flyers and concert tickets, on platforms not designed for event planning like Instagram. Aftrparty was conceptualized to address this specific need, providing a platform that not only facilitates event planning but also enhances the social experience by incorporating elements of crowdfunding and discovery.
SOLUTION
Aftrparty is designed as a comprehensive social platform that caters to the planning, broadcasting, crowdfunding, and discovery of events. It empowers users to create and share a wide range of social gatherings, from birthday parties and BBQs to road trips and lake boating days. The platform stands out by focusing on future events, allowing users to effectively organize and fund their plans through a community-driven approach.
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
The journey to Aftrparty's creation involved meticulous design and user experience consideration, ensuring the platform was intuitive yet powerful. After extensive design phases, a beta test with 60 users was conducted, revealing invaluable insights that guided further refinements. Partnering with a reputable development firm and securing $60K in funding propelled the project towards completion. Currently, Aftrparty is in its final development stages, with a planned beta test for 100 pre-registered users, signaling the near readiness for a wider launch.
TESTING AND VALIDATION
Aftrparty's development was rigorously tested through various stages, including informal testing with friends and more structured testing with college students at the University of Utah. These tests were crucial in refining the user interface and experience, ensuring the platform met the actual needs and preferences of its target demographic.
LAUNCH AND IMPACT
Aftrparty is now live on both the Google Play and Apple App Store, marking a significant milestone for the startup. The platform has been met with enthusiasm, securing a $7 million evaluation, which underscores the market's confidence in Aftrparty's potential. The app's extensive testing and user-centric design have positioned it as a promising solution for event planning, reflecting a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the Gen Z market.