Smarter Festival Days
Smarter Festival Days
Project Overview
Festivo is a festival planning app
that helps groups coordinate artist schedules, vote on preferences, and navigate large event spaces with ease.
Designed to simplify group decisions and reduce planning stress.
Project Overview
Festivo is a festival planning app
that helps groups coordinate artist schedules, vote on preferences, and navigate large event spaces with ease.
Designed to simplify group decisions and reduce planning stress.
Project Overview
Festivo is a festival planning app
that helps groups coordinate artist schedules, vote on preferences, and navigate large event spaces with ease.
Designed to simplify group decisions and reduce planning stress.
Roles
UX/UI
Researcher
UI Animator
Roles
UX/UI
Researcher
UI Animator
Roles
UX/UI
Researcher
UI Animator
Tools
Tools
Tools
The Problem
The Problem
At music festivals, making decisions as a group is tough.
Everyone has different artists they want to see, and individual needs like grabbing food, using the restroom, or taking breaks often lead to people splitting up.
The result?
Missed moments, confusion, and difficulty reconnecting.
Without a reliable way to stay in sync, the experience becomes disjointed and frustrating.
At music festivals, making decisions as a group is tough.
Everyone has different artists they want to see, and individual needs like grabbing food, using the restroom, or taking breaks often lead to people splitting up.
The result?
Missed moments, confusion, and difficulty reconnecting.
Without a reliable way to stay in sync, the experience becomes disjointed and frustrating.
How might we
How might we
Democratize the festival experience by helping groups stay in sync, while still letting everyone enjoy the best festival has to offer?
Democratize the festival experience by helping groups stay in sync, while still letting everyone enjoy the best festival has to offer?
The Solution
The Solution
Festivo keeps the crew together.
By letting users vote on and rate artists as a group, the app builds a shared schedule that reflects everyone’s preferences.
It also enhances real-time navigation helping users find their way to key destinations and reconnect with friends, so they can focus on the music, not the logistics.
Festivo keeps the crew together.
By letting users vote on and rate artists as a group, the app builds a shared schedule that reflects everyone’s preferences.
It also enhances real-time navigation helping users find their way to key destinations and reconnect with friends, so they can focus on the music, not the logistics.
Competitor Analysis
Research
Research
Research
To design a better festival experience, I needed to understand what motivates people to attend festivals and what challenges they face once they're there.
How they make decisions to what slows them down?
To design a better festival experience, I needed to understand what motivates people to attend festivals and what challenges they face once they're there.
How they make decisions to what slows them down?
User Interviews
User Interviews
I interviewed 6 frequent festival-goers who regularly attend large-scale events like Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Electric Zoo. Going into these conversations, my goal was to better understand:
How people make decisions in dynamic, high-energy environments?
Focus area of research:
I interviewed 6 frequent festival-goers who regularly attend large-scale events like Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Electric Zoo. Going into these conversations, my goal was to better understand:
How people make decisions in dynamic, high-energy environments?
Focus area of research:
Coordinating with friends
Coordinating with friends
Coordinating with friends
Planning which performances to attend
Planning which performances to attend
Planning performances attend
Navigating crowded spaces
Navigating crowded spaces
Navigating crowded spaces
I wanted to uncover pain points in the group experience and identify opportunities where technology could reduce friction and improve the overall flow of the day.
I wanted to uncover pain points in the group experience and identify opportunities where technology could reduce friction and improve the overall flow of the day.
Tools Used:
Tools Used:
Reasons for attending festivals:
Reasons for attending festivals:
Primary Motivations:
The lineupincluding artists and DJs.
Primary Motivations:
The lineupincluding artists and DJs.
Primary Motivations:
The line upincluding artists and DJs.
Secondary Motivations:
Celebrating life events Enjoying the atmosphere Spending quality time with friends and loved ones
Secondary Motivations:
Celebrating life events Enjoying the atmosphere Spending quality time with friends and loved ones
Secondary Motivations:
Celebrating life events Enjoying the atmosphere Spending quality time with friends and loved ones
Challenges in group coordination:
A common pain point was the difficulty in regrouping after splitting up for different interests, such as visiting another stage, bathroom breaks, or food runs.
Challenges in group coordination:
A common pain point was the difficulty in regrouping after splitting up for different interests, such as visiting another stage, bathroom breaks, or food runs.
“I was starving but skipped eating because the food line was insane”
“I was but skipped because the food line was insane”
“I was starving but skipped eating because the food line was insane”
“We kept running into ‘where are you?’ moments.”
“We kept running into ‘where are you?’ moments.”
“We kept running into ‘where are you?’ moments.”
“I missed half a set just trying to find the WC.”
“I missed half a set just trying to find the WC.”
“I missed half a set just trying to find the WC.”
Through an affinity mapping exercise, I identified key challenges festival-goers face including:
Crowd navigation
Decision-making
Time management
These recurring pain points revealed major gaps in existing festival apps.
With these themes in mind, I refined my design focus to address:
seamless group coordination, real-time navigation, and efficient scheduling to enhance the overall festival experience.
Through an affinity mapping exercise, I identified key challenges festival-goers face including:
Crowd navigation
Decision-making
Time management
These recurring pain points revealed major gaps in existing festival apps.
With these themes in mind, I refined my design focus to address:
seamless group coordination, real-time navigation, and efficient scheduling to enhance the overall festival experience.
Key Opportunities for the App
Key Opportunities for the App
Efficiency Over Quality
Attendees often chose food and drinks based on shorter lines rather than preference, suggesting a need for decision-making tools during peak hours.
Efficiency Over Quality
Attendees often chose food and drinks based on shorter lines rather than preference, suggesting a need for decision-making tools during peak hours.
Efficiency Over Quality
Attendees often chose food and drinks based on shorter lines rather than preference, suggesting a need for decision-making tools during peak hours.
Group Over Individual Experience
Many users sacrificed personal preferences to stay with their group, pointing to the difficulty of regrouping once separated.
Group Over Individual Experience
Many users sacrificed personal preferences to stay with their group, pointing to the difficulty of regrouping once separated.
Group Over Individual Experience
Many users sacrificed personal preferences to stay with their group, pointing to the difficulty of regrouping once separated.
Frustration with Reconnecting
A consistent pain point was the struggle to find friends in large crowds. Texting or using landmarks was unreliable and slow.
Frustration with Reconnecting
A consistent pain point was the struggle to find friends in large crowds. Texting or using landmarks was unreliable and slow.
Frustration with Reconnecting
A consistent pain point was the struggle to find friends in large crowds. Texting or using landmarks was unreliable and slow.
Desire for More Structure
All participants showed interest in tools that would help them managing their schedule, coordinating with friends, or navigating the space more easily.
Desire for More Structure
All participants showed interest in tools that would help them managing their schedule, coordinating with friends, or more easily.
Desire for More Structure
All participants showed interest in tools that would help them managing their schedule, coordinating with friends, or navigating the space more easily.
Flows
Flows
I went through two versions of the sitemap and user flow during the design process.
What you see here is the final iteration, refined after mid-fidelity usability testing to streamline navigation and reduce cognitive load in voting for the artists and creating a schedule
With the structure in place I kept my focus on delivering a minimum viable product.
Instead of solving everything at once, I prioritized the most essential paths like quickly locating friends or planning which performances to attend and validated these through targeted usability sessions.
I went through two versions of the sitemap and user flow during the design process.
What you see here is the final iteration, refined after mid-fidelity usability testing to streamline navigation and reduce cognitive load in voting for the artists and creating a schedule
With the structure in place I kept my focus on delivering a minimum viable product.
Instead of solving everything at once, I prioritized the most essential paths like quickly locating friends or planning which performances to attend and validated these through targeted usability sessions.
Wire Frames
Wire Frames
Low-Fidelity Sketches
Before moving into visual design, I sketched low-fidelity wireframes to map out the core functionality of Festivo.
These wireframes were essential for understanding how all the features would integrate into a seamless experience.
Festivo is designed to enhance the overall quality of a festival visit but one of the biggest challenges was creating a flow where each feature unlocked or triggered the next, like a chain reaction.
For example, the interactive map needed to handle all navigation needs finding friends, vendors, exit points, and crowd density (heat maps) all within a single, intuitive screen.
Meanwhile, group-focused features like artist voting and schedule creation required their own distinct spaces, so I positioned them in a separate navigation bar to reduce cognitive load and keep key interactions easily accessible
Low-Fidelity Sketches
Before moving into visual design, I sketched low-fidelity wireframes to map out the core functionality of Festivo.
These wireframes were essential for understanding how all the features would integrate into a seamless experience.
Festivo is designed to enhance the overall quality of a festival visit but one of the biggest challenges was creating a flow where each feature unlocked or triggered the next, like a chain reaction.
For example, the interactive map needed to handle all navigation needs finding friends, vendors, exit points, and crowd density (heat maps) all within a single, intuitive screen.
Meanwhile, group-focused features like artist voting and schedule creation required their own distinct spaces, so I positioned them in a separate navigation bar to reduce cognitive load and keep key interactions easily accessible
Logo and Style Development
Logo and Style Development
Logo Design Process
The logo represents the fusion of the EDM community and technology. Futuristic, playful, and friendly, with robotic and tech-inspired vibes.
Logo Design Process
The logo represents the fusion of the EDM community and technology. Futuristic, playful, and friendly, with robotic and tech-inspired vibes.
I explored two directions:
One with a more consistent and minimalistic look,
and another that was more playful, showcasing a variety of different character styles.
I explored two directions:
One with a more consistent and minimalistic look,
and another that was more playful, showcasing a variety of different character styles.
After testing both across different scales and considering the app’s purpose and usability, I decided to move forward with the minimalistic and tech-focused direction
After testing both across different scales and considering the app’s purpose and usability, I decided to move forward with the minimalistic and tech-focused direction
Style Choice
Most of the interview participants identified with the EDM crowd, so the visual style needed to resonate with that community.
I aimed for a look that felt energetic, stylish, and vibrant glowy neon balanced with darker tones to reflect the mood of nighttime festivals.
I drew inspiration from fast dance movements, shutter-speed effects, and double exposure to give the design a sense of motion and rhythm. The aesthetic flirts with a slightly edgy, almost "evil-but-friendly" feel bold and expressive, yet still approachable.
All of this had to be grounded in a tech-forward interface that felt intuitive and easy to navigate, even when things
got visually loud.
Style Choice
Most of the interview participants identified with the EDM crowd, so the visual style needed to resonate with that community.
I aimed for a look that felt energetic, stylish, and vibrant glowy neon balanced with darker tones to reflect the mood of nighttime festivals.
I drew inspiration from fast dance movements, shutter-speed effects, and double exposure to give the design a sense of motion and rhythm. The aesthetic flirts with a slightly edgy, almost "evil-but-friendly" feel bold and expressive, yet still approachable.
All of this had to be grounded in a tech-forward interface that felt intuitive and easy to navigate, even when things
got visually loud.
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High Fidelity Wire Frames
High Fidelity Wire Frames
Account Creation/Sign up Process
Account Creation/Sign up Process
Usability Testing
During the sign-up process, users are asked to fill in their contact information, select their favorite genres of music and food, and upload a profile photo for their profile page.
AI uses these preferences later for schedule creation and live update notifications
Usability Testing
During the sign-up process, users are asked to fill in their contact information, select their favorite genres of music and food, and upload a profile photo for their profile page.
AI uses these preferences later for schedule creation and live update notifications
Users can track the sign-up process by looking at the progress bar above the page and are free to skip any information to be filled in later if needed
Users can track the sign-up process by looking at the progress bar above the page and are free to skip any information to be filled in later if needed
Iterations
After mid-fidelity usability testing, testers wanted the ability to go back to previous pages, so a back button was added along with a skip button.
To make the onboarding process more fun and set the vibe, AI-generated photos were added to the background.
These images were later edited in Photoshop to maintain layout consistency and add additional touches to align with the brand guidelines, including colors, negative space, proper composition, contrast, and more
Iterations
After mid-fidelity usability testing, testers wanted the ability to go back to previous pages, so a back button was added along with a skip button.
To make the onboarding process more fun and set the vibe, AI-generated photos were added to the background.
These images were later edited in Photoshop to maintain layout consistency and add additional touches to align with the brand guidelines, including colors, negative space, proper composition, contrast, and more
Voting Process
Voting Process
Voting Process
Usability Testing
During usability testing, users are asked to find the vote button to begin the group voting process for schedule creation. Then, they invite and accept friends, finally closing the group before moving on to artist selection, which will be rated later
Usability Testing
During usability testing, users are asked to find the vote button to begin the group voting process for schedule creation. Then, they invite and accept friends, finally closing the group before moving on to artist selection, which will be rated later
How do users join a voting session?
The group leader activates Bluetooth.
Friends nearby request to join the session.
The group leader accepts or rejects participants.
Once everyone has joined, the group leader closes the voting booth by toggling the switch off
How do users join a voting session?
The group leader activates Bluetooth.
Friends nearby request to join the session.
The group leader accepts or rejects participants.
Once everyone has joined, the group leader closes the voting booth by toggling the switch off
How do users join a voting session?
The group leader activates Bluetooth.
Friends nearby request to join the session.
The group leader accepts or rejects participants.
Once everyone has joined, the group leader closes the voting booth by toggling the switch off
A user joins the circle
A user joins the circle
Gamified steps in action,
with clear visuals for
each phase of the process
Gamified steps in action,
with clear visuals for
each phase of the process
Iterations
Some users struggled to find or recognize key task buttons, such as the "Vote" button. To address this usability pain point, navigation bars now include brief descriptions of each action.
The group leader is visually placed within the voting group circle, and the placement of the "Accept" and "Adjust" buttons has been slightly modified for better accessibility.
Most importantly, the toggle button to open and close the voting session has been positioned directly beneath the group circle for intuitive access
Iterations
Some users struggled to find or recognize key task buttons, such as the "Vote" button. To address this usability pain point, navigation bars now include brief descriptions of each action.
The group leader is visually placed within the voting group circle, and the placement of the "Accept" and "Adjust" buttons has been slightly modified for better accessibility.
Most importantly, the toggle button to open and close the voting session has been positioned directly beneath the group circle for intuitive access
Before
Before
After
After
Rating Process
Rating Process
Interactive Schedule
Interactive Schedule
How do users view the interactive schedule?
Once the votes are submitted, the group leader approves the final suggested schedule.
The first screen allows users to manually scroll through the schedule with a swipe of their hand.
The "Live" button takes users to real-time view, where the calendar moves upwards as time passes.
A blue line indicates the current time
How do users view the interactive schedule?
Once the votes are submitted, the group leader approves the final suggested schedule.
The first screen allows users to manually scroll through the schedule with a swipe of their hand.
The "Live" button takes users to real-time view, where the calendar moves upwards as time passes.
A blue line indicates the current time
Find a Friend Flow
Find a Friend Flow
How do users find their friends?
After logging in, testers were asked to locate the festival map from the available list and explore
the interactive map.
All users easily found the friend navigation icon on the map.
Once clicked, it displays synced friends from the voting group. A selected user’s route is drawn from the user's location, showing both the distance and walking time.
Users can apply the same navigation standard for vendors, WCs, and exit signs as well.
How do users find their friends?
After logging in, testers were asked to locate the festival map from the available list and explore
the interactive map.
All users easily found the friend navigation icon on the map.
Once clicked, it displays synced friends from the voting group. A selected user’s route is drawn from the user's location, showing both the distance and walking time.
Users can apply the same navigation standard for vendors, WCs, and exit signs as well.
Key Learnings from the Process & Next Steps
Key Learnings from the Process & Next Steps
Key Learnings from the Process & Next Steps
This project taught me how to make design decisions for a group setting and optimize an app for a crowded, fast-moving environment.
To push this concept further, I’d collaborate with engineers to test Bluetooth connectivity and navigation in low-wifi conditions, prioritizing an offline system to keep the app functional with little to no internet connection.
AI-driven scheduling was an exciting feature to explore, but it needs more testing to refine accuracy.
I’d also like to develop an AI-powered sound and messaging assistant that improves with continued use.
On the design side, I’d work with visual designers to refine a brand identity that truly resonates with the EDM festival community exploring alternative aesthetics and testing them with users.
This project showed me how digital tools can elevate the festival experience, and I’m excited to explore how AI, offline functionality, and community-driven design can make these apps even more immersive and reliable.
This project taught me how to make design decisions for a group setting and optimize an app for a crowded, fast-moving environment.
To push this concept further, I’d collaborate with engineers to test Bluetooth connectivity and navigation in low-wifi conditions, prioritizing an offline system to keep the app functional with little to no internet connection.
AI-driven scheduling was an exciting feature to explore, but it needs more testing to refine accuracy.
I’d also like to develop an AI-powered sound and messaging assistant that improves with continued use.
On the design side, I’d work with visual designers to refine a brand identity that truly resonates with the EDM festival community exploring alternative aesthetics and testing them with users.
This project showed me how digital tools can elevate the festival experience, and I’m excited to explore how AI, offline functionality, and community-driven design can make these apps even more immersive and reliable.
