A Local Store Exploring App
CityTrove is a platform dedicated to exploring hidden & niche places in the city, helping users discover unique cafes, bookstores, art exhibitions, street food spots, and more, with community-driven sharing.
User Research
UI Design
Prototype
3 Months
“People Have a Hard Time Finding Places That Fit Their Vibe and Preferences"
Users often waste time scrolling through generic recommendations on Google, Yelp, and Instagram, struggling to find places that truly match their vibe, mood, and preferences. They either get overwhelmed by too many options or end up at places that don’t meet their expectations
Existing platforms (Google Maps, Yelp) prioritize mainstream locations, making it hard to discover authentic, niche spots.
Users have to manually filter hundreds of places without knowing which one really fits their mood, budget, or interests.
Many users don’t trust online ratings due to fake reviews, influencers’ paid promotions, or outdated information.
People spend too much time searching for the right place, leading to frustration or choosing places they don’t really enjoy.
Many niche spots have pop-up events, seasonal menus, or temporary experiences, but there’s no platform that aggregates these in real-time.
Our app should be more than just an exploration tool—it should function like a personalized city concierge that understands each user’s preferences, mood, and past choices to recommend the best places in real-time.
Users can filter by mood, activity type, and atmosphere (e.g., “cozy reading café” vs. “lively cocktail bar”).
The app learns from past visits, liked places, and saved spots to improve future recommendations.
Users must check-in physically to leave a review, reducing fake and sponsored ratings.
The app provides photo-heavy, short-form content (like Instagram reels) instead of long text reviews.
Users can discover pop-up cafés, secret bars, and hidden seasonal spots before they disappear.
- Make Discovery Easy & Personalized – Use interest-based recommendations, interactive maps, and community-driven content to surface hidden gems.
- Foster a Trustworthy Community – Implement user-verified reviews, photo-based check-ins, and reward systems to ensure authentic feedback.
- Encourage Engagement & Retention – Introduce badges, challenges, and leaderboards to keep users exploring and sharing.
- Design a Seamless User Journey – Ensure smooth navigation from discovering places to posting reviews with an intuitive and aesthetic UI.
01. People prefer visual-based discovery rather than reading long reviews.
02. Authenticity matters – users distrust paid promotions & fake reviews.
03. Personalization is key – people want places that fit their vibe, not just generic top-rated spots.
04. Gamification & social sharing drive engagement – users enjoy earning badges, ranking, and community interaction.
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Sophie and her friends, a group of travelers visiting San Francisco for the first time. They are eager to capture memorable photos and videos of the Golden Gate Bridge but aren't sure where the most iconic photo spots are.They want to find scenic viewpoints that offer unique angles and avoid crowded tourist spots. More importantly, they want to share their experiences and inspire others within the City Trove community, gaining recognition and engagement from fellow explorers.
Sophie opens the City Trove app and searches for “Golden Gate Bridge”.
The app displays recommended photo spots around the bridge.
They browse through user-generated posts, viewing photos and videos taken at each spot.
They read authentic reviews and see real experiences shared by other users.
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Location-Based Search: Easily find popular spots with tags like “Most Photographed” and “Hidden Gem.”
User-Generated Content & Authentic Reviews: Provides real experiences and inspirational posts from other explorers.
Sophie and her friends finally arrive at Battery Spencer, a scenic viewpoint with breathtaking panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Sophie takes out her phone and opens the City Trove app.She uses the in-app camera to take stunning photos and record short videos of the bridge against the sunset.
Together, these features create a seamless and engaging experience for capturing and sharing moments.
They enhance social interaction and build a vibrant community, making City Trove more than just an exploration app – it becomes a platform for storytelling and connection.
