Remember 2022, when lockdown reshaped our daily lives? It was a time of challenges, yet neighborhoods came together like never before
However...
As months passed and the world reopened, the connection gradually faded away
Timeline:
Jul-Nov 2022
Project Type:
Individual Project
Tools:
Figma
Miro
Hello Neighbor
Design Concept
Neighbors help each other
Get involved with the neighborhood
Easy to receive neighborhood notification
Participate in more community activities
An app that enables neighbors to support each other, enriching community life with greater convenience and connection.
Insights:
Providing help side: Find the request for help and choose whether to help according to one's preferences.
Needing help side: Ask neighbors for help and wait for answer this request.
Search for questions about the neighborhood and view the answers given by neighbors.
Receive neighborhood notifications posted by community workers and view daily posts of other neighbors.
Join groups of different topics to meet neighbors who share the same hobbies.
Features:
I created 50+ wireframes as a foundation for building high-fidelity prototypes.
Each page provides a basic functions and layout for smoother early user testing before moving into more detailed iterations.
Wireframe
How did Chinese neighborhood relationships change
before, during, and after the pandemic?
REASON
STATE
Gated communities often struggle to create stable emotional bonds among residents, gradually leading to the alienation of neighborhood relationships
Neighbors showed little concern for one another and frequently confronted each other directly at their doorsteps.
Before the pandemic
Neighbors with common interests sometimes socialize, while others have returned to indifference and occasionally argue in WeChat.
As the pandemic improved, the role of WeChat groups weakened, leading to a decline in neighbor interactions.
After the pandemic
Use WeChat groups to exchange items and communicate during the lockdown.
Lockdowns restricted social activities, increasing the need for mutual assistance among neighbors and, as a result, enhancing communication within the neighborhood.
During the pandemic (under lockdown)
High-rise buildings
Multistoried
buildings
Gated community
What do typical Chinese neighborhoods look like?
High Population Density: In densely populated areas, many residents feel anonymous. Living in close quarters does not ensure meaningful connections, resulting in feelings of isolation.
Low Social Relevance: The urban settings with limited shared spaces lead to infrequent and superficial interactions among neighbors. This low social relevance hinders deep social networks and community bonds.
Fragility of Relationships: Weak social connections leave residents vulnerable to conflicts. Without established bonds, minor disagreements can escalate, leading to breakdowns.
Field Research
To understand how residents interact with their neighborhood, I conducted observations in 3 neighborhoods, focusing on how they receive neighborhood notifications and participate in neighborhood activities.
Offline: Bulletin boards
The chaotic layout of the boards makes it hard for residents to find important notices quickly.
Bulletin boards are not visible, making it difficult for residents to notice the posted information
Unrelated content can clutter bulletin boards, causing residents to overlook important announcements.
1
Online: WeChat groups
With numerous messages and no categorization, important notices can be easily buried, making it hard for residents to find useful information.
Many residents activate the “Do Not Disturb” feature for the WeChat group, so they may overlook important announcements from the community workers.
2
Information
Advertisement
Argue
Requirement
Sharing
Chaotic layout
Not visible
No categorization
Neighborhood Notification Methods
Common Neighborhood Activities
Fitness Activities
Chess Game Activities
Volunteer Activities
Health Clinics Activities
Spontaneous organized
Community organized
Lacking young participants
User Research
Want to be closer with their neighbors
92%
74%
Can't receive neighborhood notification conveniently
Don’t know how to be a part of the neighborhood
83%
Seek help from neighbors
74%
Borrow things from neighbors
58%
Chat with neighbors
47%
Join neighborhood activities
34%
Relationship with neighbors in daily life
Nodding
acquaintance
Friends
Chat sometimes
Stranger
Argue frequently
Weekly
Never
Yearly
Monthly
Frequency of needing help from neighbors
I’m going to travel soon, and I’m really worried about how to take care of my dogs while I’m away.
I just moved into a new apartment and I honestly don’t know much about the area.
I adopted a mixed-methods research approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative research methods to identify opportunities for strengthening neighborhood engagement and strengthening the sense of community. I reached out to over 20 residents through a questionnaire survey and conducted 2 interviews, focusing on how, why, and how often residents interact with their neighbors, as well as their willingness to connect with each other.
Final Design
As the app’s core functionality, the mutual assistance module provides a platform for residents to post requests and offer help to one another. This feature encourages a supportive community environment by fostering trust and collaboration among neighbors.
Mutual Assistance Feature
This function is tailored for new tenants or owners who may need insights about the community or local area. Long-term residents can share their knowledge, making it easier for newcomers to settle in and feel at home.
Q&A Feature
This feature allows residents to join groups based on their interests, enabling them to connect with neighbors who have similar hobbies and creating opportunities for meaningful connections within the community.
Groups Feature
Divided into “Community notice” and “Daily notice.” this module makes it easy for everyone to find the information they need. Community workers can post important updates, while residents have a space to share daily news, making information more accessible and strengthening connections among neighbors.
Notification Feature
Incentives
I designed an incentive system within the app to promote user participation and encourage residents to actively engage with the platform.
This points-based system fosters a culture of mutual support, providing users with a sense of achievement and reinforcing their contributions to the community.
This map visualizes the help that users have provided
Users can view their points on their profile
Users earn points when they answer questions or help their neighbors
Users loose points when seeking help from neighbors
Future Design
Envisioning the future of our community, I aim to promote more offline interactions. I plan to create inclusive spaces and meaningful social activities to strengthen connections and cooperation among residents. By encouraging a welcoming environment, I hope to encourage neighbors to engage with one another, ultimately building a stronger and more vibrant community.
Exchange/Donation Center
Festival Celebration Room
Community Kitchen
Shared Garden
A shared space where neighbors come together to cook, share recipes, and enjoy meals
An area for exchanging goods and donations, encouraging sustainability and reducing waste
A room used for community gatherings, where neighbors celebrate holidays
Community garden where neighbors can collaborate to grow fresh produce and flowers
What I Learned
Finding the Right Balance in Incentives
Over-reliance on external incentives may weaken intrinsic motivation, so it’s important to find a balance between internal and external motivation.
Attention to detail is important at every stage of the design process. Whether it's selecting appropriate icons, choosing the right colors, or arranging content, each aspect can have a significant impact on user experience.
Details matters
© 2025 Talia R
taliaren0826@gmail.com