Socius
Strengthening Apartment Communities Through Connection
My Role
Description
Product designer
Socius is an app designed for apartment residents to connect, share interests, and organize social events.
Teammate
Atharva Sakharkar
duration
72 Hours
Socius
A designathon Project
Context
This project was created during a 72-hour designathon organized by UCSB, where I worked under tight time constraints to tackle the challenge of fostering community engagement in urban living. The goal was to design a solution that enables apartment residents to connect, share interests, and organize social initiatives in a secure and engaging way.
Learnings
This designathon was one of the most valuable learning experiences for me. I learned how to:
Prioritize effectively – Focusing on core features that drive the biggest impact.
Make fast design decisions – Balancing speed with usability.
Adapt and iterate quickly – Moving forward with confidence despite limited time.
Outcomes
During onboarding users select their interest and the app generates some groups they can join.
Entering details
Choosing interests
Joining groups
At the home page users can find upcoming events hosted by residents and RSVP for them.
Finds Events
RSVP for it
Join group chat
Users can create their own events and open up a group chat for it.
At homepage
Creating an event
Event details
Additional details
Confirmation screen
Socius helps apartment residents foster real connections.
Problem
Urban residents often experience isolation, struggling to meet like-minded neighbors, stay informed about local activities, and organize social initiatives. Existing platforms lack exclusive, apartment-focused solutions that promote safe and meaningful engagement.
Solution
Socius creates a private, invite-only platform that allows residents to connect, join interest-based groups, create and attend events, and communicate seamlessly—turning apartment complexes into thriving communities.
Key Features
Invite-only access for a safe community.
Event creation & discovery.
Interest-based groups for shared activities.
Direct messaging & group chats.
Stronger community connections
Connect with neighbors through shared interests.
Easier Event Planning
Seamlessly create and discover community events.