UrbanCam - Social Media App
UrbanCam was designed as a fresh social-media experience that allowed people to share creative photos and videos with full control over privacy and timing. The app enabled users to add custom filters, share up to 20-second videos, and publish content across other platforms. A standout feature was the ability to create private rooms — allowing users to share content only with invited people.
01
Problem Statement
Most social apps at the time lacked deeper control over how photos and videos were shared. Users had no way to:
• decide exactly who could view their posts,
• delay or time their publishing,
• create private invite-only spaces,
• or apply custom filters before sharing across platforms.
UrbanCam needed to give users more control, creativity, and privacy while keeping sharing quick and effortless.
02
Competitive Research & Analysis
While platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and Vine dominated visual sharing, they each had gaps:
• Instagram: strong at filters, but no timed publishing and no private rooms.
• Snapchat: temporary posts existed, but not invite-only rooms and not multi-platform sharing.
• Vine: short videos, but limited privacy controls and no photo features.
UrbanCam aimed to blend creativity, privacy, and timed publishing — a combination not widely available in existing apps.
03
Solution
The designed solution introduced:
• Custom photo & video filters for creativity.
• 20-second video uploads with countdown timers for scheduled posting.
• Private Rooms — invite-only spaces for sharing with select people.
• Multi-platform sharing, allowing users to post UrbanCam content to other social platforms.
• Interest-based onboarding, helping users see relevant content after signup.
The interface focused on simplicity, speed, and easy navigation, making it intuitive even for first-time users.
04
Learnings & Reflection
• Designing for privacy + creativity requires balancing simplicity with control.
• Users value features that feel personal — like private rooms and timed posts.
• Even small social apps need smooth onboarding to gain adoption.
• Clear visual hierarchy and fast workflows are essential for content-driven apps.
• This project strengthened the ability to design for camera-based features, filters, and user-generated content flows.