LOCL | MVP Launch for a Community App
Designing core experiences for LOCL's MVP launch—a community platform built to support real participation, not endless scrolling.
Role
Jr. Product Designer
Scope
0 → 1 MVP product design
Tools
Figma, Adobe Suite, Test Flight, Slack
Overview
LOCL is a startup reimagining how people connect through local communities.
I joined during the MVP phase, contributing to the design of core product experiences—focusing on how users build identity, discover communities, and connect with others.
My work focused on defining the foundational UX patterns that would shape early adoption and long-term engagement.
Problem
Early concepts lacked clarity in how users would actually engage:
Discovery felt overwhelming and unstructured
User profiles didn’t provide enough context to build trust
Community spaces lacked clear interaction patterns
Messaging wasn’t seamlessly integrated into the experience
At the MVP stage, these gaps posed a major risk: users wouldn’t understand how to engage—or why to return.
Design Solutions
Focused on building systems—not just screens.
1. Design for trust first
People need to quickly understand who they’re engaging with.
2. Reduce friction to engagement
Every step from discovery → joining → interacting needed to feel effortless.
3. Leverage familiar patterns
Borrow interaction models from established social platforms to reduce learning curves.
4. Build for scale, not just MVP
Created flexible UI patterns that could evolve as the product grows.