Product Intern @ Poppin
January — March 2024
How I Used User Research to Increase Poppin’s Presence at UCLA
As Poppin’s first-ever product intern, I stepped into a unique role where I had the chance to shape the app’s presence at UCLA from the ground up. What began as UX research to uncover what students needed quickly evolved into building strategic relationships with UCLA’s social leaders. My insights laid the groundwork for broader adoption, sparking conversations with key influencers in Greek life, and positioning Poppin as a future go-to tool for event management and real-life connection. This case study showcases how my work influenced the app’s trajectory and earned recognition from Poppin’s leadership for driving meaningful change.
Problem Satement
UCLA’s social scene depends on fragmented tools like GroupMe, Slack, and other platforms, leading to disorganized event planning and communication. Social leaders, while frustrated with inefficiencies and lost details, remain tied to these familiar but outdated systems, hindering collaboration and meaningful connections across campus.
Goal
This project aimed to uncover inefficiencies in how UCLA’s social organizations plan events and communicate, positioning Poppin as a solution to streamline processes and foster stronger campus connections.
Research Process
I started by crafting a clear UX research plan, outlining key objectives to guide the process. From there, I developed a detailed interview script and connected directly with users through live sessions to gather their insights. I organized the findings into a structured database, turning raw notes into meaningful trends. These insights shaped a research presentation and a targeted sales pitch, laying the foundation to position Poppin as the go-to solution for UCLA’s social organizations.
Project Timeline
User Pain Points
How Poppin Addresses User Needs
User Challenges
Fraternity and sorority members struggled to manage social events due to there being too many platforms (e.g. spreadsheets, messaging and social media apps).
Community integration tools were lacking, especially for inter-chapter collaboration.
Safety and exclusivity in event planning were difficult to maintain with current tools.
Conducting Interviews
Leveraging my connections within the UCLA community, I arranged multiple interviews with the Social Chairs of each UCLA Sorority and Fraternity. I independently conducted the research sessions, initially exploring the users' behaviors and attitudes towards their current methods of organizing and managing social events for their 200-member chapters.
