Maitrī
Maitrī (pronounced “my-tree”) is a relationship-building mobile app named after the Sanskrit word for loving-kindness, friendship, and active interest in others.
DGMG Capstone, 2025
SKILLS: Prototyping | User Research | Design Systems | App Development
TOOLS: Framer | Figma | Play | Xcode | SwiftUI
Context
Capstone project for Digital Media Design Master's.
The world has an epidemic of loneliness. Despite the abundance of social media and messaging apps, many people feel disconnected from their closest friends and find it hard to stay in touch. Reaching out has become harder, while messages left unread are more common than ever.
Process
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User and Market Research
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Brand development / Design System
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Figma Prototype
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Xcode App development
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User testing
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Functioning MVP with a few user flows that supports authentication and basic functions as a mobile app available on TestFlight
Goal
Design app for meaningful, passive yet intimate connections with your chosen circle.
The promise to the customer is to create an app that is easy to use, doesn’t require a lot of mental bandwidth, yet helps you and your friends stay engaged and up to date with each other, creating meaningful connections and opening conversations.
Deliverable
An app available on TestFlight with core functionality.
Each day, users and their chosen circle receive one shared question, ranging from light and everyday to deeper and more personal. Users answer first before seeing others’ responses, creating a sense of mutual presence. In addition to the shared daily feed, Maitrī offers direct chat conversations with customizable question topics, cadence, and depth, allowing different relationships to grow at their own pace.
