Mobile app for a social
network in Switzerland
Discovery
Design system
UX design
UI design
Graphic design
Testing
Mobile app
Low-end prototyping
Low-end prototyping
Hi-end prototyping
Bringing people together in Switzerland through interest groups
Core features
Local Communities: Zirkl focuses on local groups, making it ideal for finding like-minded people in your city or region
Events: The platform allows you to organize and discover events, from small meetups to larger gatherings
User-Friendly: The intuitive interface makes it easy to use for a wide audience
Multilingual: Supports multiple languages, which is especially useful in multilingual Switzerland
Competitors
Meetup: One of the most popular apps for finding interest-based groups and events. In Switzerland, Meetup is widely used to organize gatherings on various topics, from technology and business to hobbies and sports
Internations: A platform for expats and locals to find events, groups, and networking opportunities in Switzerland. Ideal for those looking for professional or social connections. Focuses on international communities but also includes local groups
Nextdoor: A social network for neighbors, where you can find local events, groups, and activities. Popular in Switzerland for connecting with people in your area. Focuses on hyper-local communities
Eventbrite: A platform for discovering and organizing events. In Switzerland, it’s often used for cultural, educational, and social gatherings. You can find events based on your interests or create your own
Spontacts: An app popular in Switzerland and Germany for finding events and interest-based groups. Great for active people looking to explore new hobbies and meet new people. Focuses on spontaneous meetups and activities
Jodel: An anonymous social network popular among students and young people. In Switzerland, it’s used for local discussions and finding events
Geneva lunch club: A local platform for organizing lunches and meetups in Geneva
Couchsurfing hangouts: A platform for travelers, but also used to find local events and meetups
Target audience
Zirkl focuses on local groups, making it ideal for finding like-minded people in your city or region. Also encourages real-life interactions and events, making it a great tool for building meaningful connections
MVP prioritization
Sign Up: Create a profile and list your interests
Find Groups: Search for existing clubs or communities in your area
Create a Group: If you don’t find a suitable group, you can create your own and invite others to join
Organize Events: Plan meetups, post announcements, and invite participants
Future plans
Zirkl focuses on local groups, making it ideal for finding like-minded people in your city or region. Also encourages real-life interactions and events, making it a great tool for building meaningful connections
Design and prototyping
At first glance, a seemingly simple application turned out to be much more complex internally, and to fully develop all the functionality required for the MVP, I had to design over 200 screens
Backend development
Database design:
Set up a database to store user profiles, club information, events, photos, and payment data
Develop APIs for:
Club search and filtering by location, interests, and other parameters
Event creation and management (e.g., adding documents, links, and meeting locations)
Photo gallery uploads and discussions
Payment processing via QR codes
Authentication:
Implement secure user authentication and authorization
Notifications:
Updated application’s Trust Store to include the new server certificate (APNs updated the server certificates in sandbox on January 21, 2025. APNs production server certificates will be updated on February 24, 2025)
Frontend development
Mobile app development:
React Native was used for cross-platform compatibility (iOS and Android)
Key features:
Club Search: Enable users to search for clubs by location, interests, and other filters
Club Management: Allow club admins to create news, events, and photo galleries with discussion threads
Event Features: Add options to attach documents, links, and meeting locations to events
Payment Integration: Implement a QR-based payment system for membership fees, event tickets, or donations
Unique list views:
Due to the complex architecture of category search and the need to allow users to simultaneously select multiple categories for their search, it was decided to create a unique list view element while trying to preserve as much native recognizability as possible.
Our list view element functions both as a checkbox and a drill-in. The left part, sized 48x48 px, acts as a checkbox, while the rest of the surface allows users to delve deeper into subcategories.
Because of the specific local requirements for filtering by cantons, cities, streets, and sometimes even buildings, the number of levels you can drill down into can exceed 10. Only the last nested category is a simple checkbox.
Payment system development / testing
QR Code Integration: Develop a secure QR code generation and scanning system for payments
Security: Ensure compliance with Swiss financial regulations and data protection laws (e.g., GDPR)
Functional Testing: Verified that all features work as intended (e.g., club search, event creation, payments)
Usability Testing: Gather feedback from Swiss users to refine the UX/UI
Security Testing: Ensure data privacy and secure payment processing
Performance Testing: Optimize the app for smooth performance across devices
Launch, marketing, post-launch support and updates
App Store Submission: Publish the app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store
Localized Marketing: Promote the app in Switzerland through social media, partnerships with clubs, and local events
User Onboarding: Provide tutorials and guides to help new users navigate the app.
User Feedback: Collect feedback to identify areas for improvement
Feature Updates: Add new features based on user demand (e.g., advanced search filters, integration with Swiss event platforms)
Maintenance: Regularly update the app to fix bugs and ensure compatibility with new OS versions
Results
Alexey Yarkin © 2025