2025
WIP
APP
EVENTS
Welo: AI Event Discovery Assistant
Self-initiated project exploring better ways to discover local events. Led the full product design process and created a mobile chatbot that recommends events based on mood, language, and location.
Role
Contributions
Timeline
2025
WIP
APP
EVENTS
Welo: AI Event Discovery Assistant
Self-initiated project exploring better ways to discover local events. Led the full product design process and created a mobile chatbot that recommends events based on mood, language, and location.
Role
Contributions
Timeline
2025
WIP
APP
EVENTS
Welo: AI Event Discovery Assistant
Self-initiated project exploring better ways to discover local events. Led the full product design process and created a mobile chatbot that recommends events based on mood, language, and location.
Role
Contributions
Timeline
intro
Exploring how AI and deep surveys can simplify event discovery
Welo was inspired by my own frustration with finding local events through overloaded platforms. I wanted to explore how natural conversation and personalized UX could offer a better experience — especially in a multicultural city like Hamburg.
intro
Exploring how AI and deep surveys can simplify event discovery
Welo was inspired by my own frustration with finding local events through overloaded platforms. I wanted to explore how natural conversation and personalized UX could offer a better experience — especially in a multicultural city like Hamburg.
intro
Exploring how AI and deep surveys can simplify event discovery
Welo was inspired by my own frustration with finding local events through overloaded platforms. I wanted to explore how natural conversation and personalized UX could offer a better experience — especially in a multicultural city like Hamburg.
Prototype
Wireframes
Lo-Fi Prototypes
Test
Usability Testing
A/B Testing
Feedback Sessions
Design process
Design process
Empathize
User Interviews
Empathy Map
Hypotheses
Define
Personas
CJM
POV-statements
How Might We
Ideate
Brainstorming
Crazy 8s
context
Designing a chatbot experience for finding events based on mood, interests, and location
Welo is a self-initiated concept app that helps users discover local events through an AI-powered assistant. The chatbot tailors recommendations based on plain language input — considering context, mood, and language preferences — making discovery faster and more relevant.
context
Designing a chatbot experience for finding events based on mood, interests, and location
Welo is a self-initiated concept app that helps users discover local events through an AI-powered assistant. The chatbot tailors recommendations based on plain language input — considering context, mood, and language preferences — making discovery faster and more relevant.
context
Designing a chatbot experience for finding events based on mood, interests, and location
Welo is a self-initiated concept app that helps users discover local events through an AI-powered assistant. The chatbot tailors recommendations based on plain language input — considering context, mood, and language preferences — making discovery faster and more relevant.
“
We don’t need another event app—we need one that rethinks how recommendations work.
Jamie L.
CEO, Welo
Jamie L.
CEO, Welo
problem
Users struggle to find relevant local events across fragmented, language-biased platforms
Most event discovery tools require manual filtering, switching between apps, or scrolling through irrelevant lists. Users become stuck in the endless feed and lose motivation to go out because it is difficult to find something suitable.
problem
Users struggle to find relevant local events across fragmented, language-biased platforms
Most event discovery tools require manual filtering, switching between apps, or scrolling through irrelevant lists. Users become stuck in the endless feed and lose motivation to go out because it is difficult to find something suitable.
problem
Users struggle to find relevant local events across fragmented, language-biased platforms
Most event discovery tools require manual filtering, switching between apps, or scrolling through irrelevant lists. Users become stuck in the endless feed and lose motivation to go out because it is difficult to find something suitable.
Problem
Problem
Problem
Endless feeds overwhelm users.
Too many events — nothing that fits.
Endless feeds overwhelm users. Too many events — nothing that fits.
Endless feeds overwhelm users. Too many events — nothing that fits.
Solution
Solution
Solution
Welo offers personalized picks through an AI chat and a quick quiz. Just a few events—but the right ones.
Welo offers personalized picks through an AI chat and a quick quiz. Just a few events—but the right ones.
Welo offers personalized picks through an AI chat and a quick quiz. Just a few events—but the right ones.
research
Understanding how people discover events — and why it often feels overwhelming
I conducted 5 in-depth interviews with people living in different cities (Hamburg, Moscow, Tbilisi, Belgrade) who occasionally or regularly attend local events. Participants varied in age, language preference, and digital habits.
research
Understanding how people discover events — and why it often feels overwhelming
I conducted 5 in-depth interviews with people living in different cities (Hamburg, Moscow, Tbilisi, Belgrade) who occasionally or regularly attend local events. Participants varied in age, language preference, and digital habits.
research
Understanding how people discover events — and why it often feels overwhelming
I conducted 5 in-depth interviews with people living in different cities (Hamburg, Moscow, Tbilisi, Belgrade) who occasionally or regularly attend local events. Participants varied in age, language preference, and digital habits.
Users often opened multiple tabs but didn’t know where to start, which led to frustration and giving up.
Most platforms defaulted to German, and users couldn’t easily switch to English.
Too many options made it hard to choose. People struggled to find something that felt right.
Instead of using filters, users preferred to type a simple phrase like “something fun for Friday” and get relevant suggestions.
Users often opened multiple tabs but didn’t know where to start, which led to frustration and giving up.
Most platforms defaulted to German, and users couldn’t easily switch to English.
Too many options made it hard to choose. People struggled to find something that felt right.
Instead of using filters, users preferred to type a simple phrase like “something fun for Friday” and get relevant suggestions.
Users often opened multiple tabs but didn’t know where to start, which led to frustration and giving up.
Most platforms defaulted to German, and users couldn’t easily switch to English.
Too many options made it hard to choose. People struggled to find something that felt right.
Instead of using filters, users preferred to type a simple phrase like “something fun for Friday” and get relevant suggestions.
💬 Says
💬 Says
💪 Does
💪 Does
Thinks 🤔
Thinks 🤔
Feels 😤
Feels 😤
"I spend way too much time searching."
"I spend way too much time searching."
“I want something for me, but I don’t know where to look.”
“I want something for me, but I don’t know where to look.”
“Opens several websites and closes them without choosing anything."
“Opens several websites and closes them without choosing anything."
"Feels relieved when someone recommends something good."
"Feels relieved when someone recommends something good."
62%
Said they spend too much time searching for events.
46%
Open several websites and close them without choosing anything.
77%
Want recommendations that feel like they’re from a friend.
Based on user interviews, I created three personas representing distinct user needs and behaviors. These helped me empathize with different motivations — from planning family weekends to spontaneous social outings.
Based on user interviews, I created three personas representing distinct user needs and behaviors. These helped me empathize with different motivations — from planning family weekends to spontaneous social outings.
Based on user interviews, I created three personas representing distinct user needs and behaviors. These helped me empathize with different motivations — from planning family weekends to spontaneous social outings.
Intentional Family Man
Intentional Family Man
Name:
Thomas Bergmann
Name:
Thomas Bergmann
Origin:
Born and raised in Hamburg, Germany
Origin:
Born and raised in Hamburg, Germany
Occupation:
Occupation:
The Social Explorer
The Social Explorer
Name:
Ana Petrović
Name:
Ana Petrović
Origin:
From Serbia, living in Hamburg for 3 years
Origin:
From Serbia, living in Hamburg for 3 years
Occupation:
SMM manager at a startup
Occupation:
SMM manager at a startup
Urban Weekend Curator
Urban Weekend Curator
Name:
Léa Dubois
Name:
Léa Dubois
Origin:
From France, living in Hamburg for 2 years
Origin:
From France, living in Hamburg for 2 years
Occupation:
Architect at an international firm
Occupation:
Architect at an international firm
I mapped out the end-to-end journey of finding and attending an event — from the initial thought to post-event reflection. This helped identify emotional drop-off points and opportunities for product intervention.
I mapped out the end-to-end journey of finding and attending an event — from the initial thought to post-event reflection. This helped identify emotional drop-off points and opportunities for product intervention.
I mapped out the end-to-end journey of finding and attending an event — from the initial thought to post-event reflection. This helped identify emotional drop-off points and opportunities for product intervention.
Find and choose an interesting event
Find and choose an interesting event
Goal
Goal
Action
Action
Task list
Task list
Improvement opportunities
Improvement opportunities
Accessibility
Accessibility
Thomas' feelings
Thomas' feelings
Ana's feelings
Ana's feelings
Lea's feelings
Lea's feelings
Feel like going out
Feel like going out
Start searching
Start searching
Browse event details
Browse event details
Make a decision
Make a decision
Attend or skip
Attend or skip
Open phone
Think of possible ideas
Browse social/chat apps
Open phone
Think of possible ideas
Browse social/chat apps
Search multiple sources
Use filters or keywords
Compare options
Search multiple sources
Use filters or keywords
Compare options
Open event page
Check description/photos
Look for familiar cues
Open event page
Check description/photos
Look for familiar cues
Save or send to friend
Wait for confirmation
Decide last-minute
Save or send to friend
Wait for confirmation
Decide last-minute
Attend or stay home
Reflect on the choice
Attend or stay home
Reflect on the choice
Mild interest, wants family time
Mild interest, wants family time
Frustrated by irrelevant results
Frustrated by irrelevant results
Uncertain if it’s kid-friendly
Uncertain if it’s kid-friendly
Wants partner’s input
Wants partner’s input
Pleased if it worked out, annoyed if not
Pleased if it worked out, annoyed if not
Restless, wants social energy
Restless, wants social energy
Overwhelmed, too many tabs
Overwhelmed, too many tabs
Worried about going alone
Worried about going alone
Anxious, often indecisive
Anxious, often indecisive
Regret if stayed, proud if went
Regret if stayed, proud if went
Inspired, wants something meaningful
Inspired, wants something meaningful
Picky, critical of design
Picky, critical of design
Evaluates aesthetic and crowd
Evaluates aesthetic and crowd
Confident, but likes options
Confident, but likes options
Inspired or neutral depending on vibe
Inspired or neutral depending on vibe
Replace feed with AI chat assistant to suggest activities based on current mood and time.
Onboarding questionnaire for deeper personalization.
Replace feed with AI chat assistant to suggest activities based on current mood and time.
Onboarding questionnaire for deeper personalization.
Use chat-based filters instead of dropdowns.
Let users ask 'What can I do tonight nearby?' and get relevant picks.
Use chat-based filters instead of dropdowns.
Let users ask 'What can I do tonight nearby?' and get relevant picks.
Present 1-2 smart suggestions per interest.
Show social context and user-fit instead of long lists.
Present 1-2 smart suggestions per interest.
Show social context and user-fit instead of long lists.
Enable quick adjustments of interests via chat.
Add light nudges from assistant like: 'Want to go out tonight?'
Enable quick adjustments of interests via chat.
Add light nudges from assistant like: 'Want to go out tonight?'
Offer post-event feedback via chat.
Update interests automatically based on choices and feedback.
Offer post-event feedback via chat.
Update interests automatically based on choices and feedback.
Voice control and voice response
Language change
Use special fonts for special needs
Provide an in-app messaging system that allows the use of emojis and image uploads.
Voice control and voice response
Language change
Use special fonts for special needs
Provide an in-app messaging system that allows the use of emojis and image uploads.
Place buttons in the centre of the screen
Make the tabs big, contrast + add icons
Place buttons in the centre of the screen
Make the tabs big, contrast + add icons
Show accessibility options, language difficulty, emotional challenges
Hearing option
Avoid complexity
Show accessibility options, language difficulty, emotional challenges
Hearing option
Avoid complexity
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Top pain points:
Too many events, but nothing feels right. Users feel overwhelmed by the volume of listings. Nothing truly resonates with them, so they often give up and stay home.
Searching takes too much time and effort. People browse multiple websites, spend 20–30 minutes looking, and still can’t find something they like. They want quick, relevant suggestions in one place.
Lack of trust in recommendations. Users don’t know who the event is for, what the vibe will be, or who else is going. They want suggestions that feel personal — like a friend’s tip — not a random list.
Top pain points:
Too many events, but nothing feels right. Users feel overwhelmed by the volume of listings. Nothing truly resonates with them, so they often give up and stay home.
Searching takes too much time and effort. People browse multiple websites, spend 20–30 minutes looking, and still can’t find something they like. They want quick, relevant suggestions in one place.
Lack of trust in recommendations. Users don’t know who the event is for, what the vibe will be, or who else is going. They want suggestions that feel personal — like a friend’s tip — not a random list.
Top pain points:
Too many events, but nothing feels right. Users feel overwhelmed by the volume of listings. Nothing truly resonates with them, so they often give up and stay home.
Searching takes too much time and effort. People browse multiple websites, spend 20–30 minutes looking, and still can’t find something they like. They want quick, relevant suggestions in one place.
Lack of trust in recommendations. Users don’t know who the event is for, what the vibe will be, or who else is going. They want suggestions that feel personal — like a friend’s tip — not a random list.
To move from research to design, I analyzed qualitative data through empathy mapping. I defined user pain points, identified user needs, and framed problem statements based on personas. These guided my ideation process, where I used "How Might We" questions to generate possible solutions. I also wrote a value proposition to clarify user goals and challenges, and addressed accessibility considerations following inclusive design principles, ensuring alignment between user needs, business goals, and ethical UX practices.
To move from research to design, I analyzed qualitative data through empathy mapping. I defined user pain points, identified user needs, and framed problem statements based on personas. These guided my ideation process, where I used "How Might We" questions to generate possible solutions. I also wrote a value proposition to clarify user goals and challenges, and addressed accessibility considerations following inclusive design principles, ensuring alignment between user needs, business goals, and ethical UX practices.
To move from research to design, I analyzed qualitative data through empathy mapping. I defined user pain points, identified user needs, and framed problem statements based on personas. These guided my ideation process, where I used "How Might We" questions to generate possible solutions. I also wrote a value proposition to clarify user goals and challenges, and addressed accessibility considerations following inclusive design principles, ensuring alignment between user needs, business goals, and ethical UX practices.