Flickz!: Share the experience, stay connected.
Daniel Cui
As we face a new context - a new mode of living - how do we create social connection through virtual means?
Movies and cinemas have long been a source of entertainment, comfort, and gathering - a medium through which people can explore unique worlds and escape through stories. Today, with streaming services dominating the entertainment consumption market, and the world in isolation following the spread of COVID-19, our connection to (and through) movies is more fragile than ever.
Flickz! is an app intended to promote social connectivity challenging the isolated way of life we’ve come to know. A platform with a focus on accessibility, and driven by the cinema community, this new context seeks to provide a distinct and original collective experience.
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INSIGHT
Amidst a time of separation and seclusion, there is more need for virtual connection than ever before. Moviegoing is no longer a viable social pastime, and yet people yearn for the escapism and connection of films.
Looking into the experiential nature of cinemagoing and the psychological/therapeutic effects of movie consumption, I learned of the connections between user immersion and social connection, demonstrating the way in which collective experiences can impact the emotional responses within a movie experience - basically, being part of an audience is essential to the enjoyment and immersion of all viewers.
IDEA
A new approach to social interaction founded in the shared passion for films, Flickz! is a platform for remote social connections, and a new kind of collective experience. Users can attend scheduled public screenings, video call with friends while watching a film, and interact with new people online.
Flickz! introduces novel ways of expressing oneself through digital means: Record and share audio reactions (“Flicks”) at the touch of a button, and “React” to others’ posts within your “Flickstream” - or “Echo” to show your appreciation and share with your friends. This interactive medium extends the way in which users can socialize and connect, leading to a more fulfilling and meaningful experience.
IMPACT
Flickz! aims to fill the void of a post-COVID world, providing a fresh, accessible take on movie consumption. Available to anyone with access to a phone and a streaming service subscription, this platform presents an intuitive, engaging way of watching movies and connecting with others
Our understanding of digital media and virtual interaction continues to change, challenging modern conventions of socialization. As this manifests in emerging technologies, Flickz! could find itself at the forefront of entertainment consumption and social media, with the potential to seamlessly integrate into AR and VR devices.
Daniel Cui
Exploring the world of design with an inquisitive eye, my work and process are driven by a desire to understand and learn. Experiential design is my current area of interest, looking at how interaction, aesthetics, and environment impact the human experience - and striving to design for the betterment of people and planet alike.