CloseKnit



A social media platform designed to help long-distance close friends stay connected and intimate in meaningful ways.


Year  2025Tags  Product Design, UX Research, Art Direction




CloseKnit turns everyday interactions into collectible threads; friends can weave their shared moments into something tangible for their avatars.





Problem Statement

As someone with long-distance friendships, I’ve often struggled to stay connected beyond the occasional check-ins because of time zone differences and busy schedules. While social media makes it easy to share updates with a wide audience, it rarely cultivates the meaningful conversations that keep close friendships strong.



UX Research



User Interview


Participants

The team (credited below) interviewed 5 participants aged 26-39 who actively maintain long-distance close friendships 


Interview Goals

 Identify current tools and habits used to stay connected
 Discover pain points and unmet needs
Gather insights to inform feature development


Affinity Diagram

I then synthesized all interview codes into an affinity diagram, and categorized the findings into two themes:



A. Communication & Connection Preferences

Having shareable content on the platform is an important factor in maintaining engagement

Key motivations for staying connected include

  1.     The desire to share life updates 
  2.     Emotional needs (missing each other, or feeling down) 
  3.     The expectation of responding to what has been sent

B. Challenges & Maintenance of Long Distance Friendships

 The primary challenges in maintaining these relationships include

  1.     Time zone differences & busy schedules 
  2.     The difficulty of sustaining emotional bonds virtually 

Despite the obstacles, participants maintain their long distance friendships through

  1.     Individual willingness to engage 
  2.     Occasional catch-ups and in-person meetups 
  3.     Ongoing emotional support



View Affinity Diagram


User Needs

Based on the findings, I concluded that the product should:

  • Support both synchronous and asynchronous interactions 
  • Address scheduling difficulties across time zones
  • Prompt structured interactions while maintaining a sense of spontaneity
  • Create safe spaces where users feel comfortable being vulnerable





Information Architecture

The information architecture of CloseKnit is designed to foster a sense of togetherness. 

A key highlight is the Rooms tab, where the language intentionally evokes memories of spending time together in the same space. Just like a living room, a Room serves as the hub for most interaction features such as chat and calls, accessing the group calendar, and viewing posted threads and knitted items. 

By framing digital spaces as Rooms, CloseKnit helps users feel a stronger sense of presence and belonging, making long-distance friendships feel just as natural as they once were.




Art Direction


Overall Concept


The art direction for CloseKnit centers around familiarity and a sense of togetherness. I wanted to recreate the feeling of friends hanging out in the same living room: relaxed, spontaneous, and effortlessly connected. 



Visual Language


The stitch pattern, soft textures, playful avatars, and inviting color palette work together to evoke a cozy atmosphere and echo the name of the product.






CreditsUser Interview TeamMehdi Sadath Assadi, Aman Lokhande, 
Shruti Srivastava, Sean Yu and myself

IllustrationOrenji Studio, IconScout

TypefacesFraunces by Phaedra Charles & Flavia Zimbardi
&
Inclusive Sans by Olivia King

Site content © Natasha Tseng

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