Micasa
Micasa
Increasing local community for hosts and attendees alike.
Increasing local community for hosts and attendees alike.
Role
Role
UI/UX Designer
UI/UX Designer
Timeline
Timeline
14 Days
Summer 2025
14 Days
Summer 2025
Team
Team
2 UI/UX Designers
2 UI/UX Designers
Tools/Skills
Tools/Skills
Figma
Prototyping
Logo Design
Figma
Prototyping
Logo Design
01
01
Summary
Summary
Micasa is a tech startup based in Brooklyn, NY, focused on bridging the gap between local community, event discovery and management. As part of a two-week design sprint, I worked with another UI/UX designer to completely redesign their mobile app during its beta phase, refining core features and developing new ones. We presented to Micasa’s founders and won Best Pitch Award—view our winning slide deck here.
Micasa is a tech startup based in Brooklyn, NY, focused on bridging the gap between local community, event discovery and management. As part of a two-week design sprint, I worked with another UI/UX designer to completely redesign their mobile app during its beta phase, refining core features and developing new ones. We presented to Micasa’s founders and won Best Pitch Award—view our winning slide deck here.
02
02
Problem Space
Problem Space
Since the pandemic, people have sought new ways to rebuild social connection, turning to third spaces like cafés, parks, and pop-up events as hubs of belonging. But these places are often difficult to find or rely on much more than attendance to begin feeling connected. Existing event platforms are often fragmented, focusing on large-ticketed concerts, or niche meetups, leaving little room for a centralized, community-driven solution.
Since the pandemic, people have sought new ways to rebuild social connection, turning to third spaces like cafés, parks, and pop-up events as hubs of belonging. But these places are often difficult to find or rely on much more than attendance to begin feeling connected. Existing event platforms are often fragmented, focusing on large-ticketed concerts, or niche meetups, leaving little room for a centralized, community-driven solution.
HMW make it easier for people to discover and host local events?
HMW make it easier for people to discover and host local events?
Micasa seeks to provide a platform where users can enjoy both of these—finding others with a common interest, a live music event actively looking for DJs, a potluck happening in a local neighborhood, you name it.
Micasa seeks to provide a platform where users can enjoy both of these—finding others with a common interest, a live music event actively looking for DJs, a potluck happening in a local neighborhood, you name it.
03
03
Solution
Solution
Onboarding
Onboarding
Categorizing the user as either an attendee or host helps with the initial personalization of the Micasa experience, while also quickly encouraging the discovery of local events.
Categorizing the user as either an attendee or host helps with the initial personalization of the Micasa experience, while also quickly encouraging the discovery of local events.
Map
Map
A geographic view of local events aids the user in taking actionable steps to attending, with snapshots of the event displayed at the bottom for visual convenience.
A geographic view of local events aids the user in taking actionable steps to attending, with snapshots of the event displayed at the bottom for visual convenience.
The Map feature is the most visual way to explore local events, showcasing core details like the distance of an event, and other core details at the bottom for visual convenience. Filter these events through interests, skills, host ratings and cost to find an event that works for you.
The Map feature is the most visual way to explore local events, showcasing core details like the distance of an event, and other core details at the bottom for visual convenience. Filter these events through interests, skills, host ratings and cost to find an event that works for you.
Wallet
Wallet
Akin to physical ticket stub albums, the Wallet feature allows you to see and filter your upcoming events at-a-glance. Highlighting other attendees also allows you to recognize familiar faces, ultimately developing local community.
Akin to physical ticket stub albums, the Wallet feature allows you to see and filter your upcoming events at-a-glance. Highlighting other attendees also allows you to recognize familiar faces, ultimately developing local community.
Search / Profile
Search / Profile
As an attendee or host, you can also explore events by category or specific searches. Manage your own events on your profile, making edits to your proposals, agreements and payout system via Stripe.
As an attendee or host, you can also explore events by category or specific searches. Manage your own events on your profile, making edits to your proposals, agreements and payout system via Stripe.
04
04
Design Process
Design Process
Information Architecture
Information Architecture
Upon receiving initial user flows and developer access to Micasa, we quickly realized there were several circular features which can cause cognitive friction on the user. Other core features like event creation had inconsistent user journeys and unnecessary branching.
Upon receiving initial user flows and developer access to Micasa, we quickly realized there were several circular features which can cause cognitive friction on the user. Other core features like event creation had inconsistent user journeys and unnecessary branching.
We mapped out the user journey of the core features we were redesigning, as well as an updated one which streamlines its features, either condensing information into one screen or updating placement of the feature altogether.
We mapped out the user journey of the core features we were redesigning, as well as an updated one which streamlines its features, either condensing information into one screen or updating placement of the feature altogether.
Logo Redesign
Logo Redesign
One of the undertakings I worked on was a logo redesign. Micasa’s original logo was unique in design, but unbalanced. The union of the universal home and ticket logo was powerful, so I iterated on highlighting these more visually.
One of the undertakings I worked on was a logo redesign. Micasa’s original logo was unique in design, but unbalanced. The union of the universal home and ticket logo was powerful, so I iterated on highlighting these more visually.
I also worked on the wordmark logo, emphasizing typography while still keeping the look consistent. For both the graphic and wordmark logo, I used a golden ratio layout, making sure each piece is proportionally related to the other parts of the design. This logo furthers this notion of balance, which is the foundation of Micasa in balancing the event discovery for both hosts and attendees.
I also worked on the wordmark logo, emphasizing typography while still keeping the look consistent. For both the graphic and wordmark logo, I used a golden ratio layout, making sure each piece is proportionally related to the other parts of the design. This logo furthers this notion of balance, which is the foundation of Micasa in balancing the event discovery for both hosts and attendees.
Brand Identity & Modern Components
Brand Identity & Modern Components
We were also handed off 3 pages of hex codes for a color palette. In order to reduce cognitive load, we simplified the brand identity to 4 colors. We opted in for designing with glass morphism, the incoming standard design for iOS 26. This style is adaptable to all images that may be used in an event, which establishes unique visual appearance without the need for extensive individualized page design.
We were also handed off 3 pages of hex codes for a color palette. In order to reduce cognitive load, we simplified the brand identity to 4 colors. We opted in for designing with glass morphism, the incoming standard design for iOS 26. This style is adaptable to all images that may be used in an event, which establishes unique visual appearance without the need for extensive individualized page design.
These designs improve readability when used over images, allow for unique gradient effects, and take an approachable, friendly and modern approach to event discovery, welcoming users from all ages and interests.
These designs improve readability when used over images, allow for unique gradient effects, and take an approachable, friendly and modern approach to event discovery, welcoming users from all ages and interests.
Design
Design
Wireframes
Wireframes
I wireframed the core features, tinkering with CTA button placement for event creation while still balancing the interface with discovery features. Creating these different user flows at the same time allowed me to draw connections with certain features and simplify the existing user flow.
I wireframed the core features, tinkering with CTA button placement for event creation while still balancing the interface with discovery features. Creating these different user flows at the same time allowed me to draw connections with certain features and simplify the existing user flow.
Home
Home
The biggest hurdle of the homepage was avoiding making the user overwhelmed. We opted for a hybrid map and traditional discovery layout.
The biggest hurdle of the homepage was avoiding making the user overwhelmed. We opted for a hybrid map and traditional discovery layout.
When you swipe down, the user can view a functioning map updated with events based on location. This enables exploration, with event snapshots at the bottom of the screen continuing the visual identity of ticket purchasing.
When you swipe down, the user can view a functioning map updated with events based on location. This enables exploration, with event snapshots at the bottom of the screen continuing the visual identity of ticket purchasing.
Upon swiping back up, the user can continue to explore events through various filters, such as interests and mutual users. With the amount of information tagged onto each event, it took several iterations to get to a design that conveyed sufficient information while also still allowing room to breathe and continue to explore. A clear CTA at the top right allows users to go from attendee to host at any time.
Upon swiping back up, the user can continue to explore events through various filters, such as interests and mutual users. With the amount of information tagged onto each event, it took several iterations to get to a design that conveyed sufficient information while also still allowing room to breathe and continue to explore. A clear CTA at the top right allows users to go from attendee to host at any time.
Wallet
Wallet
To keep the branding consistent, I went with a modular, ticket stub-inspired wallet feature. I ensured users could quickly see which events are coming up, using iconography and text hierarchy to avoid overloading them with information, which could discourage them from continuing to sign up for events.
To keep the branding consistent, I went with a modular, ticket stub-inspired wallet feature. I ensured users could quickly see which events are coming up, using iconography and text hierarchy to avoid overloading them with information, which could discourage them from continuing to sign up for events.
05
05
Takeaways
Takeaways
More is not always better. ✂️
More is not always better. ✂️
This was my first time working directly with an already existing business model and design. I learned that the most important design choices come from simplification, directing the user to the core features of the app without distraction.
This was my first time working directly with an already existing business model and design. I learned that the most important design choices come from simplification, directing the user to the core features of the app without distraction.
Decisions should be careful and intentional. 🧭
Decisions should be careful and intentional. 🧭
After mapping out Micasa’s information architecture, we moved features to more natural, intuitive placements for the user. Greatly downsizing initial color palettes, features and components ultimately allowed the interface to realign with the overall mission of Micasa.
After mapping out Micasa’s information architecture, we moved features to more natural, intuitive placements for the user. Greatly downsizing initial color palettes, features and components ultimately allowed the interface to realign with the overall mission of Micasa.
Consistent, clear design gains a user’s trust. 🔒
Consistent, clear design gains a user’s trust. 🔒
Inconsistencies in the initial design create friction in the relationship with the app and the user. Making designs clear and deliberate allowed the app to breathe and flow with its user journey.
Inconsistencies in the initial design create friction in the relationship with the app and the user. Making designs clear and deliberate allowed the app to breathe and flow with its user journey.