FOURTH SPACES
OVERVIEW
In this project, my team collaborated with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Through the Let’s Grow Michigan Campaign, they work to attract and retain residents by telling a new story about what Michigan can offer through social media.
Our role was to reimagine the experience of these newcomers once they arrive, so Michigan doesn’t just look appealing just from the outside, but it feels like home once you arrive.
“
How might we ...
improve the "onboarding" experience of newcomers to Michigan?
SOLUTION SNAPSHOT
Fourth Spaces helps newcomers build belonging through pop-up connections with local businesses and neighbors.
Events Nearby
Match based on Interest
View More
Stay Connected
research
“After being here for about 6 months , I haven't yet gotten a sense of belonging here”
“Access to community activities is important [to me]”
🤝️ A consistent theme stood out: a lack in sense of belonging.
Those who feel connected to community are more likely to stay than those who feel isolated.
For some, this meant being near family and friends, and for others, it was as simple as recognizing a familiar face at a favorite local spot.
Connecting with our client
I feel “up against the ropes” and in competition with mega online retail spaces like Amazon.
35%
state office space are unused or unassigned
~ Crain’s Detroit Business
31,000
empty homes in Detroit
~ Abandoned Detroit,
by Kyle Brooky
70,000
abandoned buildings in Detroit
~ New York Times
❗️Stores feel empty, because they literally are ...
While businesses are losing hope in keeping their doors open long-term, plenty of infrastructure across the state remain underutilized, leaving parts of Michigan feeling “dead.”
Reframing the question
“
How might we ...
opportunity space
🤔 So… what can encourage people to meet each other in spaces and activate them with activities?
Why Pop-Ups?
Activates under-utilized spaces through temporary experiences that can grow into long-term establishments (think food truck → restaurant, bake sale → bakery)
Attracts young consumers Michigan aims to retain by offering informality, authenticity, and creative products
Competitive Analysis
💭 Now that we have a concept, what does the digital experience look like?
Since I was focusing on the mobile app, I looked into how platforms support discovery.
We looked at how other platforms help people find activities and book public spaces. This gave us insights into common practices in the industry and how our design could stand apart.
This allowed us to map out some of our must have features for each of our users.
Casual User
browse events
RSVP
filter events
Pop-up Planner
browse location
filter on needs
book locations
coordinate with location owners
Storefront Owner
list amenities & provide pictures
location restrictions
contact info
verification process
Shared
rating systems for accountability
map of location
calendar of available events
categorize spaces
DESIGN Ideation
✏️ The design process begins...
We brainstormed and worked out two components as part of our solution.
1
📱A mobile app that allows casual users to discover pop-ups in a more informal setting
2
🖥️ A desktop website that allows planners and storefront owners complete administrative tasks for event & store set-up
paper prototypes
I primarily focused on the mobile app!
Concept Testing
🧪 I used the low fidelity prototype to test design decisions.
16
6
📆 Finding 1: Users want more details in helping them decide whether to attend an event.
Particularly, they are looking for more information what the pop-up offers, including menus, activity descriptions, and links to participating business.
“If I could check the menu or what kind of food they’re serving, it’d be easier to tell if it’s my vibe”
included item tab to view pop-up items
After
Before
🧭 Finding 2: Users don’t understand the navigation bar and core action buttons.
The icons alone didn’t convey tab meaning clearly, especially for the match feature.
“The main screen (center button at the bottom) is a bit confusing to figure out what exactly it is, is that my pop-ups? Or creating a pop up? Or reserving an existing one?”
Before
After
FINAL PROTOTYPE
BUILDING AN ECOSYSTEM: THE POP-UP PLANNER
Beyond the mobile platform, we designed supporting applications that enable the broader ecosystem, empowering small businesses that need space, as well as those that have space to offer.
In this flow, our pop-up planner registers for an event.
1
Registers an event
Add descriptions: changes the pop-up name, adds a time and date, some images, and maybe even a website
2
Request for a Location
Explore new options or revisit favorites.
Filter search or play with map.
Check out details like hours, policies, and storefront visuals to find the perfect match.
Finally, connect with the storefront owner to continue planning.
Randa
the pop-up planner
Age: 32
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Occupation: Sells handmade floral accessories on online
Goal: Promote business in person to know her customers
Frustration: Difficulty finding available or appropriate spaces for hosting
“I want to host pop-up events! ’’
BUILDING AN ECOSYSTEM: THE STOREFRONT OWNER
Lastly, the storefront owner, who just received the request to rent his space.
1
Registers the business
Add descriptions: changes the pop-up name, adds a time and date, some images, and maybe even a website
2
Register space for pop-up
Include how much of the space to be lent and the types of pop-ups interested in collaborating with
Ron
the storefront owner
Age: 53
Hometown: Portland, OR but relocated to Ann Arbor, MI
Occupation: Bookshop owner
Goal: Promote foot traffic and gather loyal customers
Frustration: Struggles to attract passersby due to low awareness of his shop
“I want to list my business!’’
POTENTIAL FOR IMPACT
So, why Fourth Spaces?
1
Strengthen community connection: Find belonging in places that feel isolating or overlooked
2
Pop-ups can boost local economies: Pop-ups generate 20-30% more revenue than brick-and-mortar (Storefront)
3
Serve as a stepping stone for small business to build their network and customer base
Impact
We had the opportunity to present this work to state government and city innovators at Michigan Central in Detroit, MI. We hope that our project inspires civic technologist to make Michigan a better place to call home!
PERSONAL TAKEAWAY
Usability testing surfaces unspoken needs.
Conversations with business owners and student leaders revealed insights into workflow that no survey could capture.
Keep a Design System.
Every designer has their own style and preferences. I learned to establish a shared design system to help our team maintain visual and functional consistency across platforms.
Cross-functional communication is essential.
Not everyone was focused on my part of the product, so I learned how to articulate my design decisions clearly and align work across a large team.
Research reframes problems.
Whether through desk research, interviews, or user testing, research continually reshaped the direction of this project.