Patchwork: A new way to connect.
Inspired by the historic importance of fiber arts and communication, we created a social network app that grows your community in a way that has nothing to do with followers and posts. Instead, our app links queer individuals within their local area, building bonds with common interests and shining a light on the queer-friendly organizations.
We asked our local queer community what they wanted and we listened. Making in-person connections and anonymous expression were a must.
Patchwork blends community and identity in a way that queer people have been doing for centuries.
Queer identity has historically been expressed through a variety of symbols. To continue this legacy, Patchwork provides an anonymous and creative way to queer people to join their local community in a way that encourages safe connections. To get a better understanding of how Patchwork works, there are a variety of terms that need defining.
A user's Patch provides a digital profile for self-expression using art, icons, and design. Rather than a photo or biography, users represent themselves through their Patch and can view the Patches of others who they've Stiched with.
To Stitch with another user is simple. Pass by them on the street and gain a Stitch that links both of your Patches. Stitching a user adds them to your Quilt, a grand tapestry that showcases the local connections you've made with fellow queer people in your area.
As you frequent the same spaces you can continue to gain Stitches. As a bonus, for every common interest you've shared on your Patch, you gain a Stitch. As users gain more Stitches with another Patch, that Patch then moves closer and closer to the center of their Quilt. Accumulate enough Stitches and you gain the ability to Connect.
To Connect, users can visit their requests page and choose to share their pre-established contact details with that Patch's user if they wish. Through research and evaluation, our hope is that by exchanging contact details and advertising queer-friendly events, more queer individuals will make plans and intent to join their local community in celebrating queer culture.
To view queer-friendly organizations, businesses, and groups users can visit the map page. On this page the map of the local area is shown, scatterd with locations that have joined Patchwork and designed a group Patch themselves. Events are indicated by stars on the group Patch they correspond to. These stars provide readily available event information, tickets, and meeting times for both one-time and reoccuring events.
With queer individuals in mind, our platform prioritizes safety over all else. User-facing accounts are entirely anonymous to one another unless explicit permission is given to share contact information and location services are entirely private.
This project was completed in collaboration with teammates at Indiana University.
