Role: UX Designer, UX Researcher, Graphic Designer

Timeline: September - December 2023

Team: Kaila Greatness Price, Jennifer Li, Quyên Hoang

Tools: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Figma, Miro

Problem Statement  ❌

Sugar babies of color (e.g., Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latinx) often face intersecting forms of discrimination, such as racism, colorism, classism, and fetishization, while navigating the sugaring lifestyle. Existing online communities for sugar babies are significantly limited, non-inclusive, or even harmful to individuals from marginalized groups.

Our Proposed Solution  ✅

Develop a social media app designed to provide a safe space, mentorship opportunities, and community support for sugar babies of marginalized backgrounds. 

Applicable services within this resource include: mentorship services with experienced and successful sugar babies, fashion and beauty advice tailored to individual needs, open forums for discussion, direct messaging and networking capabilities, and community-hosted events for connection and collaboration.

Observational Research 🔎

To gain insight into the sugaring community, our team conducted observational research in an online forum, r/SugarLifestyleForum on Reddit. Each team member completed approximately 5 hours of observation over two weeks, totaling 15 hours of community research.

Affinity Wall Process and Synopsis 📝

We organized screenshots of relevant posts and virtual sticky notes on FigJam to build an affinity wall. This exercise helped us identify and prioritize the unique needs of sugar babies from marginalized groups.

Ultimately, the repeated experiences of sugar babies from marginalized groups facing discrimination (only to be dismissed, invalidated, or left without proper support), led us to design a platform dedicated to providing meaningful support and community for sugar babies of color.

Observational Samples Synopsis 📝

From these few examples (of many), it is evident that sugar babies of color, in particular Black (or of African descent), typically experience the sugaring lifestyle differently than their non-POC peers. Sugar babies of color often sought advice on how to navigate the lifestyle while experiencing different forms of discrimination and were often met with mixed reviews (some supportive, some dismissive, and some non-supportive).

All voting polls emphasized a preference for non-POC or Caucasian women as their ideal sugar baby. Caucasian/White women were always the most voted for in racial preference forums. Other screenshots of posts (not shown above) showed an importance of receiving advice for fashion, style,  dating profile critiques, lifestyle advice, and advice on allowance/arrangements.

These insights led us accordingly when deciding the final 5 main pages of our app design.

Competitive Analysis Synopsis 🌐

Due to the niche nature of this community, identifying direct competitors was challenging. However, we analyzed ADP List and Bumble for Friends, which share overlapping features like community building and free networking tools. This research highlighted our app's unique value proposition: combining mentorship for a specific community with open forums and dedicated support for sugar babies of color.

Upon creating the affinity wall from observational research, competitive analysis, then drafting user personas and scenarios, we began to follow a design process to implement within an app solution. 

The three step design process were:

• Brainstorming/Sketches (Low-Fidelity)

• Wireframes (Mid-Fidelity)

• Figma Screens (High-Fidelity)

The specific key features of Sweet Life include: 

• Mentor/Mentee Matching

• Public Forum 

• Direct Messaging

• Beauty/Fashion Advice Community

• Events Planning (Calendar and RSVP)

Our overall navigation bar icons are:

• Home

• Search

• Match

• Events (Calendar)

• DMs (Direct Messaging)

1. Design With Inclusion in Mind

Sweet Life was designed to amplify the voices of an often overlooked community. The world of hypergamy and sugaring is rarely explored, often considered taboo, yet remains a valid and lived experience for many. This design process highlighted the critical need for inclusivity in UX design, ensuring that all users feel seen and supported. Bringing the Sweet Life app to fruition was a testament to the power of intentional, user-centered design in addressing underserved communities.

2. Different Research Insights Matter

Whether through interviews or observation, diverse research methods can uncover valuable insights for addressing the unique needs of niche audiences. Understanding the nuances of these perspectives is essential in crafting designs that truly resonate with specific user groups.

3. Trust the Process!

Initially, app designs may not always be visually polished. Therefore, patience is key. Iterating on user-centered designs with an open mind is imperative for success of intuitive interfaces. UX design requires flexibility and a willingness to embrace change throughout the design process. Therefore, it is important to remain adaptable, patient, and committed to continuous improvement during all phases of the design journey.