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launchpad

2025

OVERVIEW

PROBLEM

RESEARCH

IDEATE

PROTOTYPE

FINAL PRODUCT

RESUME

EMAIL

LINKEDIN

FRANCHESCA SAMONTE 2025. LAST UPDATE: MAR 2026

BRIEF

We live in a world where misinformation and algorithmic bias impact public opinion, politics, personal identities and everyday decision making. In this design-a-thon challenge, we delved deep into the importance of media literary skills to develop critical awareness in online spaces.

DURATION

43 hours (almost 2 days!)

TEAM

Myself + 3 Team Members

METHODS + TOOLS

UX/UI

USER RESEARCH

PROTOTYPING

FIGMA

problem

"Social media platforms are designed to maximise engagement, not truth." (Springer, 2022)

"Social media platforms are designed to maximise engagement, not truth." (Springer, 2022)

The spread of misinformation is a top perceived global threat. 70% of people worldwide consider it one of the most urgent dangers. With all thats going on online - being said and done, do you know whats real?

The spread of misinformation is a top perceived global threat. 70% of people worldwide consider it one of the most urgent dangers. With all thats going on online - being said and done, do you know whats real?

97%

of young Australians use social media daily.

(Orygen, 2025)

BUT

60%

don’t understand how algorithms shape what they see.

(The Conversation, 2023)

This means extensive exposure to algorithmic influences is dangerously deterring the ability of young people to discern the truth of what they consume online.

research

PRIMARY RESEARCH

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 5 participants, learning about their experiences with information consumption online whilst crucially validating our secondary research.

ANAYLSIS

ANAYLSIS

Collating participant quotes in an affinity diagram generated two key insights:

1

The Cost of the Algorithm

The Cost of the Algorithm

While diversity of thought is valued, algorithms often trap users in echo chambers. These fuel polarisation, amplify hate, and encourage “rage bait” content, distorting meaningful discourse.

While diversity of thought is valued, algorithms often trap users in echo chambers. These fuel polarisation, amplify hate, and encourage “rage bait” content, distorting meaningful discourse.

2

Critical Thinking VS. Comfortable Scrolling

Critical Thinking VS. Comfortable Scrolling

Young adults recognise misinformation online, but social media is often used for leisure. The mental effort of constant critical thinking feels draining, making passive scrolling the easier choice.

Young adults recognise misinformation online, but social media is often used for leisure. The mental effort of constant critical thinking feels draining, making passive scrolling the easier choice.

REFINED PROBLEM

Problem Statment

Problem Statment

Big tech platforms maximise engagement by feeding users content that triggers strong emotions or aligns with existing beliefs, exploiting the effortful nature of critical thinking. Young adults value diverse perspectives but often scroll for leisure, making critical thinking less likely. Algorithms create echo chambers, polarised discourse, and limit opportunities to explore different viewpoints, undermining the development of independent + informed opinions.

Big tech platforms maximise engagement by feeding users content that triggers strong emotions or aligns with existing beliefs, exploiting the effortful nature of critical thinking. Young adults value diverse perspectives but often scroll for leisure, making critical thinking less likely. Algorithms create echo chambers, polarised discourse, and limit opportunities to explore different viewpoints, undermining the development of independent + informed opinions.

We were unable to reach out to users of older age groups (25+) and learn of their experiences due to time constraints. Media literary skills are essential to learn, no matter what age, and arguably those of older generations are the most susceptible to misinformation and algorithmic bubbles. However, we decided to focus our product on younger users as we had access to their direct experiences - we didn't want to base our insights on assumptions.

We were unable to reach out to users of older age groups (25+) and learn of their experiences due to time constraints. Media literary skills are essential to learn, no matter what age, and arguably those of older generations are the most susceptible to misinformation and algorithmic bubbles. However, we decided to focus our product on younger users as we had access to their direct experiences - we didn't want to base our insights on assumptions.

ideate

GENERATING IDEAS

CRAZY 8s

CRAZY 8s

After a round of Crazy 8s, we came together and discussed our ideas, voting on which ones stood out to us most. We then applied a decision matrix with the following criteria:

This criteria helped us to assess each concept's alignment with the brief, insights and overall potential as an intuitive design.

We were drawn towards the idea of cultivating community spaces for mothers (“mother meetups") as we believed it strongly aligned with our key insights.

We decided to combined our two top ideas as plugins. We were set on creating a versatile product that helps develop awareness of how social media shapes both thinking and personal identities, and the skills to counteract its dangerous side.

We decided to combined our two top ideas as plugins. We were set on creating a versatile product that helps develop awareness of how social media shapes both thinking and personal identities, and the skills to counteract its dangerous side.

prototype

DEVELOPMENT

MOODBOARD

MOODBOARD

Pixels, space, minimalism - all of these can be associated with technology. We believed that this would help build a strong brand identity and draw users into our app with a unique and clean aesthetic!

Plugins

XTINK

XTINK

The vaccine to all forms and techniques of stinky misinformation.

ALBUBBLE

ALBUBBLE

Popping algorithmic bubbles to diversify opinions and perspectives of those around the world.

final product

PRESENTING…

TO MEDIA LITERACY AND BEYOND

FIGMA PROTOTYPE

Please start from "Flow 4"

CORE FEATURES

THE LAUNCHPAD

THE LAUNCHPAD

An intuitive dashboard that provides quick access to plugins and metrics for screen time.

An intuitive dashboard that provides quick access to plugins and metrics for screen time.

EFFORT AVOIDANCE

EFFORT AVOIDANCE

GAMIFICAITON

GAMIFICAITON

Plugins are designed to be engaging, short and gamified - seamlessly fitting into the leisure-seeking mindset of young people. They are embedded into news, memes, or posts without disrupting their primary use of social media.

XTINK

XTINK

MISINFORMATION

MISINFORMATION

PRE-BUNKING

PRE-BUNKING

Pre-bunking is a strategy to reduce misinformation by exposing users to the weakened version of false claims before they are exposed to real cases of misinformation - like a vaccine!


Subsequently, XTINK educates users about the different tactics used to make misinformation more believable, building their awareness and critical thinking.

Pre-bunking is a strategy to reduce misinformation by exposing users to the weakened version of false claims before they are exposed to real cases of misinformation - like a vaccine!


Subsequently, XTINK educates users about the different tactics used to make misinformation more believable, building their awareness and critical thinking.

ALBUBBLE

ALGORITHMIC BUBBLES

ALGORITHMIC BUBBLES

TRANSPARENT PERSPECTIVES

TRANSPARENT PERSPECTIVES

Algorithmic Bubbles are personalised and curated information environments based off what online content you frequently interact with. This consists of content that you align with your interests and opinions. However, this often leads to polarisation and close-mindedness.


Our ALBUBBLE encourages users to reflect on their own algorithmic bubbles and their digital identities. It also encourages them to explore perspectives that are vastly different from their own.

Algorithmic Bubbles are personalised and curated information environments based off what online content you frequently interact with. This consists of content that you align with your interests and opinions. However, this often leads to polarisation and close-mindedness.


Our ALBUBBLE encourages users to reflect on their own algorithmic bubbles and their digital identities. It also encourages them to explore perspectives that are vastly different from their own.

LIMITATIONS + LESSONS

Time Constraints

Time Constraints

During this design-a-thon, we faced difficulties in narrowing our problem space as media literacy and issues associated with social media consumption is multi-faceted. This set us back for some time, and compounded with tight deadlines, we weren't able to fully refine our final product. Despite this, it was a great challenge and lesson in regards to prioritisation skills (and sleep!!).

During this design-a-thon, we faced difficulties in narrowing our problem space as media literacy and issues associated with social media consumption is multi-faceted. This set us back for some time, and compounded with tight deadlines, we weren't able to fully refine our final product. Despite this, it was a great challenge and lesson in regards to prioritisation skills (and sleep!!).

Ethical Considerations

Ethical Considerations

If we were to actually implement Launchpad in the real world, its important that we consider ethical considerations relating to user privacy and the appropriateness of content shown. We need it to be a safe platform dedicated to learning and awareness, whilst being able to integrate seamlessly + ethically with users' algorithms and online activity.

If we were to actually implement Launchpad in the real world, its important that we consider ethical considerations relating to user privacy and the appropriateness of content shown. We need it to be a safe platform dedicated to learning and awareness, whilst being able to integrate seamlessly + ethically with users' algorithms and online activity.

THE TEAM IN ACTION!

Thank you for taking the time to read through this case study!

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