foodie helps international students meet new people through cooking events. Discover, join, host events and level up your friendships with others!
Connect through food. Build real friendships.
Social
connection
Cooking
events
Gamified
rewards
Global
community
Case Study - 2026
UI/UX Design
UX Research
Gamification Design
Problem statement
International students often struggle to build meaningful social connections in a new country. Existing event platforms focus more on transactions than community, making social experiences feel impersonal and difficult to trust.
Goals
Design a community-driven cooking events platform that helps international students connect, explore cultures, and build friendships through shared food experiences.
Food brings people together.
I want to cook, try new things,
and make real connections.
Lukas is an exchange student from Germany studying in Istanbul for one semester. He is spen-minded, curious, and excited to explore new odrures. He loves meeting new people, trying local food, and sharing experiences. He wents to make the most out of his time in Turkey by building meaningful connections.
Lukas likes setting goals, earning badges, and completing challenges. He enjoye tracking his progress and achieving milestones.
He enjoys being part of a community, joining group activities, and helping others. He values meaningful conversations and friendships.
Meet new people and make genuine friendships
Discover local culture through food and events
Join fun and meaningful activities
Improve his Turkish and cultural understanding
Create unforgettable memories in Turkey
Connecting with like-minded people
Exploring different cuisines and cultures
Personal growth and new experiences
Achieving goals and collecting achievements
Being a part of an active community
Hard to meet locals and other students
Events are not well organized or trustworthy
Feels unsure if the community is active
Hard to find events that match his interests
Some platforms feel transactional, not social
Actively joins university and social events
Tries to cook and share food with others
Explores the city and local neighborhoods
Uses apps to find events and meet people
Engages in group chats and communities
Introvert
Planner
Analytical
Competitive
Independent
Extrovert
Spontaneous
Emotional
Collaborative
Team-oriented
Age
22
From
Munich, Germany
University
Istanbul Technical University
Duration
1 Semester (Exchange program)
Language
English, German, Basic Turkish
I came to experience a new culture, meet amazing people, and create memories that last a lifetime.
Quick access to recently active and popular community events.
Track achievements, kudos, and community participation progress.
Personalized event suggestions based on interests and activity.
Discover local cooking experiences happening around you.
Easily switch between core sections of the app.
View event information, menu, host details, attendees, and available spots before joining the experience.
Screen overview
Track milestones, unlock badges, and monitor community engagement progress.
Browse, filter, and join cooking events based on cuisine, location, and availability.
Explore personal activity, reviews, badges, and social connections within the community.
