Kore - A south asian cultural hub platform
Increasing on-screen representation of historically excluded populations remains a directional North Star for the media industry, and progress is being made. That progress, however, is measured using a very general lens. There is an increasing need for our community to convey our uniqueness and find each other in our homes away from home. This personal project tries to find a solution to bridge this representation and community gap.
Role : UX/UI, Design System, Prototyping
Tools : Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator
Role : UX/UI, Design System, Prototyping
Tools : Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator
Concept and overview
Why is the South Asian community important?
The current population of Southern Asia is 2,032,672,723 as of September 2023. Southern Asia population is equivalent to 25.2% of the total world population. The contributions made or being made by the South Asian diasporas around the globe are now being recognised. The members of these communities are contributing to both the countries in which they work and live as well as those from which they originate.
The current population of Southern Asia is 2,032,672,723 as of September 2023. Southern Asia population is equivalent to 25.2% of the total world population. The contributions made or being made by the South Asian diasporas around the globe are now being recognised. The members of these communities are contributing to both the countries in which they work and live as well as those from which they originate.
One of the most remarkable aspects of South Asian migrants abroad is their sense of community. They create close-knit social networks, establishing support systems that help newcomers adapt to their new environments. In the United States, as in other countries, some diaspora desis are creating a "fusion" culture, in which foods, fashions, music, and the like from many areas of South Asia are "fused" both with each other and with elements from Western culture. Their strong sense of community and shared cultural values bring them together, fostering the preservation and promotion of South Asian heritage in their adopted countries.
The user
From a south asian woman living in Europe’s perspective there is a lack of platforms to find this huge community living away from their homes and families to connect with each other. A platform that attracts individuals who are genuinely interested in learning about the traditions, languages, cuisine, and history of South Asia. Where professionals in the field of event planning, artists, musicians, and dancers can promote their work or find opportunities to collaborate with others who share their passion. To connect, share culture, learn from each other and share our stories. This is where the title comes from - Kore which means home in Pashto (Iran).
Creating the brand
After collecting and creating a moodboard of south asian advertisements, graphic design work, album art, movie posters, campaign images it was clear the communication language is vibrant, energetic and eye catching. Creating a mood board helped define ideas, color scheme and a coherent design concept keeping the bigger picture in mind.
Interface
Creating a user flow helped design a seamless and user-friendly experience. I mapped the user's journey to identify and address potential issues early on, optimize task completion for cross-functional communication and allow for data-driven iterations. This ensures that the design is centered around user needs and expectations, leading to a more intuitive and satisfying experience.
The playful patterns and graphic elements of the design give opportunity for dynamic brand collateral, ranging from vibrant and energetic, to refined and focused. Kore is brave, groundbreaking, and powerful. The interface created matches that energy. It’s dynamic, loud and active tone is balanced with playfulness to evoke a homegrown, approachable, yet credible feel. This is a platform for those seeking information, find their people and be a part of their large community away from home.
The interface includes filters for location, date, and type of event, and offers options to save or share events. It showcases South Asian art forms such as traditional dance, music, and visual arts through videos, galleries, and articles. Highlights famous artists and their contributions to the community. There is even a fun horoscope section that provides humorous projections and satire based on the Indian community’s dedication towards astrology.
Establishing a vibrant design system
Creating a design system for a colorful South Asian cultural hub application involves a thoughtful and culturally sensitive approach. The objective is to encapsulate the richness and diversity of South Asian traditions while ensuring a user-friendly and visually appealing experience. The design system contains UI components that are intuitive and culturally relevant. This includes buttons, navigation bars, and other interface elements that incorporate traditional design elements without compromising usability. This ensures a seamless user experience across different devices.
The color scheme should incorporate vibrant and rich colors commonly associated with South Asian cultures, such as deep reds, bright oranges and royal blues. These colors can be used for accents and highlights to create an inviting and visually appealing interface. Sans-serif font for bodycopy with clear readability in both English and South Asian languages like Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, and Tamil should be used to cater to a wider audience. The homepage should feature a visually striking carousel or slideshow showcasing images and events from different South Asian cultures. This can include festivals, music, talks or meetups etc.
Through this platform hub, users can find popular Desi playlists, exclusive takeovers from noteworthy community members, a curation of podcasts from South Asian podcasters, community events, discover artists and designers, read blog articles. All information accumulated into a single resource. It also gives the users a chance to ask their own questions, engage with the influencer socials and most importantly connect with each other.
