KYNCTD
Redefining the Car Event Experience
WHAT IT IS
KYNCTD is a mobile platform that unifies how enthusiasts discover events, connect with others, and share their participation in the car community.
FRAGMENTED ECOSYSTEM
A survey of 80 active car enthusiasts across discovery, participation, and connection revealed a fragmented ecosystem. Information is scattered, participation is unstructured, and connection is inconsistent. Car culture is socially vibrant, yet digitally fragmented.
MUTUAL CONNECTIONS
At car meets, connection is largely driven by chance. People recognize cars, exchange quick conversations, or follow accounts later if they remember. These interactions are often lost because there is no immediate and reliable way to capture them in the moment.
This interaction introduces a camera-based identity exchange that allows users to add mutuals instantly by scanning a unique card tied to each profile. The process removes the need for manual search, reduces cognitive effort, and aligns with how users naturally engage in person. By enabling connection at the exact moment of interest, the system converts fleeting encounters into lasting relationships within the community.
DESIGN RATIONALE
Every element is designed to support how car communities actually discover and experience events. Insights from enthusiasts shaped a system that reduces friction between finding a meet, arriving, and connecting with others.
- _ Insight-driven design Research revealed fragmented discovery and limited coordination across events
- _ Event-first structure Location, timing, and attendance anchor the experience
- _ Proximity awareness Nearby enthusiasts and cars encourage real-world interaction
- _ Visual emphasis Cars and events lead through imagery and clear card hierarchy
- _ Reduced friction Familiar controls keep navigation quick and intuitive
Visual Systems
Urbanist was chosen for its modern, neutral tone, providing clarity and readability across KYNCTD's digital interfaces.
A palette of cool steel blues and signal accents reflects automotive culture while guiding interaction and highlighting activity, creating a cohesive and intuitive event experience.
Design Shift
The initial direction explored a more editorial and visually expressive interface inspired by the atmosphere of car culture and night meets. While this approach captured the identity of the community, early testing revealed that the interface introduced friction when users needed to quickly navigate events or access key information.
The design evolved toward a more structured and modular system that prioritizes clarity, hierarchy, and real-time usability. Cards, clearer navigation, and simplified surfaces improved readability while still preserving the visual identity of the community. This shift allowed the product to better support the core behaviors of discovering events, connecting with others, and sharing participation.
REFLECTION
Designing KYNCTD reinforced how closely digital experiences must align with real-world behavior. Car culture is inherently social and spontaneous, so the product needed to support discovery, connection, and participation without slowing people down during live events.
Throughout the process, research and community insights continuously shaped design decisions—from simplifying event discovery to introducing mutual connections and live awareness features. What began as an exploration of visual identity ultimately became a system focused on clarity, speed, and real-world interaction.
KYNCTD is a mobile platform that unifies how enthusiasts discover events, connect with others, and share their participation in the car community.
2024
- USER RESEARCH
- EXPERIENCE DESIGN
- INTERACTION DESIGN
- BUSINESS STRATEGY
- BRANDING
- DESIGN SYSTEM