Rekro
Reducing loneliness among international students through meaningful peer connections.
Focus
0 → 1 product design
MVP launch
Early product validation
Industry
Social & Community
Year
2025
My Role
Lead Product Designer
Leading end-to-end MVP design from 0→1, Version 1 shipped.
Created foundations of design system.
Leading redesign for Version 2.
Leading collaboration workshops with engineers.
Assisted Co-CEOs with business strategy and vision.
Team
1 Product Designer
2 Engineers
1 Project Manager
1 Marketing Manager
Timeline
3 months
My impact
FIRST MVP
Shipped
A major milestone for Rekro, establishing initial market presence, giving real user data to drive future strategy.
ACQUIRED
First 50 users
Validating the product’s core value proposition and providing essential user feedback that informed the next iteration.
SELECTED
UNSW Founders Pre-Accelerator Program
Key opportunity connecting Rekro with world-class resources and network of innovators, sparking investor interest that will help scale the business.
Business Context
WHAT IS REKRO?
Bringing students together to foster a community.
Rekro is a startup dedicated to helping international students transition smoothly into university life in Australia, ensuring they feel supported, connected, and confident.
PROBLEM SPACE
Absence of social support leads to loneliness and isolation.
Up to 65%-78% of international students experience loneliness after arriving in a new country.
Why this matters
Without a social network, international students face increased isolation which negatively impacts their well-being and overall university experience abroad.
Approach & Rationale
how might we…
assist international students build meaningful connections and feel a sense of belonging as they transition into university life in Australia?
DESIGN DIRECTION
Translating research into clear product priorities.
Early research conducted by the founding team identified evidence-based approaches to strengthening peer connections and community belonging.
The Mission:
Enable Meaningful Connections
Make it easy to find and connect with relevant peers.
Build Community
Foster a supportive, relatable student network.
Extend Connections Offline
Encourage relationships to continue and strengthen beyond the platform.
SOLUTION - MY CHALLENGE
A web platform fostering connection.
To support this mission, I joined the team to design a web-based platform that connects students through shared interests and experiences, reducing loneliness, building community, and easing their transition into university life.
Business Priority:
Validate product strategy
Acquire first users to gain insights
Design Process
#1. UNDERSTANDING USER PAINPOINTS
Identifying moments of opportunity.
A high-level user journey was mapped to identify key pain points and moments of opportunity.
User Journey Map
#2. DEFINING THE CORE JOURNEY
Simplify into a happy path.
I defined a streamlined "discovery-to-action" flow that moves students quickly from initial discovery to meaningful physical connection.
User Flow to Connect.
#3. FRAMING KEY OPPORTUNITIES
Three core features that support the critical journey.
Identified as critical touchpoints that enable students to form and sustain meaningful social relationships.
Constraints
Time and technical constraints forced a focused scope, prioritising usability, clarity, and intuitive onboarding.
FEATURE #1
Peer Discovery
Reduce friction and anxiety by meeting like-minded peers.
FEATURE #2
Connecting
Enable low-barrier conversations that help relationships form and grow.
FEATURE #3
Events Space
Move online connections into meaningful, in-person relationships.
#4. EXPLORATION & ITERATION
Rapid and collaborative experimentation to refine the experience.
Paper wireframing and collaborative workshops enabled fast ideation and feedback ensured technical feasibility before committing to higher-fidelity designs.
Iteration Cycle
Delivery
MVP LAUNCH
Translating strategy into a shippable product.
I developed a high-fidelity prototype to inform the shipped MVP design which was used to test usability, value, and engagement with early users.
01.
Peer Discovery
Suggested peers based on shared interests and key attributes, reducing friction in finding relevant connections.
02.
Connecting
Direct messaging that enables communication to support ongoing relationships.
03.
Events Space
Community-led events that move connections offline and enable meaningful, real-world engagement.
DESIGN SYSTEM
A lean system built for speed and scale.
A lightweight design system was created to ensure visual consistency, reduce design debt, and support rapid iteration. Core components and styles were defined to balance speed of delivery with long-term scalability.
Validation & Outcomes
USER TESTING
Challenging assumptions through real user feedback.
15
University of NSW Orientation
5min
Post-launch surveys and interviews revealed a clear gap between our assumptions and what students actually valued, reshaping our understanding of the core problem Rekro needed to solve.
The website works well and I'd love to use it eventually… BUT I need to find a place to live first."
- Incoming first year international student.
93% felt the peer matching system was effective
For connecting with other like-minded students to build their social foundation.
73% would prioritise finding a home first above all else.
An important practical issue that was overlooked in the team's initial research.
86% preferred a Mobile App
For more convenience and on-the-go use.
POSITIVE OUTCOMES
Early traction validated market interest.
Despite unexpected findings, Version 1 launched successfully, generating valuable insights and securing funding for the next iteration.
ACQUIRED
First 50 users
Validating core value proposition and providing essential user feedback informing the next iteration.
FUNDING
UNSW Founders Pre-Accelerator Program
Securing access to expert mentorship, startup resources, and early investor interest.
NEXT STEPS - V2 PRODUCT STRATEGY SHIFT
Refocusing the product to solve the right problem.
Research revealed housing as the most urgent challenge for students. I presented these insights and worked with leadership.
I advocated for a pivot to:
Redefine the product strategy.
Align better with real user needs.
Ensure long-term relevance and strategic value of Rekro’s long-term vision.
Learnings
RETROSPECTIVE
Taking a 0→1 product to market in a startup environment sharpened my ability to prioritise, adapt, and ship.
Balancing business goals and design.
Designing with business objectives was both challenging and rewarding, reinforcing how design can directly drive growth and strategic direction.
Importance of foundational research.
Limited early research caused rework, highlighting the importance of challenging assumptions and grounding decisions early.
Resilience in a startup environment.
Working as the sole designer strengthened my ability to adapt quickly, take ownership, and collaborate under ambiguity in fast-paced, resource-constrained settings.