Viva is a student UI/UX project that addresses a real post-grad challenge: the sudden drop in social connection. Designed to combat the “living for the weekend” trap, Viva encourages young adults to explore their cities and meet new people through simple, rewarding in-app tools.
Gamification lies at the heart of Viva’s design — users earn badges for attending events, hosting gatherings, or exploring solo. From interactive maps and QR-based friend-adding to personalized activity feeds, the app keeps the experience light and approachable.
With clean navigation and social incentives baked into every feature, Lila Ward designed Viva to make community feel fun.
Lila Ward is a UI/UX designer based in Atlanta, Georgia. With a B.S. in Industrial Design and a minor in Psychology from Georgia Tech, she blends technical design skills with an empathetic, user-first approach. Her work focuses on making everyday experiences feel more intentional, inclusive, and emotionally resonant.
