Treat Someone – Designing Connection at 30,000 Feet
Helping airplane passengers connect through shared interests— and an act of kindness ~
Team
1 Designer
Timeline
1-week sprint (Oct 2025)
Tools
Figma, FigJam, Paper prototypes & wireframes
Project Overview
Project Overview
Project Overview
Treat Someone is an in-flight social experience designed to help passengers discover shared interests and connect with others by sending airplane treats, like a brownie or coffee. For this project, I wanted to experiment with rapid ideation and iteration to develop a potential app idea.
Treat Someone is an in-flight social experience designed to help passengers discover shared interests and connect with others by sending airplane treats, like a brownie or coffee. For this project, I wanted to experiment with rapid ideation and iteration to develop a potential app idea.
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Understanding In-Flight Social Dynamics through Online Research and Conversations
Understanding In-Flight Social Dynamics through Online Research and Conversations
Not everybody craves in-flight connection.
Not everybody craves in-flight connection.
Not everybody craves in-flight connection.
Emotional state during air travel like fatigue, stress, discomfort, or anxiety, can reduce passengers' openness to new interactions. Most prefer quiet, solitary activities like reading or resting, and often view in-flight conversation as disruptive.
Emotional state during air travel like fatigue, stress, discomfort, or anxiety, can reduce passengers' openness to new interactions. Most prefer quiet, solitary activities like reading or resting, and often view in-flight conversation as disruptive.
“The airplane is my happy place; headphones on, small talk off. I need to enjoy some peace and quiet.”
“The airplane is my happy place; headphones on, small talk off. I need to enjoy some peace and quiet.”
"Being social and having an animated conversation can be really disruptive to those around you."
"Being social and having an animated conversation can be really disruptive to those around you."
…but what about those that do?
…but what about those that do?
…but what about those that do?
"My work requires me to take long passenger flights every month. I feel they are lost golden opportunities to make new lifelong friends and to engage in deep, meaningful conversation! I want to befriend other passengers…"
"My work requires me to take long passenger flights every month. I feel they are lost golden opportunities to make new lifelong friends and to engage in deep, meaningful conversation! I want to befriend other passengers…"
"I love to chat with people I don't usually associate with. I hear about places I've never been too, cultures I've never interacted with, jobs I sometimes never even knew existed, etc."
"I love to chat with people I don't usually associate with. I hear about places I've never been too, cultures I've never interacted with, jobs I sometimes never even knew existed, etc."
Air travel unites diverse passengers, yet meaningful interaction during flights is uncommon. Those open to socializing tend to engage selectively with passengers who share similar openness to conversation, interests, or backgrounds. Furthermore, fixed seating and limited mobility further reduce opportunities for organic connection.
Air travel unites diverse passengers, yet meaningful interaction during flights is uncommon. Those open to socializing tend to engage selectively with passengers who share similar openness to conversation, interests, or backgrounds. Furthermore, fixed seating and limited mobility further reduce opportunities for organic connection.
Key Insight
Key Insight
In-flight connections should be optional, subtle, and context-aware, enhancing the shared travel experience for those who want to connect with others without disrupting the personal space or comfort of others.
In-flight connections should be optional, subtle, and context-aware, enhancing the shared travel experience for those who want to connect with others without disrupting the personal space or comfort of others.
How can I help surface meaningful connections between passengers in a way that feels natural, optional, and even a little playful?
How can I help surface meaningful connections between passengers in a way that feels natural, optional, and even a little playful?
Round 2 of Secondary Research
Round 2 of Secondary Research
What helps people connect with strangers?
What helps people connect with strangers?
Acts of kindness positively influence how people view others, helping create stronger social bonds and enhancing positive perceptions of others.
Acts of kindness positively influence how people view others, helping create stronger social bonds and enhancing positive perceptions of others.
Sources: Journal of Experimental Psychology; PMC article on kindness and social connection
Perceived similarity (interests, attitudes) drives attraction.
Perceived similarity (interests, attitudes) drives attraction.
Source: Aron et al. (2020) — Understanding When Similarity-Induced Affective Attraction Predicts Willingness to Affiliate: An Attitude Strength Perspective
Gratitude strengthens relationships.
Gratitude strengthens relationships.
Source: Sprecher & Wenzel (2002) — Find, Remind, and Bind: The Functions of Gratitude in Everyday Relationships
Research & Ideation: Diving Into the Design
Research & Ideation: Diving Into the Design
I Rapidly Generated Ideas in 8 Minutes
I Rapidly Generated Ideas in 8 Minutes
To quickly brainstorm solutions, I did a Crazy 8's Exercise to explore innovative ways to help passengers connect during flights. I spent one minute for each idea and removed judgment from the process.
Ideas I came up with ranged from “Interactive Trivia” to “AR/VR Socializing”
To quickly brainstorm solutions, I did a Crazy 8's Exercise to explore innovative ways to help passengers connect during flights. I spent one minute for each idea and removed judgment from the process.
Ideas I came up with ranged from “Interactive Trivia” to “AR/VR Socializing”
Crazy 8's Brainstorming
The Chosen Concept: Treat Someone, Make a Connection
The Chosen Concept: Treat Someone, Make a Connection
I selected the airplane treats idea for its simple, gesture-based interaction: passengers can gift snacks, drinks, or thank-yous through the in-flight app, inspired by the “pay it forward” trend at drive-thrus.
Users can set preferences, send treats with optional notes, and recipients can reply or start a conversation utilizing personalized AI conversation starters, encouraging low-pressure and non-disruptve social connection.
I selected the airplane treats idea for its simple, gesture-based interaction: passengers can gift snacks, drinks, or thank-yous through the in-flight app, inspired by the “pay it forward” trend at drive-thrus.
Users can set preferences, send treats with optional notes, and recipients can reply or start a conversation utilizing personalized AI conversation starters, encouraging low-pressure and non-disruptve social connection.
Flow 1: Sending a Treat
Flow 1: Sending a Treat
Flow 2: Receiving a Treat
Flow 2: Receiving a Treat
3 Rounds of User Testing & Iterations through Interactive Wireframes & Prototypes
3 Rounds of User Testing & Iterations through Interactive Wireframes & Prototypes
I conducted 6 user testing sessions and experimented with rapid iteration and user testing to gather feedback and validate my app idea and features.
I conducted 6 user testing sessions and experimented with rapid iteration and user testing to gather feedback and validate my app idea and features.
Round 1: Paper Wireframes
Round 1: Paper Wireframes
Initial feedback suggested making interactions more personal by showing basic passenger details such as name, interests, or destination when sending or receiving treats.
I added visible profile information and an opt-in privacy setting, allowing users to control what they share while fostering authentic connection.
Initial feedback suggested making interactions more personal by showing basic passenger details such as name, interests, or destination when sending or receiving treats.
I added visible profile information and an opt-in privacy setting, allowing users to control what they share while fostering authentic connection.
Quick Paper Wireframes
Round 2: User Testing with Paper Prototypes
Round 2: User Testing with Paper Prototypes
User testing highlighted two main areas for improvement: privacy and accessibility. To protect minors, I introduced clear privacy disclaimers and designed the experience primarily for adult passengers.
I also addressed usability concerns by adding an option to connect personal devices for easier interaction. Future iterations will explore features like sending treats back and deeper integration with existing in-flight systems.
User testing highlighted two main areas for improvement: privacy and accessibility. To protect minors, I introduced clear privacy disclaimers and designed the experience primarily for adult passengers.
I also addressed usability concerns by adding an option to connect personal devices for easier interaction. Future iterations will explore features like sending treats back and deeper integration with existing in-flight systems.
Paper Prototypes
Round 3: Testing with Digital Wireframes & Prototypes
Round 3: Testing with Digital Wireframes & Prototypes
From the third user testing, I received feedback to include users' age since that might be an important factor in passengers wanting to connect with others. I also iterated on one of the modal screens and put the option to send a treat back to the person who treated you below the notes section.
From the third user testing, I received feedback to include users' age since that might be an important factor in passengers wanting to connect with others. I also iterated on one of the modal screens and put the option to send a treat back to the person who treated you below the notes section.
Low-Fidelity Prototypes
Future Iterations
Future Iterations
I also received important feedback on the create profile flow of the app, as it could cause potential friction with users and dissuade them from using the feature.
Adding a visible progress bar when users are going through steps like creating a profile or sending a treat could help mitigate this.
I also received important feedback on the create profile flow of the app, as it could cause potential friction with users and dissuade them from using the feature.
Adding a visible progress bar when users are going through steps like creating a profile or sending a treat could help mitigate this.
Experimenting Possibilities Shapes Better Designs
Experimenting Possibilities Shapes Better Designs
While this concept would definitely benefit from deeper research, iteration, and user testing, it was exciting to quickly bring an idea to life.
While this concept would definitely benefit from deeper research, iteration, and user testing, it was exciting to quickly bring an idea to life.
Reflections, Learnings, Next Steps
Reflections, Learnings, Next Steps
Finding Potential By Letting Go of Perfection
Finding Potential By Letting Go of Perfection
If my idea were to be made into a real app, there’s so much more that would need to be considered and thought through: privacy of passengers, security, integration with existing systems, payment methods, and more.
However, by initially ignoring the logistics and realism of the app, I felt less pressure when brainstorming ideas and innovating. Perhaps ignoring constraints at times can be useful in generating creativity and helping designers consider solutions they might have never thought of otherwise.
If my idea were to be made into a real app, there’s so much more that would need to be considered and thought through: privacy of passengers, security, integration with existing systems, payment methods, and more.
However, by initially ignoring the logistics and realism of the app, I felt less pressure when brainstorming ideas and innovating. Perhaps ignoring constraints at times can be useful in generating creativity and helping designers consider solutions they might have never thought of otherwise.
Next Steps
Next Steps
I plan to integrate a mobile device connection feature to enhance usability. User testing also raised important logistical questions about treat delivery. For example, disabling the feature during turbulence when flight attendants aren’t available.
Additionally, I received feedback on simplifying the payment process, such as allowing flight attendants to handle transactions or integrating secure, in-app payments linked to the passenger’s existing payment system while maintaining privacy and data security.
I plan to integrate a mobile device connection feature to enhance usability. User testing also raised important logistical questions about treat delivery. For example, disabling the feature during turbulence when flight attendants aren’t available.
Additionally, I received feedback on simplifying the payment process, such as allowing flight attendants to handle transactions or integrating secure, in-app payments linked to the passenger’s existing payment system while maintaining privacy and data security.
