The best way to be a real surfer.

Sufp! is a real-time surf information platform, initially focusing on the Southern California market. Amidst the growing popularity of surfing, the absence of a dedicated app platform is evident, unlike other athletic activities.

Sufp! introduces AI analytics to video recordings, a key aspect of the surfing culture, providing surfers with personalized data and insights. It also provides real-time information and communities that will be a great help for surfers.

Sufp! is a real-time surf information platform, initially focusing on the Southern California market. Amidst the growing popularity of surfing, the absence of a dedicated app platform is evident, unlike other athletic activities.

Sufp! introduces AI analytics to video recordings, a key aspect of the surfing culture, providing surfers with personalized data and insights. It also provides real-time information and communities that will be a great help for surfers.

Categories

Categories

Business Development
Product Design

Brand Design

UI/UX

Business Development
Product Design

Brand Design

UI/UX

Work Purpose

Work Purpose

Hackathon for Kookmin University's i-PBL program to test skillsets.

Hackathon for Kookmin University's i-PBL program to test skillsets.

Period / Contribution

Period / Contribution

3 Days,
5 - 7 / 3 / 2024
100% Stand-alone

3 Days,
5 - 7 / 3 / 2024
100% Stand-alone

Tools

Tools

Figma
GPT4

Figma
GPT4

Prologue

Prologue

Approach

Approach

Presentation

Presentation

Reflections

Reflections

This is a mission I was given on my first day in the exchange program:

This is a mission I was given on my first day in the exchange program:

This is a mission I was given on my first day in the exchange program:

Create a product that meets business needs achieves ship-ready quality, and incorporates AI technology / Build it on the right platform for Southern California. / Deliver all this even though you've just arrived in the area. Your deadline? Just 3 days.

Create a product that meets business needs achieves ship-ready quality, and incorporates AI technology / Build it on the right platform for Southern California. / Deliver all this even though you've just arrived in the area. Your deadline? Just 3 days.

"...How do I do this?"

"...How do I do this?"

"...How do I do this?"

My strategy was:

  1. Exclude complex/regulated fields.
    (medical, legal, tipping culture, etc...)

My strategy was:

  1. Exclude complex/regulated fields.
    (medical, legal, tipping culture, etc...)

My strategy was:

  1. Exclude complex/regulated fields.
    (medical, legal, tipping culture, etc...)

  1. Target niche user segments, not features.

    (to differentiate with lower costs)

  1. Target niche user segments, not features.

    (to differentiate with lower costs)

  1. Target niche user segments, not features.

    (to differentiate with lower costs)

  1. Prioritize sectors lacking digitalization.

  1. Prioritize sectors lacking digitalization.

  1. Prioritize sectors lacking digitalization.

So, I researched Southern California's geography,

So, I researched Southern California's geography,

So, I researched Southern California's geography,

and AI handled quantitative analysis

and AI handled quantitative analysis

and AI handled quantitative analysis

while I derived key insights.

while I derived key insights.

while I derived key insights.

Leveraging AI, I enhanced the business model and drafted designs,

Leveraging AI, I enhanced the business model and drafted designs,

Leveraging AI, I enhanced the business model and drafted designs,

successfully launching a satisfactory service within three days.

successfully launching a satisfactory service within three days.

successfully launching a satisfactory service within three days.

This is what I ended up with:

This is what I ended up with:

  1. Background Research

  1. Background Research

  1. Background Research

When I started, I had limited knowledge about California's business landscape. The general keywords I found, like "aging," were too broad for specific CA businesses.


I also explored traditional routes, such as VCs and economic reports, but the insights often reflected recently popular topics. Fully grasping these fields in three days was too risky.


So, I turned to ChatGPT, asking about California's signature businesses. It provided five key focus areas to explore further.

  1. Refining Target Market Size

  1. Refining Target Market Size

  1. Refining Target Market Size

I questioned whether Southern California was a good fit for the marine leisure industry and the expected market size.


While U.S. government data from NOAA and BEA was credible, AI couldn't match their authority alone. The scattered data made it challenging to derive insights for the "surf industry in SoCal."


I gathered data on the maritime industry, state and county GDP, and other relevant clues, collaborating with AI to establish causal relationships.

Within half a day, I determined the surfing industry's economic significance in SoCal and developed a formula with AI to present a compelling data-driven case for the market potential.

Within half a day, I determined the surfing industry's economic significance in SoCal and developed a formula with AI to present a compelling data-driven case for the market potential.

  1. Define a specific field and mission

  1. Define a specific field and mission

  1. Define a specific field and mission

With the surf leisure industry identified as SoCal's main economic driver, it was time to define the product's identity.


Focusing on surfers, the mission became clear: enhance and enrich the surfing experience, making it more enjoyable and memorable.


By narrowing the scope and crafting a targeted mission statement, I set the foundation for a product that resonates with the surfing community's core desires.

With the surf leisure industry identified as Southern California's economic driver, it was time to define the product's identity.


Focusing on surfers, I aimed to enhance and enrich their experience, making it more enjoyable and memorable.


By narrowing the scope and crafting a targeted mission statement, I set the foundation for developing a product that resonates with the surfing community's core desires.

  1. Competitor Analysis

  1. Competitor Analysis

  1. Competitor Analysis

Examining existing surfing apps revealed most focused on specific features, failing to holistically address the goal of enhancing the surfing experience.


Successful services were predominantly weather-related or simulation games, with apps like Nobody Surf focusing on user engagement through video sharing.


However, surfing apps lacked personalized information for individual users and specific locations compared to other sports apps.


Recognizing the untapped potential of location-based personalization, I identified a significant gap in the market that a new platform could fill.

  1. Identify problems and suggest services

  1. Identify problems and suggest services

  1. Identify problems and suggest services

Through analysis, I identified the shortcomings of existing surfing services and proposed a solution leveraging competitors' strengths.


I discovered surfing involves a wide range of equipment and skills, with activities varying based on location and wave type. People were relying on YouTube or scattered websites to learn this.


Rather than creating a detailed service, I aimed to develop a platform consolidating this information, designing numerous potential business-generating items categorized into three sections.

  1. Designing Prototypes

  1. Designing Prototypes

  1. Designing Prototypes

Branding (Name/ Logo)

For a service with a clear purpose, an abstract name wasn't necessary.


I generated short, surf-inspired phrases (SUPP, Suff, etc…), verifying them with AI and search engines to avoid misinterpretation. After visualizing options, I chose Sufp! for its rhythmic letters and horizontal balance.


For the logo, I asked AI to provide drafts, then refined the best ones in Figma, reducing excessive character depiction and adapting an iOS icon style.

Branding (Name/ Logo)

For a service with a clear purpose, an abstract name wasn't necessary.


I generated short, surf-inspired phrases (SUPP, Suff, etc…), verifying them with AI and search engines to avoid misinterpretation. After visualizing options, I chose Sufp! for its rhythmic letters and horizontal balance.


For the logo, I asked AI to provide drafts, then refined the best ones in Figma, reducing excessive character depiction and adapting an iOS icon style.

AI based service design

Recognizing the prevalence of AI-powered video analytics platforms, I sought to integrate this functionality into the surfing video sharing culture, presenting surfing behavior keywords as graphs to avoid text-only UX limitations.

AI based service design

Recognizing the prevalence of AI-powered video analytics platforms, I sought to integrate this functionality into the surfing video sharing culture, presenting surfing behavior keywords as graphs to avoid text-only UX limitations.

UX/UI

I prominently featured weather information and video sharing, reinforcing regional, weather, and suitable board information with simplified icons in a carousel.


The Material UI system and AI-generated fictional personas for prototype content reduced workload and complemented the final presentation.

UX/UI

I prominently featured weather information and video sharing, reinforcing regional, weather, and suitable board information with simplified icons in a carousel.


The Material UI system and AI-generated fictional personas for prototype content reduced workload and complemented the final presentation.

  1. Initial roadmap and future value proposition

For the initial release, I focused on SoCal to manage my business effectively, highlighting its unique advantages and benefits to surf by compiling information from other communities.


To demonstrate growth potential, I explored the economic scale of companies offering similar services in other leisure sectors. Proposing a vision based on their financial statements was a new experience.


To clarify figures and strengthen my pitch, I collaborated with AI to refine the flow and articulate a compelling future value proposition for Sufp!.

Lessons Learned from an Intense 3-Day AI Journey


This intensive project revealed the true potential of AI in streamlining workflows and fostering innovation:


  1. AI Amplifies Expertise: Applying AI to familiar domains unlocks substantial time savings, condensing months of work into mere days.


  2. Elevating Design with Data-Driven Insights: Incorporating expert evidence and data-driven insights elevates the design process, particularly in business-related areas.


  3. The Art of Intentional AI Prompting: Effective AI prompting relies on articulating clear intentions to obtain precise solutions, even in domains where expertise is limited.


Armed with these lessons and renewed confidence, I am ready to push the boundaries of design and create more impactful, innovative solutions with AI as my ally.

Lessons Learned from an Intense 3-Day AI Journey


This intensive project revealed the true potential of AI in streamlining workflows and fostering innovation:


  1. AI Amplifies Expertise: Applying AI to familiar domains unlocks substantial time savings, condensing months of work into mere days.


  2. Elevating Design with Data-Driven Insights: Incorporating expert evidence and data-driven insights elevates the design process, particularly in business-related areas.


  3. The Art of Intentional AI Prompting: Effective AI prompting relies on articulating clear intentions to obtain precise solutions, even in domains where expertise is limited.


Armed with these lessons and renewed confidence, I am ready to push the boundaries of design and create more impactful, innovative solutions with AI as my ally.

Lessons Learned from an Intense 3-Day AI Journey


This intensive project revealed the true potential of AI in streamlining workflows and fostering innovation:


  1. AI Amplifies Expertise: Applying AI to familiar domains unlocks substantial time savings, condensing months of work into mere days.


  2. Elevating Design with Data-Driven Insights: Incorporating expert evidence and data-driven insights elevates the design process, particularly in business-related areas.


  3. The Art of Intentional AI Prompting: Effective AI prompting relies on articulating clear intentions to obtain precise solutions, even in domains where expertise is limited.


Armed with these lessons and renewed confidence, I am ready to push the boundaries of design and create more impactful, innovative solutions with AI as my ally.

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