task - Send Requests To Meet Up

Who is doing the task?

Mark is a university student who recently moved from Brazil to Canada to begin his undergraduate studies. Being new to the country, he’s eager to form meaningful friendships and share experiences with others. However, despite his efforts, he has struggled to find spaces where real conversations can happen naturally.

He tried going to club events, hoping they would be a good place to meet people, but they felt overwhelming and impersonal—too crowded for genuine one-on-one interactions. So he decided to take a more direct approach, initiating conversations with students during lunch, only to realize that many people weren’t looking to connect in the same way he was. Some were simply too busy, while others weren’t open to new friendships at the time.

Mark wasn’t looking for just any social interaction—he wanted to find like-minded individuals who were also searching for meaningful conversations and friendships. He wished there were a way to know beforehand if someone shared that intention, rather than leaving everything up to chance.

This wasn’t just about making friends—it was about making the right kind of friendships: ones built on shared curiosity, mutual respect, and meaningful conversation. He also wanted to respect both his own time and that of others, making sure that when he reached out, it was to someone who was also interested in engaging.

That’s when he came across Orbit, an app designed to make meeting new people feel more intentional and natural. The app promised to help people find others who shared their social goals and interests, while keeping things low-pressure and flexible. The idea resonated with him—he didn’t want to force connections, but he also didn’t want to wait for friendships to happen by accident.

Where is the task being done?

Mark has reached a point where he realizes that finding meaningful friendships requires more than just effort—it requires the right environment. In his experience, most social settings either lack intentionality or are too random to be effective.

Rather than continuing to approach strangers with no way of knowing if they’re interested in a similar kind of connection, Mark wants to shift his approach. He sees Orbit as a tool that can help create the right conditions for genuine friendships to form—a way to meet people who are also actively looking for deeper conversations.

What is the goal of the person doing the task?

Mark wants to meet someone for lunch and have a real, engaging conversation. But more than that, he wants to:

• Feel confident that the other person is also interested in making a connection.

• Know in advance that the conversation will be something meaningful to both of them.

• Reduce the awkwardness of first interactions by setting clear expectations about the meetup.

• Meet people in a way that feels natural and enjoyable, rather than forced or transactional.

By creating a meetup request, he’s not just planning a lunch—he’s creating an opportunity for an interaction that is mutually meaningful. He wants to make sure that the time he spends socializing feels rewarding, and that both he and the other person are meeting because they genuinely want to connect.

When is the task being done and how long should it take?

Mark decides to create his meetup request the night before, as he is planning out the next day. By setting it up in advance, he allows himself to wake up with a plan—one that he’s already comfortable with.

The process itself is simple and intuitive:

1. He sets the time: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM (his available lunch break).

2. He sets the location: Mac Hall

3. He chooses a discussion topic: “How to make the best of your university experience.”

4. He selects a suggested conversation starter: “What is one thing that you plan to do more of during your time in university?”

5. He reviews his details and sends out the request

When he wakes up the next morning, he sees that multiple people have approved his request, meaning that they’re also interested in the conversation he proposed.

As he looks through the profiles, one stands out: “imjustken,” an exchange student from Japan. Mark has always been interested in Japanese culture, especially since he started practicing jiu-jitsu and judo. Seeing that they already share some common ground, he approves the meetup request.

As soon as he does, the app opens a chat interface, allowing them to introduce themselves and make the meetup feel even more natural.

Why This Task Matters (optional)

This isn’t just about scheduling a meetup—it’s about changing the way people connect. Mark isn’t trying to “filter” people out—he’s trying to find the ones who are also looking for connection. Orbit doesn’t replace organic friendships; it simply creates the right conditions for them to begin.

The process is designed to feel human-centered:

• It removes the uncertainty and stress of approaching people randomly.

• It allows both parties to express their social intentions clearly.

• It makes meeting new people feel exciting, not exhausting.

Key Takeaways for the Design

• Orbit isn’t just about scheduling meetups—it’s about changing how people approach social interactions.
• Mark is looking for control, not just convenience. The system should empower him to make thoughtful, informed decisions about whom he meets.
• The process should feel low-pressure and rewarding. Instead of Mark feeling like he’s forcing interactions, he should feel like he’s participating in something mutually beneficial.
• The request system should reflect real-life motivations. It should capture why people want to meet, not just the logistics of meeting.

Detailed Task Flow

1. Realization & Motivation
   • Mark recognizes that spontaneous, in-person interactions aren’t working.
   • He wants a structured way to ensure his social efforts are meaningful.
2. Choosing to Use Orbit
   • He sees the app as a tool to filter and refine who he meets.
   • He trusts the platform because of its verification process and transparency.
3. Creating a Meetup Request
   • He sets the time that works for him.
   • He chooses a discussion topic to ensure an engaging conversation.
   • He selects a conversation starter to make things flow naturally.
4. Sending the Request
   • He feels confident that this approach will help him find the right people.
5. Reviewing Matches & Making a Decision
   • Instead of taking chances, Mark can now choose based on real information.
6. Meeting Someone Who Aligns with His Interests
   • By approving a match, he ensures that his time is well spent.