App Prototype

sidequest

Daniel Martin

New Haven, CT

Advisor: Matthew Worwood

Artist Bio

Daniel Martin is an artist and designer majoring in Digital Media and Design at the University of Connecticut. Born and raised in the baroque town of Comayagua, Honduras, he later spent his teenage years in Norwalk, Connecticut. Both communities foster strong artistic traditions, particularly in painting and drawing, allowing Daniel to develop a solid foundation in traditional studio practices. This background led him to pursue a concentration in Web and Interactive Media Design, where visual storytelling intersects with technology.

Growing up surrounded by folklore, ghost stories, and cryptic forest legends shaped his fascination with dark romanticism and gothic aesthetics. His work explores themes of longing, belonging, happiness, and love, aiming to create emotional connections with viewers. Grounded in strong family and cultural values, Daniel’s design practice emphasizes empathy, unity, and human-centered expression.

Artist Statement

For my senior project, I created a social media app in response to growing frustration with how mainstream platforms operate. Over the summer, I became increasingly aware of how popular social media apps surveil users, manipulate behavior, spread propaganda, and prioritize profit over genuine connection. Conversations with friends confirmed this concern and sparked discussions about what a more ethical, welcoming, and emotionally healthy platform could look like.

At the same time, I felt disconnected living in Connecticut, where socializing often requires spending money. Many common activities revolve around consumption, which contrasts sharply with the culture I grew up in. My upbringing emphasized outdoor life and shared public spaces such as parks, cultural events, rivers, and informal gatherings. These spaces fostered a strong sense of community, belonging, and accessibility.

This project emerged from the desire to reconnect people locally rather than globally. Instead of encouraging virality or online performance, the app prioritizes real-world interaction and community building. It highlights overlooked public spaces like parks, libraries, museums, and plazas, and supports features such as group chats and scheduled hangouts to make socializing more approachable. Through this project, I aim to combat isolation, promote outdoor engagement, and reimagine social media as a tool for care, presence, and shared experience.