authentiCITY: Turning the City into a Playground

Inspiration

People get lonelier as they move to more urban areas—why leave community behind, when we can forge one ourselves? That’s the heart of authentiCITY. We wanted to create a platform that brings genuine, spontaneous human connection back to cities. Instead of a sterile map or a checklist of tourist traps, what if every local could be a guide, every tourist a player, and every street a potential side quest? Bring authenticity to the city—make Sydney feel like a playground, not a grid.

What We Learned

• User experience is everything: Cities are overwhelming—people want playful, low-pressure ways to explore and meet others.
• Community-driven content is powerful: Giving locals the power to drop pins, host events, and share “side quests” creates a richer, more meaningful map.
• Gamification works: Achievements, badges, and real-time rewards encourage users to leave their comfort zones and engage with new places and people.
• Inclusivity matters: By nudging users to try new experiences (e.g., “touch grass” quests for shoppers, social events for introverts), we can gently break urban bubbles and foster real connections.

How We Built It

• Frontend:
  
  • Built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for fast prototyping.
  • Google Maps API for live map integration and pin drops.
  • Custom UI elements inspired by apps like Pinterest, Rednote, and Google Maps, but with a playful, community-first design.
• Backend:
  
  • Firebase/Supabase (if used) for real-time data storage—pins, user profiles, events, and achievements.
  • Simple auth system (Google/guest) to allow frictionless onboarding.
• Core Features:
  
  • Map screen: Drop pins, search places, view side quests/events.
  • Profile page: Avatar, achievements, badges, event/quest history.
  • “Add Pin” flow: Anyone can create a quest, add tips, or share hidden gems.
  • Achievements: Earn badges for attending events, trying new experiences, making friends.
  • Friend system: Add/join others in real-time side quests.
  • Dark mode UI: For late-night city adventurers.

Challenges We Faced

• Time pressure: 24 hours goes fast—prioritising MVP features (map, pins, profile, achievements) was crucial.
• Design vs. Function: Balancing a fun, playful design with clarity and usability—especially on a dark map background—required constant iteration.
• Integrating live map and custom UI: Syncing Google Maps with our own pin icons and overlaying event data took careful handling of APIs and CSS.
• User journey flow: Making the “side quest”/achievement system both intuitive and rewarding, without overwhelming the user, pushed us to rethink onboarding and in-app guidance.
• Collaboration: With a team working in parallel (design, frontend, backend, pitch), clear communication was key to not doubling up or missing core features.

In the end, we didn’t just build an app—we built a philosophy:
The real city isn’t found in a guidebook. It’s made by people, like you.

Built With

• css
• html
• javascript