
The Problem
Planning with friends usually happens in group chats, where conversations drift and decisions are unclear.
Availability is hard to coordinate, preferences are scattered across messages, and no one is clearly driving the plan forward.
As a result, plans often stall or get abandoned before anything is actually booked.

The Idea
Instead of another planning tool, the idea was to introduce Hal, a conversational AI, directly into the discussion.
Hal actively participates, helping the group align on what to do, when to meet, and where to go, while handling the logistics in the background.

App Architecture
Before designing the interface, the structure needed to be clear. Social Planner organizes around five destinations, each with a distinct job, and two primary user journeys that the AI facilitates end to end.

Planning Flow

Day-of Flow

Home / Overview
The home screen surfaces active plans, pending decisions, and group activity in one place, making it easy to see what needs attention and jump back into planning.
Group Chat (core)
Planning happens directly in the conversation, with Hal actively participating to guide the group toward a decision. Hal asks questions, surfaces options, and helps align preferences without taking over the interaction.
Choosing Time
Hal surfaces options for both time and place directly in the conversation, making it easy for the group to compare and align. Everyone can see the same options and weigh in, so decisions happen naturally without the conversation getting stuck.
Choosing Place
Hal surfaces options for both time and place directly in the conversation, making it easy for the group to compare and align. Everyone can see the same options and weigh in, so decisions happen naturally without the conversation getting stuck.
Events Page

Managing Plans
