Connecting Creatives: The NOWWHERE Platform

About

NOWWHERE is a groundbreaking social platform that unites creatives and celebrities, enabling them to share recommendations for leisure places with each other. The platform uniquely combines food, technology, and creative talent, catering to the needs of a mobilized community. Built by a small international team of creatives, NOWWHERE collects some of the world's most influential people and allows them to share their favorite haunts. Since recommendations are curated by a community of inspiring people, users can always trust the source.

NOWWHERE addresses a common challenge faced by creative professionals who travel the world for inspiration: finding the best places to eat and explore. With over 8 million restaurants globally, and millions of people dining out daily, the platform solves the problem of repetitive dining experiences by offering curated recommendations from a membership club of influential and talented people such as fashion designers, stylists, photographers, art directors, editors, artists, film directors, journalists, and more.

The platform boasts users from top publications and brands, including Vogue, Dazed & Confused, Style.com, Mr Porter, L’Officiel, The Gentlewoman, Art Partner Agency, Barneys New York, Tank Magazine, Purple Magazine, VICE, SoundCloud, Givenchy, Saint Laurent, Calvin Klein, & Other Stories, Acne, Ralph Lauren, and Opening Ceremony.

Challenges

NOWWHERE set out to create a sophisticated platform that would connect celebrities and allow them to share opinions and tips about popular places. The challenge was to develop both an iPhone app and a mobile-friendly informational website that included the following features:

• Restaurant references and information about public venues
• A stream with recent reviews
• Sharing capabilities via social networks
• Invitation feature for friends
• Trial access options
• Interactive maps
• User profiles
• Website-specific features such as interviews, editor’s picks of the month, reviews, recommendations, and a stream of content

Solutions

We began the project with a thorough business analysis and prototyping phase to ensure all client requirements and expectations were met. This initial phase was crucial in aligning our development approach with the client's vision and providing a solid foundation for the subsequent development stages.

The development process involved creating a robust web and mobile platform using Umbraco as the content management system. As an official Umbraco Partner, UKAD leveraged its extensive expertise to deliver a seamless, high-performing content platform. The platform's web and mobile components were designed from scratch, ensuring a responsive, mobile-friendly UX and UI.

Key features implemented include:

• Quick selection of restaurants recommended by VIP members
• Social engagement functionalities for sharing and exchanging recommendations
• Celebrity following options to see how creatives travel globally
• Live streams providing fresh, inspiring recommendations worldwide

Results

The technology stack chosen allowed us to meet all of the client’s requirements efficiently, providing the required functionality in a cost-effective and timely manner. The result was a sophisticated platform that not only met but exceeded the client’s expectations.

The mobile app was well-received by users and garnered significant attention in the industry. It was even featured in Vogue, highlighting its impact and appeal within the creative community. The successful launch and operation of NOWWHERE underscore UKAD's ability to develop complex projects and deliver high-quality solutions, further cementing our reputation as a reliable development partner.

By promoting our business analysis and prototyping services, as well as our Umbraco development expertise, this case study showcases UKAD's comprehensive approach to tackling challenging projects and delivering exceptional results.

Technology stack

Website

iOS application