HopSpot.
Where intelligence meets wealth.
My Role: Lead Product Designer & Brand Designer
Tools: Figma, Illustrator, Procreate
Timeline: 2023 - 2025
Student Start Up Founders: Benjamin Roman, Yousef Hozayen, Mina Mansour
Designers: Jenna Cianfarani & Samantha Mirabella
HopSpot is a nightlife discovery app that shows real-time wait times for nearby clubs and bars, helping users choose where to go without the guesswork. Built by Ontario university students and launched in 2024, it makes nights out faster, easier, and better.
The Problem
Going out often means guessing which venues have long lines or are already too crowded, wasting time and killing the night’s momentum.
Research & Discovery
01. Research Data
“Generation Z gets news in real time … Any unnecessary time spent waiting or any unexplained friction in a customer experience is simply unacceptable to many.”
Kaminsight 2021
02. Benchmark Analysis
03. PACT Analysis
The Solution
HopSpot is a mobile platform that lets users see real-time wait times, queue lengths, and crowd levels at their favourite bars, clubs, and venues across the city, so they can choose the best spot, avoid long lines, and plan their night with live updates, maps, and smart suggestions.
High Fidelity Prototype
Dashboard
HopSpot’s dashboard gives you a clean, instant snapshot of your local establishments showing you the hottest and most popular establishments around you. The Dashboard lets you quickly view wait times, trending spots, and directions. There is also a live cam feature that lets you view the lines in real time.
Map View
HopSpot’s map allows users to view all local establishments in the area. When selected, the user can then view wait times, events, prices, and directions. Users also have the ability to report wait times while they are waiting in line and also put their names on guest lists / make reservations.
Social Media
HopSpot’s social feed lets users share where they’ve been throughout the night, post quick updates from clubs or bars, and discover what venues are buzzing in real time. Users can also follow friends or people they meet that night, turning nightlife into a connected, shareable experience.
Accomplishments
App Store Approval 🎉
One of our proudest accomplishments was getting HopSpot approved on the App Store. This milestone marked the culmination of months of hard work, from designing a seamless user experience to meeting Apple’s rigorous guidelines for functionality, security, and design.
Over 300,000 Views!!
Our TikTok page has been a game-changer in building excitement for HopSpot. With creative, engaging videos showcasing the app’s features and the nightlife culture it supports, we’ve captured the attention of thousands. One of our proudest moments was seeing our videos go viral, amassing over 300,000 views!
Merch Design
Tee Shirt Design
As part of HopSpot’s brand extension, I designed a custom T-shirt that translates the app’s nightlife energy into a wearable graphic. The piece uses bold typography and clean, modern visuals to reflect movement, connection, and late-night culture, turning HopSpot from a digital experience into a physical identity.
Stickers & Banners
To support in-person promotion, I designed a set of stickers and banners that bring HopSpot’s visual identity into real nightlife spaces. These assets use high-contrast graphics and playful messaging to grab attention in clubs and bars, reinforcing brand recognition while encouraging downloads and social sharing.
The Creation of the Bunny
The HopSpot Bunny
I created the HopSpot bunny as a playful brand character to humanize the app and make it instantly recognizable. The character adds personality and approachability to the nightlife experience, helping HopSpot feel fun, social, and memorable across the app, merch, and promotional materials.
