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Observe the current workaround
Before opening Lovable, find a process students already handle through messages, paper forms, or repeated follow-ups. Ask three people to show you how they do it today.
Do not ask whether they like your app idea. Ask what happened the last time they completed the task, where time was lost, and what information was missing.
- Who performs the task?
- What starts the process?
- Where does it slow down?
- What does a successful outcome look like?
Translate the problem into a clear prompt
Lovable works from natural-language instructions, so your first prompt should behave like a compact product specification. State the purpose before describing the design.
For example: Build a mobile-friendly hostel maintenance reporter for students. A student selects a location, category, urgency, adds a description, and sees a confirmation number. Include a status lookup using sample data. Do not add login in the first version.
- State the user and outcome
- List the pages and main actions
- Describe the information each form needs
- Set a restrained visual direction
- Name features to exclude
Ready to turn the idea into a working project?
Choose the tool that fits your workflow. You never need a specific tool to use Launchda or enter the contest.
Use visual edits without losing the workflow
Lovable supports iterative prompting and visual changes. Use those tools to improve hierarchy, labels, spacing, and mobile usability after the main action works.
Avoid repeatedly changing the entire design. Give focused instructions such as make the report status more visible on the confirmation screen while keeping the form fields and navigation unchanged.
- Change one area at a time
- Keep the main action visually dominant
- Use plain labels students understand
- Test contrast, keyboard access, and phone layouts
Add backend features carefully
Lovable documents backend options through Lovable Cloud or Supabase. Add saved data or authentication only when your test needs it. Plan who can create, read, change, and delete every kind of record before connecting real users.
Use fictional sample data until access rules and validation are working. Never put private student information, passwords, API secrets, or payment details directly into prompts or page code.
- Define access for every record type
- Validate input on the server
- Keep secrets in protected settings
- Test with two separate user accounts
- Provide a way to report or remove sensitive content
Publish the learning
Use the public version with students and record what changed after their feedback. If the app remains a prototype, say so clearly. Credibility comes from accurate claims.
Your Launchda portfolio should connect the campus problem, your product choices, the Lovable workflow, screenshots, user feedback, and the final improvement in one shareable story.
- Original workflow
- Prototype scope
- User feedback
- Iteration made
- What you would build next