Project Goals
Designing for The Possibility Company was truly a challenge, as I was managing three projects simultaneously. The main project, Zaahah, involved designing the user experience for students, who were the primary users. Additionally, I developed an administrator mode, allowing parents or teachers to approve requests, analyze student data, and manage clubs and activities. For the third project, I led a Junior Designer in aHa, a virtual wallet that rewards students with virtual coins for participating in in-person activities. All solutions were created for both desktop and native mobile platforms.
Role
Lead UI/UX Designer
Duration
October 2021 - March 2022
Tools
Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, Miro, Trello.
Processes
End to end, Discovery, Workshops, SWOT, User Interviews, Benchmarking, Research, Customer Journey Map, User Persona, Flows/ Wireflows, Information Architecture, Wireframing, Prototyping, Design System, Usability Testing, Leadership Experience.
Problem
The social networking platform required administrators who could modify, edit, and supervise the app to ensure a safe space for students.
Solution
Developed an administrator mode that enables designated individuals to manage and enhance the social environment, ensuring a safe space for students.
My Role in Zaahah
Research & Benchmark
I researched various competitors and conducted a comprehensive analysis that delves into their design, pricing, user ratings, strengths, weaknesses, and potential areas for improvement. Based on this analysis, I've developed strategic suggestions to differentiate our product in the market and address unmet needs among our target audience.
Information Architecture
Since our product is entirely new and covers all aspects, I've developed a Information Architecture. This helps us understand how users will explore features and engage with content. It's like drawing a map for them, ensuring they can easily find what they need and make the most of our product.
Design
System
Designing the DS for Zaahah posed a significant challenge, not only because it started from scratch but also because this Design System would be utilized across other products of the company, such as the aHa Wallet and the website. Therefore, it was crucial to define the visual identity and create consistent components.
Challenges
Time Constraints: I was managing three projects simultaneously, additionally, I was tasked with creating the design system, making time the primary challenge.
Limited Wireframing: Due to the tight deadline, we had no room for creating wireframes. We had to move straight to building the final product.
No Time for Testing: The client explicitly requested to skip the testing phase, planning to test the product in a live production environment instead.
User Persona
The administrator mode was designed for professors and parents who wanted to supervise and ensure the safety of Zaahah. The target users were between 30 and 45 years old, primarily located in the United States, with a focus on Chicago.
Prioritization Matrix MoSCoW
Planning and organization were crucial for this project. After understanding the business goals and discussing them with the client, I decided to create a MoSCoW Prioritization Matrix. This approach helped identify what we should focus on, must achieve, could include, and won’t pursue.
Tasks Prioritization
However, juggling multiple projects required careful time management. To stay organized, I structured my activities as follows:
Information Architecture
We had to organize a large amount of sections and information, including graphics, forms, inputs, dates, and a complex dashboard. Thankfully, much of this information was already structured in the "Student/Public" view, so our main task was to assign and redesign these sections into an administrator panel that would be easy for our target users to understand.
Desktop Design
This project was designed with a desktop-first approach, as the parents and administrators would be using their personal computers.
Mobile Design
However, we also explored a mobile native version to provide flexibility for admins who might need to manage tasks on the go, ensuring it would be simple and user-friendly.
Design System
Additionally, I created the design system, which needed to be versatile and work across three different platforms: Zaahah, aHa, and the administrator mode. This design system helped a lot! and generated consistency across all products.
Zaahah for Students
For this project, we decided to create only low-fidelity wireframes for mobile since we adopted a mobile-first approach. This allowed us to explore numerous ideas and conduct testing.
Problem
School students in the United States have been avoiding in-person activities, primarily due to a lack of motivation as many need to work to cover their own expenses.
Solution
Developing a platform with a native mobile app that rewards students with virtual currency for participating in in-person activities, which they can redeem for real-life benefits.
Prototyping Mobile
Starting with the mobile-first approach was intriguing because we aimed for a product that stood out from what was already in the market. This approach enabled us to experiment with iconography, various types of cards, and delve into gradients or colors that would capture the attention of teenagers
Prototyping Web
The website presented an even greater challenge as we experimented with various types of navigation. We divided it into three panels: the right panel contained the menu and some options, the middle panel displayed the content and feeds, and the left panel housed the virtual wallet and chat. This approach was highly creative and explorative, breaking away from the common conventions.
Leading aHa
aHa was a virtual wallet integrated with Zaahah, where users could deposit virtual coins earned from participating in in-person activities. It also offered the opportunity to buy and sell NFTs. I led this project, as I was already designing two other projects for the company. In this role, I mentored and guided our junior designer through the process.
Problem
We needed a virtual tool to deposit and manage coins that students could use.
Solution
We created a virtual wallet integrated with the main app, allowing students to manage their coins by transferring, gifting, or saving them.
Synthesis & Retrospective
Outcomes & Metrics
What we did well
What I would improve
