UNAMANO is a nonprofit organization that provides a convenient platform for individuals to book volunteer opportunities in their favorite communities. UNAMANO’s mission is to make volunteering accessible and easy for busy individuals who want to make a positive impact in their communities but don’t have the time to do the research. The platform is designed to directly connect volunteers with local organizations, making it easy to find and book volunteer opportunities that match their interests and availability.
Project Duration
June 2023 to July 2023
Project Overview
The problem
Busy executives and commuters lack the time to make the research and find ways to volunteer their time in their own commu
The goal
To design a platform to directly connect volunteers with local organizations, making it easy to find and book volunteer opportunities that match their interests and availability.
My role
UX designer designing an app for UNAMANO from conception to delivery.
Responsibilites
Conducting interviews, paper and digital wireframing, low and high-fidelity prototyping, conducting usability studies, accounting for accessibility, and iterating on designs.
Understanding the User
User research. personas. problem statements. user journey maps
User Research
Summary
Interviews were conducted amongst different users. I created empathy maps to understand the users I’m designing for and their needs. A primary user group identified through research
was working adults who are busy and don’t have the time to fulfill their leisurely activities.
This user group showcased a common assumption regarding their leisure activities during a busy work schedule. Research revealed that time was a factor limiting users. Other user problems included obligations, interests, or challenges to reserve some time for volunteering.
Competitive Audit
Ideation
I did a quick ideation exercise to come up with ideas for how to address gaps identified in the competitive audit. My focus was specifically on convenience and direct access
Design process
Digital Wireframes, Low Fidelity Prototype, Usability Studies
After ideating and drafting some paper wireframes, I created the initial designs for the Community Volunteering Service App. These designs focused on delivering a convenience and direct access to volunteer organizations.
Usability Findings
Search
Users want better options in the search feature such as organization name and other filters
Login/Profile
Users prefer to book directly instead of registering their account first
Service Summary
Users prefer to see a reminder or a summary of services booked
Refining the design
Mockups, High Fidelity Prototype, Accessibility
Accessibility Considerations
Headings and Titles differentiation to help identify the main topics
Images and Videos to help identify the description of the organizations
Alt Text will be added on images and videos for screen readers to pick up
Responsive design
Information architecture. Responsive variations
Sitemap
Going Forward
Take aways. Next steps
Take Aways
Impact
The app makes helps have direct access to organizations and book directly.
One quote from peer feedback:
“The app made it so easy and convenient for me to book a service on the spot without having to do all the leg work.
What I learned
I enjoyed going through the process of learning and understanding the user especially to those that have disabilities. This made it easier to implement all the necessary elements needed.
Next Steps
Conduct another round of usability studies to validate whether the pain points users experienced have been effectively addressed.
Conduct more research towards providing other options for accesibility
Conduct more user research to determine any new areas of need.