Activate App
Streamlining Community Engagement
Role
UX Researcher and Designer
Timeline
3 Day Competition
Services
Research, Prototyping, Visual Design, Product Strategy
Challenge
UCIrvine hosted a designathon with the following prompt: design your own desktop or mobile application that advocates for either (1) social justice or (2) sustainability. Activate is a mobile application designed to centralize all of the social justice events in one's community.
Rapid 36 hour
design process
Top 8
finalist in nation-wide competition.
100%
approval and excitement from judges and industry leaders.
CONTEXT
Hypothesis: Social Justice Event Information Was Inaccessible
As native Houstonians and college students, we were inspired by our own experiences. Social justice events often slipped through the cracks because they were buried in the hundreds of messages and emails we received daily. We recognized that information about local social justice events was not streamlined, which made it difficult for interested individuals to stay involved.
Social justice event information is not streamlined enough, letting important community work slip through the cracks.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
Rapid User Research Uncovered a Real User Need
Within our limited time frame, we sent out a poll to our dorm to understand accessibility of social justice events. We also conducted a user interview with 2 close friends interested in getting involved.
69% of people surveyed found it difficult to find social justice events in their area.
"I want to get involved, but I really have no idea where to look or start."
"There are so many messages all the time - I never know which to choose, so I end up choosing none."
PROBLEM BREAKDOWN
Key Product Features
Our research gave us the information to be able to define the following key functions:
ONBOARD
Users complete an onboarding experience that feels intentional.
LONGEVITY
Users can establish long-term connections with their preferred organizations.
BROWSE
Users can find social justice events near them.
REMEMBER
Users can register for and track their upcoming events.
PROTOTYPING
Rapid Wireframing and Prototyping
We knew that our application needed to be simple and intuitive in order to not over-complicate an already frustrating process of staying connected.
UI DESIGN
Crafting an Approachable App
The typography and color scheme were selected to evoke ease, clarity, and a welcoming feel, featuring lively yet calming tones. Rounded corners and subtle borders add a friendly, approachable, and playful character to the design.
Design System
SOLUTION: TOP 8 FINALIST
Activate: Getting Involved Made Easier
Thoughtful Onboarding for Personalized Engagement
The onboarding flow in Activate is designed to empower users right from the start. Upon opening the app, users are prompted to select social justice topics that resonate with them. This step ensures that their experience is tailored to their interests, helping them feel more connected and invested.
Seamless Browsing and Event Registration
Browsing and registering for events in Activate is designed to be as intuitive as possible. The flow prioritizes ease of navigation, enabling users to discover events in their area without hassle. I focused on ensuring that key event details — such as date, organization, and cause — were clearly displayed. By reducing friction in these key steps, users can confidently register for events and stay connected to their causes.
Effortless Search and Following
The search and follow features in Activate allows users to easily find organizations or causes that matter most to them. The search flow is designed to be efficient, with keyword suggestions and filters that guide users to relevant content. Once users discover an organization, they can follow it with just a tap, ensuring they stay updated on upcoming events. This streamlined experience keeps users engaged with their preferred causes while minimizing cognitive load. Whether searching for events or following organizations, the flow provides a seamless experience that fosters long-term involvement.
OVERVIEW
TLDR: Designing Under Pressure and Coming Out a Finalist!
This design competition was extremely rewarding. My ability to design and iterate rapidly was challenged, and it paid off in the end with a Top-8 award.
Rapid 36 hour
design process
Top 8
finalist in nation-wide competition.
100%
approval and excitement from judges and industry leaders.
REFLECTION
My Parting Thoughts
In just 3 days, I learned a lot and I’m certainly proud of our Top-8 position and well-liked app. Here's some of what I learned:
Design with passion: Designing an app for a cause I care deeply about made the entire process feel meaningful. It was fulfilling to create something that could potentially have a positive impact on the community.
Communicate: Working with a co-designer was invaluable. By communicating constantly and splitting tasks, we were able to meet deadlines while ensuring our work aligned with the user’s needs.
Inspire each other: A teammate brought new perspectives, helped brainstorm ideas, and provided design expertise. Working together made a daunting task much more manageable.
Presentation is key: Our success in the competition was also due to our ability to present the app effectively. It wasn’t just about the design; we had to sell our vision and passion to make others believe in the app’s potential.
What I would love to do next:
Conduct market research to understand if this is a real community need.
Flesh out the entire design.
Ultimately, I’d love to bring Activate to life and make it a tool that empowers individuals to get involved in their communities.