Able Community
Engaging users through highlighting transparency and personal stories.
Role: UX/UI Designer
Timeline: 5 Months
Type: Desktop & Mobile Site Re-design
Tools: Figma, Miro, Figjam
Deliverables: Competitive Analysis, User Interviews, User Survey, Persona, Task Flows, Sketches, Wireframing, Usability Testing, Branding Mockups
Real stories & transparency increase trust for users.
BACKGROUND
Able Community is a non-profit organization aiming to serve global communities in need. As the UX Designer, I was tasked with learning about users needs to better create a platform where donors, sponsors, and recipients could feel trust and accountability.
Before
After
Without access to information, users are less engaged.
PROBLEM
Although AC provides extensive programs from food distribution & goods allocation to infrastructure development for impoverished communities- their online presence and engagement was lacking. I sought to discover how to better engage users and expand my client’s reach on their grass roots projects.
Highlight personal stories & make donations easy.
SOLUTION
1. Engage users through active projects and real stories.
Learning about the direct impact on recipients to increase empathy & engagement.
Before
After
After
Before
2. Make donations accessible.
Improving the donation process for higher accessibility and a user-friendly approach.
Diving into the perspective of the client and non-profit sector.
BACKGROUND RESEARCH
To best design an intuitive site that represents and meets the goals for Able Community, I did extensive research on their non-profit programs, partners, and audience for both international and domestic demographics and determined the ultimate goal: to improve improve communication of their work and encourage users to donate and engage.
To better contrast the current design for the client, I looked at 3 leading non-profits, and one smaller non-profit that worked to improve their reach to their desired community online.
I learned that “information-first” was their approach, and all non-profit organizations detailed a high amount of information on their projects and outcomes.
Leading non-profits, lead with high transparency.
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
United Way
Good 360
Direct Relief
Lady Free Thinker
Real people & real stories, made a big difference for my interviewees.
USER INTERVIEWS
I interviewed 5 participants from ages 30-71 and learned a very interesting common theme across all of my participants- although the non-profits they had donated to before were completely different, deciding to donate largely came from a personal reference or hearing of a real story.
Major Insights
Hearing real stories from references or personal ambassadors encouraged users to learn more about a non-profit.
Motivation
Accountability
Seeing detailed cost-breakdowns made users feel more open to a non-profit.
Access
Direct donations increased trust & security for users.
THE DONOR PERSONA
Looking at the donor perspective to craft a ”grass-roots“ feel.
POV & HMW
After learning the importance of real stories from my interviewees, I developed my POV & HMW statements from my insights and used it to guide me throughout my design process.
I’d like to explore ways to help users engage with Able Community, by highlighting personal stories of recipients and providing information on cost-breakdowns, for an informed experience.
How might we create a grass-roots feeling from individual stories and dollar impact initiatives for users when understanding how their contributions help the causes Able Community works on?
Designing a secure donation process and to inform users.
MIDFI WIREFRAMES
After looking at endless references for payment processes and donations, I developed my MidFi wireframes. My goal was to design a flow that users felt was secure, while taking into account all payment and verification requirements.
Submit a Donation
View a Personal Story
Final Designs & Prototype
Final Thoughts & Take Aways
Informed designs make the difference. I was surprised by my users interviews in learning of their shared motivation on valuing personal stories and references so much. Although my participants received their information from various sources, understanding their shared trust in personal references enabled me to take a unique approach to my design that I hadn’t expected.
References, references, references. Looking at various designs enabled me to understand the over-all values non-profits share. After delving into the non-profit sector, I researched payment processes and membership accounts from large scale e-commerce companies to create a wholesome experience for Able Community users.
For more work inquiries, or to grab a coffee email me at mandysoetopo@gmail.com ✨
Thank you for reading!
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