Mobile first Virtual portal design
One major discovery was a significant gap in financial literacy, which quickly became central to our project's direction. This gap influenced the development of our user persona and underscored the necessity of designing a platform that is both supportive and engaging. Our goal was to tailor the platform to address these real user needs, especially in financial literacy, which guided us through the subsequent design phases.
Assessing for Growth
When I embarked on the YoungLA project, I knew the first step was to understand what makes community engagement and life skills programs truly effective. I began by diving into competitive and comparative research on well-established organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs, United Way, and Habitat for Humanity. What stood out across these successful programs was a common thread: community involvement and empowerment were at the heart of their success.
These findings weren't just theoretical—they directly influenced how I approached the design of the YoungLA portal. I realized that to truly meet the needs of our target audience, the platform had to do more than just provide resources; it had to foster a sense of community and actively empower young adults. This insight became a guiding principle, ensuring that the portal was not just a tool, but a platform deeply aligned with the best practices of organizations that had already proven their impact.
Shaping the Tools for Tangible Growth
To ensure the portal’s design was effective and met users' needs, we started by creating low-fidelity wireframes and conducted usability tests with four participants. This approach helped us identify and address any usability issues early on. During testing, we uncovered several pain points, such as confusion in the booking process and a need for clearer instructions. Using this feedback, we made crucial adjustments, resulting in a more polished and accessible portal. The iterative process of testing and refining proved essential, highlighting that continuous feedback was key to enhancing the user experience and ensuring the final design was both functional and engaging.
Building with Purpose,
Testing with Care
To ensure the portal was intuitive and met users' needs, we developed low-fidelity wireframes and conducted usability tests with participants. These tests identified several usability issues, including confusion in the booking process and the need for clearer instructions. The insights gained from this feedback were instrumental in refining the design, resulting in a more polished portal.
The iterative process of testing and feedback proved crucial in enhancing the user experience. By continuously refining the design based on real user input, the team was able to quickly address pain points and improve functionality, ensuring that the final product was both engaging and effective.
