Currently, there is no one-stop platform that effectively connects volunteers with local opportunities for social good, making it difficult for people to find and participate in volunteering activities.
UX Researcher UX/UI Designer
Design a platform that brings volunteers and local opportunities together, making volunteering more accessible and inclusive. The platform aims to remove barriers and encourage more people to get involved in making a positive impact in their communities.
Figma, Figjam, Notion, Photoshop, Illustrator
This project was born out of my own experiences of moving to a new country and facing challenges in making friends. While volunteering during Dutch Design Week, I found friendship and developed a passion for community involvement.
As I explored different volunteering opportunities, I realized the process was overwhelming, and I had to rely on multiple resources. It was difficult to find suitable opportunities, and I often didn't meet the requirements. These experiences led me to wonder if others had similar struggles. How can we make volunteer opportunities more accessible and inclusive? These question sparked my curiosity and became the driving force behind this project.
To gather information about the current volunteering landscape and how people discover and participate in opportunities, I employed two research methods. Firstly, I analysed the popular platforms used by volunteers. Additionally, I conducted a survey and interviews to gain deeper insights into the volunteer experience
Research Goal: To gain a deeper understanding of the current user journey of finding and engaging in volunteering activities.
Through a competitive analysis, I analysed other platforms in the volunteering space to identify their strengths and weaknesses. It revealed that while there are options available for finding volunteering opportunities, they often lack a comprehensive approach. Some platforms lack mobile apps, others have a global focus that might be overwhelming, and certain options lack localised engagement or come with associated costs. This analysis guides the development of my product, aiming to bridge these gaps and provide a more seamless volunteering experience.
Now that I had a better understanding of the current market, I wanted to better understand the user experience when finding volunteering activities. I conducted a survey with individuals who are open to volunteering or have considered it in the past, along with those who are currently volunteering or have done so regularly before. The survey findings aligned with my initial thoughts: people are more likely to volunteer if the opportunities are easy to find, easy to sign up for, and offer flexibility. This conclusion, supported by our research, underscores the importance of user-friendly experiences that can boost volunteer engagement.
Out of 20 participants, 18 mentioned that they feel passionate about certain causes from time to time but are unsure about how to start.
Out of 20 participants, 16 showed interest in contributing to communities through means other than donating money.
was the most common response to the question: "How often do you actually follow through and volunteer?"
After understanding users' needs and goals, I crafted a user persona and a user journey map. These tools paint a clear picture of the user's experience, revealing issues and opportunities for enhancement. While these methods are useful, they also highlighted my personal biases, prompting me to rely more on insights from interviews rather than just personas.
Using the collected data, I brainstormed, compiled, and structured the information architecture into a sitemap.
Afterwards, I created task flows that explore different paths users might follow as they interact with the platform.
During the ideation phase, I moved from insights and ideas to actual screens. Starting with pen and paper, I transitioned those initial sketches into low-fidelity wireframes.
I created a design system to maintain visual consistency across all screens prior to creating the high-fidelity wireframes.
The onboarding process helps users get familiar with the app's main features and allows them to personalize their feed by selecting their interested causes. Users also can connect with friends to join volunteering events together and add their location to find local opportunities in their area.
Users can view details of events, including date, time, location, and the organization hosting it. They can see which of their friends are also attending and can invite them to volunteer together. The app ensures they meet event requirements for a seamless experience before confirming participation.
Users can showcase their interests, view upcoming and past events, and monitor their progress. They can boost their XP by joining events, inviting friends, and achieving milestones.
I conducted five usability tests using the Figma prototype for the Good Crowd app. Participants were given two main tasks: Signing up for a volunteering event and editing their profile.
Research Goal: To evaluate the usability of the app and identify any frustrations users might face while performing tasks.
Insights: During the usability tests, participants praised the Good Crowd app for its clean design. They found the user interface highly appealing and expressed eagerness to incorporate it into their daily lives. Additionally, having a requirement checklist for volunteering events was well-received, highlighting a promising aspect of the app.
Iteration Opportunities: While the Good Crowd app received positive feedback, there were areas for enhancement. One notable observation is that some users found the "Edit Profile" button hard to locate. Additionally, users expressed that after signing up for an event, they would appreciate more guidance. Therefore, introducing a direct messaging button to quickly reach out to the organization could be beneficial. This feature aims to assist users with immediate questions or concerns.
This project has provided a valuable learning experience, allowing me to enhance my skills in creating designs that are both visually appealing and user-centric. While it was part of a Google UX certificate course, I recognize the need for additional research and testing.
In the future, I plan to implement a rewards system on the platform. Users will have the opportunity to earn points that they can redeem for perks like complimentary coffee or discounts from partner brands. The goal of this addition is to engage more users and amplify the impact of the Good Crowd volunteering platform.
