ROLE: UX designer and iOS developer

CONTEXT: Technology Exchange Lab is an NGO that has created a curated database of "solutions to problems of poverty." I joined their mobile app development team, whose mission was to make the database available to more people in more places. Our first step was to research and create a user profile and a set of detailed user requirements. It was clear from our research that the mobile app needed an extremely clear and easy to use interface. This would ensure that anyone could use it, even those with little prior technological experience. Second, the application needed to function offline so that it would be usable anywhere in the world.

RESULTS: The project was a success. TEL Off-Grid is currently available on the Google Play Store. I have been asked to participate in continued development. Next steps include developing an iOS app and a second design iteration.

ROLE: UX design and development intern

CONTEXT: BRCK is a hardware and software development company based in Nairobi, Kenya. Their product, Kio Kit, is an education solution designed to turn any classroom, especially those in remote locations, into a high tech learning space. I developed a preliminary information architecture and user interface for sharing and displaying Kio Kit user account data. I first identified 6 user groups who needed different information (students, teachers, school administrators, content providers, BRCK employees, and government officials). Next I interviewed users from each of these categories to determine the user requirements of each group. Finally, I developed a set of wireframes based on the user requirements collected in the first steps.

RESULTS:  Given the complex nature of this project, my job was to develop a preliminary set of design wireframes. I presented my work to BRCK's UX lead who used my research and design as the basis for the final product.

ROLE: UX design and development intern

CONTEXT: BRCK.org asked me to redesign their website to increase loyalty among visitors and drive traffick to a new donation page. First, I sat down with BRCK's UX lead who had previously conducted user research on this subject. Then I made a list of websites that were successfully conveying similar messages to ours. I learned that when I told BRCK.org's story concurrently through text, images, and video, people felt more connected to the organization and their mission statement. I used this information to create a set of mockups for BRCK's frontend developer.

RESULTS: While my solution has not yet been implemented, it was approved by the design team, and will be implemented over the next 6 months as time permits.