DESIGNING FOR A COMMON GOOD
UX, User Research, Interactive Prototyping
PROJECT OVERVIEW
In GD 468 (Interaction Design) at Michigan State University, my group and I took on the challenge of developing an app with a social impact. In an intensive eight-week period, we conceptualized and brought to life Hero, a news app tailored for women. Recognizing the ongoing struggle for young women to have their voices heard in the digital age, we aimed to provide a platform that showcases stories relevant to them.
Role- UX Researcher, UX Designer
Tools- Figma, Miro, Canva
DISCOVERY
From the beginning, we wanted to design an app about a social issue women face. We had ideas for platforms focusing on topics from safety to self-care. We landed on creating a platform for women's stories.
Hero is inspired by Ms. Magazine, a leading voice during the feminist movement in the 1970s. Notable names like Gloria Steinem and Billie Jean King shared their abortion experiences in the first issue of Ms. Roe v. Wade is once again a topic in the news, with uncertain abortion laws in the U.S. about 50 years after its passing.
With women's rights in the spotlight, we created a safe space for women's stories on various topics.
INITIAL RESEARCH
During our UX research phase, each team member conducted 2-3 interviews to gather insights on the experiences of young women in today's society. Through this process, we identified common themes and patterns shared by our interviewees. Using this valuable data, our team categorized and analyzed responses using affinity mapping to spark innovative ideas for our app development.
-How do you perceive women are treated in society?
-How do you empower yourself and women around you?
-Do you believe gender equality is an issue?
-In what ways can men become allies?
-How can governments promote the economic empowerment of women?
AFFINITY MAPPING
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
OPPORTUNITY
In contemporary times, a growing number of young women are experiencing a lack of recognition for their voices, feeling marginalized or disregarded by their peers. Hero sets itself apart as the premier news application dedicated to spotlighting women and their invaluable contributions within modern society.
WIRE FRAMING & PROTOTYPING
Our goal while sketching wireframes for Hero was to take current trends from other news apps and to keep things simple. The intention of the design was to make finding news stories with ease and for the interface to not distract from the content.
MEDIUM FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
USER JOURNEYS
FINAL PROTOTYPE
Participants completed five tasks to enhance their Hero experience. We monitored their progress, noting any errors, confusion, and recommendations. By using their feedback to implement features, we developed the final Hero prototype.
LET’S GET IN TOUCH.
Made with ♡ by Hannah O’Malley