Concept for app providing help finding resources
Project
Concept for an app for individuals experiencing homelessness.
To provide a quick and easy way to search for and organize resources that are convenient and available to them.
A beginning point to finding the services and help that are available near them
users/clients
The primary user, whom I also consider the client, are individuals experiencing homelessness that are in need of finding resources. Resources like food, shelter, clothing, and basic health care needs.
My role
UX researcher
UX Designer
Presenter
BjørnVincent
methods
After conducting individual deep dive research, I conducted a contextual inquiry with both primary and secondary users. This led to my creation of a user journey map and a persona to guide me in the project.
I then created a low fidelity prototype and performed usability tests. From there I created a high fidelity version with nods to what might be added in future iterations.
deliverables
Presentation video
Journey map
Persona
Architectural Diagram
Hi-Fi Interactive prototype with annotations
tools
Figma, Google, Youtube, Quicktime, Zoom, Notion, Procreate
Prototype strategy
and formulation
Design and
implemention
strategy statement
Relief Force is a user-friendly app that helps individuals experiencing homelessness find relevant resources with convenience and simplicity. We focus on three key pillars: Convenience, Relevance, and Simplicity.
Convenience: We make it easy for users to access resources from their smartphones with a map and directions feature to locate resources in their area.
Relevance: Our app filters resources by specific points of information, tailored to the needs and preferences of each user.
Simplicity: We provide a clean and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, with clear and concise information about each resource.
My app provides a user-friendly, efficient, and effective way for individuals experiencing homelessness to find the resources they need.
User Journey map
To show what a day could look like I followed the story of one individual as they talked about their experience while looking for shelter.
Click the above image for a closer look
After I interviewed the primary users and performed a contextual inquiry with them I also created a persona that dealt with the issues my primary users expressed. Although there was a lot of information and help out there, knowing what resources pertained to and was most convenient and available to them was not.
persona
F.J. is 59 years old and lost his job at Amazon during the layoffs at the beginning of the year. He has been homeless for just over 2 months as he was unable to maintain his rent.
He has been living on the streets, sleeping in parks, and relying on finding food wherever he can. He finds it difficult to keep track of all the resources he needs through traditional internet searches.
He just wants to find places near him, make sure they are open and know how to get there.
Meet F.J.
Information Architecture Diagram
Click the above image for a closer look
I created an architectural diagram to show the features I was going to focus on as well as the beginnings of what else might possibly be.
Finding resources was the focus, while adding some other features that were brought up by users are included.
3 of the 5 participants would use a messaging or forum tool
No sign up needed
Although a profile would be beneficial and provide some added functionality, the main goal of the app is to help individuals find resources nearby.
Participants all wanted to jump right in and look for the specific resource they need within just a few taps.
Quick access to information
Finding and sorting specific information used to be difficult and cumbersome. Needing to jump between the different resources websites to compare information was time consuming.
With Relief Force resources populate by location and immediately shows if they are close, open, or will be open that day. With a couple simple taps the user can now see how far away different resources are, as well as the times they are available, who they are for, what they offer, and how to contact.
Through the deep dive research, contextual inquiries and usability studies I was able to create a simplified method to find resources convenient and available to a specified user.
Click the above image for annotated details about app
Video tour of Relief force
Click the above image for a video tour of the Relief Force App
what are the next steps?
Now that location based resources are available
Relief force will quickly connect people with multiple resource options at once.
It will empower users to more simply locate, access, and save the resources that are most convenient to them with real-time information about their availability as well as things like direction and specifics on what they offer.
Now that the location based resources finder is laid out, I am excited to explore the idea of a messaging board for the app. This will build on the already strong word-of-mouth that happens in this community - further supporting and advocating the idea of helping others and providing a sense of community and belonging.
