Acropora
A volunteering app that connects users with social activities and institutions
My role
UX/UI Designer
Project
Thesis project
Timeline
Fev - Nov 2021
Tools Used
Figma, Adobe Illustrator,
Optimal Workshop,
Research 2 - Volunteers Surveys & Interviews
Do you do any volunteering?
60,4%
do some kind of volunteering
How often?
60%
occasionally do voluntary work
If you volunteer, where do you do it?
Non-governmental organisations
Churches and religious institutions
Non-profit organisations
Corporate foundations
Independently
Initial Thinking
Target Users
People who are interested or are volunteers in social organisations, coordinators, owners of social organisations
Research methods
Online survey (Google form)
Online interview (due to the lockdown)
Research online
User Research
Background Research
Identify existing online and on-site platforms related to community building
Discover how the new volunteers are connecting with social institutions.
Examine how the volunteers developed their volunteer relationship.
Analyze how the volunteers are utilising the current system.
Identify the strengths/potential of the current system.
Research Goals
Reflection
Takeaways
This project has focused on user research and identified needs. Generally, if you follow
users, a solution inevitably follows. Interviews with volunteers and social institutions and surveys enabled me to find out diverse perspectives and solutions.
If I had had more time, I could have developed the app and put it in the market. And I believe I could create a website version as well as a mobile platform.
If you would like to read more you can check my thesis here
Problem Statement
There is no platform effectively connecting volunteers with social institutions.
Establishing sustainable relationships proves challenging for volunteers.
It's crucial for the application to use simpler, targeted language due to its diverse audience.
Information and tutorials should be provided.
Platforms and apps offering volunteering services were analysed.
Research 1 - Existing Systems
Among the people who volunteer, they reported that they find out about actions and projects through other people, invitations or even through actions organised by the churches they attend. When asked about the apps and websites they use, Google stands out.
Websites, apps or platforms used
Overview
Prompt
The initial purpose of designing a volunteer app came from an individual search for ways to find social institutions. There is a network of social institutions that need to be accessible.
There are some possibilities that make these options available, but these concentrated a lot of information, which makes understanding and access difficult. Thus, they did not promote this interaction between volunteer and social institution.
To achieve this, it was fundamental to delve into the fields of the third sector and social assistance. Through research with users, it was possible to better understand the profile of those who seek volunteering as a tool to change other people's lives and promote well-being. Design an experience that allows engagement between social institutions and the community? Consider the needs of both volunteers and social institutions.
Design Process
Acropora as
Colonies that symbolise interconnected individuals cooperating for survival, akin to voluntary work. With no hierarchies, volunteering embodies balance and accessibility, where every being supports one another for mutual benefit.
Design Concept
Visual identity
Wireframe
Prototype
Colour palette
UI Guide
Typography
Platform with a program for promoting voluntary activities information. Volunteers can
social instituion events or opportunities all at once.
01
High-fidelity design
One organised platform
Design Solution
Research Findings / Pain Points
Ideas collected in the surveys
01
It's challenging to keep track of information about volunteering opportunities and events. Information is scattered across various platforms.
03
The apps analysed have a large number of functionalities and information that is not explained, causing confusion and affecting usability
02
There was little use of information apps about volunteering.
Solidarity as a tool for minimising differences and doing good
What motivates you to volunteer?
The search possibilities to check social institutions but also the opportunities provided, volunteers can filter by the kind of volunteering.
02
Personalised Search
Nice to see you here!
Volunteers can check social institutions events or opportunities all at once. They can also check the transparency about the investment received and the social impact.
Volunteers and social institutions can personalise the profiles showing their interests and sharing their experiences.
03
Profile
User feedback
User testing feedback
It’s convenient to find all the information on one platform.
It’s an important tool for giving visibility to social institution.
It’s convenient to reach people and arouse their desire to volunteer,
it had a fluid and intuitive interaction.