civil engagement
ux design & research
Discourse
Discourse
Human Centered Design
at the Academy of Art University
January - May 2024
Figma, Adobe CC
Role: UX Design & Research
Inclusivity
Inclusivity
Inclusivity
Inclusivity
Inclusivity
Transparency
Transparency
Transparency
Transparency
Transparency
Collaboration
Collaboration
Collaboration
Collaboration
Collaboration
premise
Addressing barriers: Inclusivity, Transparency, & Collaboration
Addressing barriers: Inclusivity, Transparency, & Collaboration
In many urban development projects, community involvement is limited by issues of transparency and awareness, leading to a lack of meaningful engagement and representation of diverse voices.
In many urban development projects, community involvement is limited by issues of transparency and awareness, leading to a lack of meaningful engagement and representation of diverse voices.
hypothesis
Improving urban development through feedback
Improving urban development through feedback
Implementing a centralized digital tool that facilitates collaborative refinement of urban development designs through real-time community feedback and AI-driven analysis will improve the accessibility and inclusivity of information, leading to urban projects that better meet community needs.
Implementing a centralized digital tool that facilitates collaborative refinement of urban development designs through real-time community feedback and AI-driven analysis will improve the accessibility and inclusivity of information, leading to urban projects that better meet community needs.
User Interviews and Surveys
Key findings from user research: Affordable housing, diversity, engagement, and outreach.
Key findings from user research: Affordable housing, diversity, engagement, and outreach.
Affordable Housing Access
Affordable Housing Access
The community prioritizes affordable housing, sustainability, and input in planning.
The community prioritizes affordable housing, sustainability, and input in planning.
Supporting Diversity
Supporting Diversity
Stakeholders agreed development should prioritize diverse communities.
Stakeholders agreed development should prioritize diverse communities.
Improved Engagement
Improved Engagement
Stakeholders see a need for better, more inclusive community engagement.
Stakeholders see a need for better, more inclusive community engagement.
Imporved Outreach Methods
Imporved Outreach Methods
Stakeholders value clear communication and access to information on everyday devices.
Stakeholders value clear communication and access to information on everyday devices.
persona definition
Meet Marc: Understanding the meeds and frustrations of a socially active user to inform our design.
Meet Marc: Understanding the meeds and frustrations of a socially active user to inform our design.
Marc is a 28-year-old small business owner and advocate for sustainable urban development in San Francisco. He is passionate about creating eco-friendly community spaces but struggles with accessing resources, collaborating effectively, and staying informed on local opportunities.
Marc is a 28-year-old small business owner and advocate for sustainable urban development in San Francisco. He is passionate about creating eco-friendly community spaces but struggles with accessing resources, collaborating effectively, and staying informed on local opportunities.
Frustrations
Frustrations
Community participation.
Access to grant information.
Urban development impacts.
Community participation.
Access to grant information.
Urban development impacts.
User Needs
User Needs
Improved resource accessibility.
Collaborative project tools.
Enhanced communication platforms.
Improved resource accessibility.
Collaborative project tools.
Enhanced communication platforms.
Ideation
Framing the problem: brainstorming “How Might We?”
Framing the problem: brainstorming “How Might We?”
Using How Might We questions to serve as a starting point for my brainstorming session, I aimed to enhance the user experience and effectiveness of the solution.
How might we encourage maximum participation from the community?
How might we ensure that the feedback collected is representative of diverse community needs?
How might we use the app to educate the community about urban development?
How might we provide feedback to users about the status and outcomes of development projects they have engaged with?
task flows
Designing engagement: Task flows for core features
Designing engagement: Task flows for core features
To craft the core experience for this application, I designed these task flows, mindful of cognitive load, and the hooked model principles. These task flows were designed to make interactions with the app meaningful while fostering continuous engagement.
Providing Project Feedback
Providing Project Feedback
Notification Alert
Notification Alert
Open Notification to Project
Open Notification to Project
Reads Project Details
Reads Project Details
Submits Feedback/Vote
Submits Feedback/Vote
Submission Analysis/Insight
Submission Analysis/Insight
Share Experience
Share Experience
Community Impact Info
Community Impact Info
Finding Grant Information
Finding Grant Information
Taps on “View Grants”
Taps on “View Grants”
Selects Grant Information
Selects Grant Information
Reviews Grant Details
Reviews Grant Details
Marks Interest/Reminder
Marks Interest/Reminder
User Saves Grant
User Saves Grant
User Applies for Grant
User Applies for Grant
Approval/Rejection Alert
Approval/Rejection Alert
Trigger
Trigger
Action
Action
Investment
Investment
Variable Reward
Variable Reward
first iteration
Early design development focused the key user flow: Providing project feedback.
Early design development focused the key user flow: Providing project feedback.
Explore this highlighted success story: a grant from a local foundation helped a community center launch an after-school program for at-risk youth, significantly improving local education outcomes and community engagement.
9:27
Grants
Introduction to the Grant Program
Success Stories
Grants are financial awards from governments, foundations, or institutions, aimed at supporting various initiatives without requiring repayment. Recipients must meet specific criteria and report on their progress to ensure responsible use of the funds. Grants facilitate activities helping achieve objectives without the financial strain of loans.
About
Engage
Grant Opportunities
Discourse
Home
Saved
Grants
Engage
9:27
This is your chance to make a impact,
Taylor.
Discourse
How it works
Give feedback on local projects to influence their development and discover grants to support your initiatives. Tap on the cards to start shaping the future of your community today!
Engage with your community
Join the discussion and help shape our community's future.
Give Feedback
Grant Opportunties
Find funding for your ideas and projects.
Explore grants available for community and business initiatives. Tap to see what you can apply for today!
View Grants
Home
Saved
Grants
Engage
USABILITY TESTING OUTCOMES
Key themes and recommendations
Key themes and recommendations
After conducting two usability studies and analyzing the themes, three themes and insights were identified. These insights were then prioritized into the follow from 1 (highest priority) to 3 (lowest priority).
After conducting two usability studies and analyzing the themes, three themes and insights were identified. These insights were then prioritized into the follow from 1 (highest priority) to 3 (lowest priority).
1
Grant Feature
Theme: Some users didn’t understand why the grant feature was included and didn’t feel it was necessary.
Theme: Some users didn’t understand why the grant feature was included and didn’t feel it was necessary.
Insight: Remove this feature and revisit main user persona to reconstruct another potential task flow.
Insight: Remove this feature and revisit main user persona to reconstruct another potential task flow.
2
Information Architecture
Theme: Users stated that they were confused about why the project categories were not listed out and why they were not on the homescreen.
Theme: Users stated that they were confused about why the project categories were not listed out and why they were not on the homescreen.
Insight: Users indicated that they preferred immediate visibility to access projects to give feedback.
Insight: Users indicated that they preferred immediate visibility to access projects to give feedback.
3
Clarity & Detail
Theme: Users desired clarity on information in descriptions. They stated that it was either too concise or lacking detail.
Theme: Users desired clarity on information in descriptions. They stated that it was either too concise or lacking detail.
Insight: Expand the descriptions where users sought more information.
Insight: Expand the descriptions where users sought more information.
FEATURE Pivot point
Reassessing needs: Pivoting to better serve users needs
Reassessing needs: Pivoting to better serve users needs
Upon discovering that the grant feature was not an immediate user need, I revisited my primary persona for guidance. Using Marc, my primary personal, I sought to reconstruct another potential task flow.
Upon discovering that the grant feature was not an immediate user need, I revisited my primary persona for guidance. Using Marc, my primary personal, I sought to reconstruct another potential task flow.
During this pivot point, I asked myself:
During this pivot point, I asked myself:
What features would benefit business owners like Marc?
What features would benefit business owners like Marc?
How can the platform aid Marc in navigating development impacts and advocating for economic policies?
How can the platform aid Marc in navigating development impacts and advocating for economic policies?
How might the platform encourage more business owners to participate in urban development discussions?
How might the platform encourage more business owners to participate in urban development discussions?
REVISING THE TASK FLOW
Simplifying feedback: A hooked task flow for community engagement
Simplifying feedback: A hooked task flow for community engagement
With the Hooked Model in mind, I designed a task flow to help business owners like Marc provide feedback and access a community dashboard. This flow empowers users to share their perspectives on development practices while staying informed about community insights.
With the Hooked Model in mind, I designed a task flow to help business owners like Marc provide feedback and access a community dashboard. This flow empowers users to share their perspectives on development practices while staying informed about community insights.
Providing Project Feedback
Providing Project Feedback
Notification Alert
Notification Alert
Opens Map Interface & Pans
Opens Map Interface & Pans
Applies Filters
Applies Filters
Selects Project
Selects Project
Submits Feedback
Submits Feedback
Submission Analysis/Insight
Submission Analysis/Insight
Trigger
Action
Investment
Variable Reward
Iterative Improvements
Refining the Design: Simplifying processes & enhancing affordances
Refining the Design: Simplifying processes & enhancing affordances
After I analyzed testing insights, I applied a data-driven approach to refine the design, ensuring it addressed user needs and improved key processes for a seamless experience.
After I analyzed testing insights, I applied a data-driven approach to refine the design, ensuring it addressed user needs and improved key processes for a seamless experience.
outcomes
Transforming the meetup process: Anticipating a 40% improvement in coordination efficiency
Transforming the meetup process: Anticipating a 40% improvement in coordination efficiency
The final design successfully addressed the core challenges identified during research, streamlining the entire meet-up process from scheduling to planning activities. By incorporating user feedback at every stage, the solution not only met user needs but also aimed to improve overall coordination efficiency by 40%. This project highlights the value of a research-driven, iterative approach to solving complex problems and measuring impact.
The final design successfully addressed the core challenges identified during research, streamlining the entire meet-up process from scheduling to planning activities. By incorporating user feedback at every stage, the solution not only met user needs but also aimed to improve overall coordination efficiency by 40%. This project highlights the value of a research-driven, iterative approach to solving complex problems and measuring impact.
Crucial Insights
Key takeaway: Sometimes you need to revisit the persona to inform new design decisions.
Key takeaway: Sometimes you need to revisit the persona to inform new design decisions.
I learned that the design process isn’t always as straightforward as it might seem - it can be filled with twists and turns. By revisiting initial user research and personas periodically, I was able to refine the solution iteratively ensuring that Discourse effectively addressed user needs and evolved accordingly.
I learned that the design process isn’t always as straightforward as it might seem - it can be filled with twists and turns. By revisiting initial user research and personas periodically, I was able to refine the solution iteratively ensuring that Discourse effectively addressed user needs and evolved accordingly.
Start
End?
Discourse
Discourse
ADAM BUNCE
Product Designer passionate about transforming complex user problems into thoughtful, human-centered solutions.
© 2024 All Rights Reserved
Built by Adam Bunce
WORK
Product Design Intern @ TRC Companies
October 2023 - Present
Architect @ Davis Partnership Architects
January 2020 - June 2023
Weld Shop & Armory Supervisor @ US Navy
March 2010 - April 2015
EDUCATION
MA Interaction & UI/UX Design
Academy of Art University
BA Environmental Design, Architecture
University of Colorado Boulder
AWARDS
Magna Cum Laude
University of Colorado Boulder