COMMUNITY COMPASS
CASE STUDY
ROLE
DURATION
Solo UX/UI Designer
4 weeks
TOOLS
FIGMA
Year
10/01/2024
Design Challenge
DesignLab Academy Project
The Community Compass serves as a guiding light for newcomers, turning the unfamiliar into a welcoming home. By bridging the gap between individuals and their communities, it provides access to vital resources, showcases enriching events, and fosters genuine connections. It's not just about navigating a new place—it's about building a fulfilling life filled with growth, discovery, and shared experiences.
Background
Relocating to a new area often comes with significant challenges. The unfamiliarity of the environment, lack of local knowledge, and absence of social connections can create a sense of overwhelm for newcomers. Everyday tasks such as finding reliable services, exploring the neighborhood, or connecting with others become daunting, leaving individuals feeling disoriented and unsupported. This adjustment period can be emotionally taxing, as it disrupts routines, adds stress, and heightens the sense of isolation. For many, the inability to navigate their new surroundings effectively becomes a barrier to settling in and feeling at home.
Problem Statement
Newcomers often struggle to locate essential services, navigate neighborhoods, and build social connections. These challenges lead to increased feelings of isolation, stress, and difficulty adapting to their new environment.
Solution
Community Compass was developed to address these challenges by providing a comprehensive platform for newcomers. It helps users discover local services, explore community activities, and foster meaningful connections. By simplifying the transition, Community Compass enables individuals to feel at home faster and thrive in their new environment.
How does Community Compass work?
INTERVIEWS
Purpose: To understand participants' thoughts, feelings, and challenges in detail.
Format: Semi-structured, one-on-one conversations to allow for flexibility while maintaining focus on key themes.
Focus Areas:
Initial impressions and challenges.
Support systems and resources they used.
Recommendations for others in similar situations
Affinity Mapping
After conducting my research, I moved on to affinity mapping. I created sticky notes with all the important information and quotes I gathered. Then, I grouped similar issues together to identify common themes and insights.
As a result, I ended up with eight groups that highlight the key themes and insights from my research.
Overal Experiences
Challenges Faced
Support Systems
Resources and Tools
Desired Resources and Tools
Social Integration
Advice and Insights
Essential Features for App
Insights from Moving Experience Interviews
In the define stage, I started with the POV and HMW questions to clearly articulate the user's needs and identify opportunities for meaningful solutions. This approach helped frame the problem in a user-centered way and guided the ideation process. The final result focuses on three key HMW questions, ensuring the solutions address the most critical challenges effectively.
DEFINE
SURVEY
Purpose: To identify trends and patterns in the experiences of people who have moved.
Format: Structured questionnaires with open-ended questions..
Focus Areas:
Reasons for moving.
Satisfaction levels with the transition process.
Key challenges faced during the move
Overall Experience
Mixed feelings of excitement and stress.
chaos and homesickness, but also a sense of adventure.
Challenges Faced
Difficulty integrating into a new culture and community.
Language barriers and the stress of job hunting.
Navigating daily life and locating essential services.
Support Systems
Reliance on family and friends for emotional and practical support.
Importance of community connections for newcomers.
Resources and Tools
Heavy reliance on digital tools like Google Maps, social media, and YouTube for information and navigation.
Essential documents and checklists could improve the settling-in process.
POV & HMW
For individuals needing practical tips
Design Process
EMPATHIZE
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
Purpose: To evaluate what is currently available and identify gaps or areas for improvement.
Format: Research and benchmarking of tools, apps, and services such as relocation guides.
Focus Areas:
Strengths and weaknesses of existing solutions.
Opportunities to improve or innovate.
How well current offerings meet the needs of different demographic groups.
Desired Resources and Tools
A desire for one easy-to-find place that has all the information newcomers need.
Need for an app that supports social integration and event discovery.
Social Integration
Meeting new people primarily through work and social activities.
Importance of local friendships for guidance and support.
Advice and Insights
Encouragement to seek local friends for a smoother transition.
Acknowledgment of the stress but affirmation of the benefits of moving.
Essential Features for App
Local resource guide with essential services and user reviews.
Community events calendar to discover local happenings.
Social networking features to connect with neighbors and share tips.
Language and cultural resources for better adjustment.
Mentorship program to pair newcomers with locals.
Practical tips and emergency information for added support.
Secondary Research / Competitive Analysis
I looked at four competitors—Smoovster, Meetup, Facebook Groups, and Nextdoor—because they offer services similar to the app I want to create for people who’ve just moved. Community Compass aims to give newcomers key information like local rules, area details, events, and ways to connect with others, making the move smoother and less stressful.
After doing a SWOT analysis, I found that while each of these apps has useful features, none of them fully meets all the needs of newcomers. This shows a clear gap in the market—there isn’t an app out there yet that gives a complete solution for people moving to a new place.
I want to explore practical tips and resources that can help newcomers navigate daily challenges and settle in smoothly, as many feel lost without clear guidance. I’m focusing on finding a simple way for them to access local services and essential information, addressing the overwhelming stress caused by the lack of centralized resources in their new environment.
I want to explore what features an app for newcomers should have to provide essential local information and resources, helping them connect with their new community, as many feel lost and struggle to find reliable sources of support.
PERSONA
After creating the POV and HMW questions, I moved on to developing a persona to better understand the target audience's needs, goals, and pain points. Mariia represents newcomers who need support to feel connected and settled in their new community. This helped ensure that my solutions are user-centered and address real challenges effectively.
Goals
Identify Challenges: Understand the difficulties newcomers face when adapting to a new area.
Enhance Accessibility: Simplify the process of finding essential services and local resources.
Build Community Connections: Create pathways for newcomers to establish social networks.
Reduce Stress: Alleviate feelings of overwhelm by offering a guided transition.
Promote Well-being: Help individuals feel supported and at home in their new community.
Research methods
How might we offer practical tips and resources that help newcomers navigate everyday challenges and settle in smoothly, considering that many feel lost without clear guidance on daily tasks and need reliable information to support their transition?
For individuals seeking social connections
I want to explore how we can create opportunities for newcomers to meet locals and build friendships, considering that many feel isolated and want a more efficient way to establish a support network in their new area.
How might we create opportunities for newcomers to meet locals and build friendships, given that many feel isolated and want a more efficient way to establish a support network in their new area?
New residents relying on digital tools
How might we identify the features an app for newcomers should have to provide essential local information and resources, helping them connect with their new community, given that many feel lost and struggle to find reliable sources of support?
IDEATE
Business Goals & User Goals & Common Goals
In designing Community Compass, I focused on both user goals and business goals, keeping the most important shared priorities—our common goals—at the heart of the project.
Business Goals
Build an Easy-to-Use Platform: Create a platform that helps newcomers settle in easily.
Offer Useful Resources and Tips: Provide helpful information about local services and practical advice for getting used to a new place.
Help People Connect: Include features that allow users to meet neighbors and make new friends, building a sense of community.
Make the Experience Great: Ensure the platform is simple to use and fits what newcomers need to make their move easier.
Common Goals
Easy to Use: Both newcomers and the platform want a simple, user-friendly experience to make settling in easier.
Access to Resources: Users want helpful information about local services, and the platform aims to provide those resources.
Making Connections/ CommunitySupport: Newcomers want to meet locals and make friends, and the platform wants to help with that.
Reliable Information: Users need a single place for important information, and the platform aims to be that source. Managing Daily Life: Users want practical tips for everyday tasks, and the platform wants to offer that advice.
Feature Roadmap
Here’s the Feature Roadmap for Community Compass, designed to prioritize essential features for newcomers. The roadmap is divided into four categories: must-have, nice-to-have, surprising and delightful, and future additions. This structure ensures a focus on core elements like the local services directory and buddy system while allowing for iterative enhancements, creating a user-focused app that evolves to meet needs effectively.
SITEMAP
I created the sitemap to organize the app’s content logically, making sure users can easily find what they need. This structure helps newcomers navigate the app smoothly, allowing for a clear, intuitive experience.
The result is visible on the screen, showing a clear layout of how each section and feature connects. This sitemap is designed to streamline the user experience, ensuring that all key information and features are accessible and easy to locate.
USER FLOW
I developed the User Flow to capture the overall journey a user takes.
This high-level view shows all possible paths and decision points, helping ensure that users can navigate through the main sections smoothly, no matter where they start.
EXPLORE NEIGHBORHOOD - FINDING RECOMMENDATIONS
LOCAL SERVICES - FINDING SPECIFIC SERVICE
TASK FLOW
I created the Task Flow to map out the detailed steps required to complete specific actions within the app. By breaking down each task into a clear, linear sequence, I ensured that actions are intuitive and direct. This approach results in a smooth, user-friendly structure that minimizes confusion and eliminates unnecessary steps.
FINDING LIST OF LOCAL SERVICE
REQUEST SPECIFIC SERVICE - PLUMBING
FINDING EVENTS IN NEIGHBORHOOD
BRANDING
The design uses Source Sans Pro for its clean, modern look and clear hierarchy, ensuring readability across all text elements. The color palette combines warm coral, calming teal, and trustworthy gold to create an approachable and balanced interface, complemented by neutral tones for clarity. Icons and gradients add depth and usability, while the layout ensures accessibility and ease of navigation, aligning with the app’s goal to support newcomers effectively.
WIREFRAMES
I began by creating low-fidelity wireframes for key screens, focusing on essential user tasks and refining the information hierarchy to ensure clarity and usability. Once the structure was finalized, I developed mid-fidelity screens to test layout and functionality, followed by high-fidelity designs to incorporate branding, visual details, and interactivity for usability testing and a polished prototype.
Revise "Explore Neighborhood" Section: Consider splitting this section to better organize essential services (e.g., grocery stores)
Feel Settled and Comfortable: Newcomers want to quickly adapt to their new environment and feel at home.
Build Social Connections: They aim to meet locals and make new friends to reduce feelings of isolation.
Access Essential Services Easily: Users want a simple way to find local services like grocery stores, doctors, and other important resources.
Navigate Daily Life Smoothly: They seek practical tips and tools to help manage everyday tasks and challenges.
Stay Informed about Local Events: They want to know about community activities and events to engage with their new community.
Have a Reliable Source of Information: Newcomers are looking for a centralized app or platform that provides all necessary information in one place.
Feel Supported Throughout the Transition: They want ongoing support to ensure a smoother transition into their new life.
Find Job Opportunities: Newcomers wish to connect with job boards and networking events to ease the job search process.
PROTOTYPING AND TESTING
Summary of usability test
Usability test conducted with five participants.
Feedback was generally positive about the app's ease of use and design.
All participants completed tasks successfully with minimal errors.
Feedback suggests a clear and intuitive interface.
Key areas for improvement include: Readability, Consistency, Navigation clarity
Add Search Bar: Include a search bar in the "Neighborhood Recommendations" section.
Key Suggestions & Priority Revisions
Improve Visual Consistency: Standardize the design across sections by using similar icons, layouts, and card styles for a uniform look
Developing an additional screen in the Local Services section: This screen would provide details like working hours, availability for overtime, distance, and estimated wait times for each service.
Creating a new screen in the Explore Neighborhood section: This would show additional information such as opening hours, distance, current open/closed status, and whether entry requires a ticket or is free.
Addressing demand for a Buddy System feature: I received many questions about the Buddy System section, which I couldn’t create due to time constraints. There is strong user interest in this feature, making it a priority for future development.
Increase Text Size: Make text larger and bolder in key areas like ratings and service information to improve readability and accessibility.
Revision 1 - Home Page
Added Search Bar for quick and easy navigation
Introduced Message Center feature for centralized communication
Implemented My Activity feature to track user actions
Revision 2 - Local Services
Increased Text Size for improved readability and accessibility
The Community Compass project concludes as a thoughtfully designed solution that prioritizes newcomers' needs by offering essential features such as Area Info, Explore Neighborhood, a local services directory, buddy system, and activity tracking. Through a user-centered design process, incorporating low, mid, and high-fidelity prototypes, usability testing, and a structured feature roadmap, the app ensures accessibility, functionality, and scalability. By addressing key challenges of moving and fostering a sense of connection, Community Compass delivers a practical and engaging platform to help users settle into their new communities with confidence.
Readability is Crucial: Clear typography and well-structured information make the app easier to navigate and use.
Consistency Matters: Maintaining visual and functional consistency across the app ensures a seamless and intuitive user experience.
Clearer Labels and Terms: Use simpler terms in navigation (e.g., change “meetups”) to improve understanding and ease of use
Revision 3 - Explore Neighborgood
Enhanced Consistency by standardizing icons and headers
Added Search Bar for easier navigation
Improved Terminology by clarifying “hangouts” for better user understanding
