"Effing the Ineffable."
ACT ONE – OVERVIEW
ACT ONE – OVERVIEW
THE HOOK – “BACKGROUND”
SUMMARY
SUMMARY
Although I’m new to UX design, I’ve become obsessed with one of my earliest projects, a gaming app and responsive website that funnels revenue into a self-sustaining UBI fund.
The result is a MVP to satisfy the assignment criteria, but this is a solution I will continue to pursue and refine as I become a seasoned designer.
The result is a MVP to satisfy the assignment criteria, but this is a solution I will continue to pursue and refine as I become a seasoned designer.
Although I’m new to UX design, I’ve become obsessed with one of my earliest projects, a gaming app that funnels revenue into a self-sustaining UBI fund.
The result is a MVP to satisfy the assignment criteria, but this is a solution I will continue to pursue and refine as I become a seasoned designer.
The result is a MVP to satisfy the assignment criteria, but this is a solution I will continue to pursue and refine as I become a seasoned designer.
ROLE
ROLE
One man show
2023 -2024
2023 -2024
One man show
2023 -2024
2023 -2024
PROBLEM
PROBLEM
While enrolled in the Google UX Design certificate program I had to Crete a tech solution for a social problem. I landed on the ambitious goal of creating a tech solution to help people experiencing homelessness. For the most part, the issue has been relegated as a problem for charity to resolve. So, how do we make a permanent impact within a profit-driven economic system? Harness society’s appetite for recreation, for gaming and gambling, into an open source gaming app/website that funnels profits into a self-sustaining fund dedicated to the implementation of Universal Basic Income.
While enrolled in the Google UX Design certificate program I had to Crete a tech solution for a social problem. I landed on the ambitious goal of creating a tech solution to help people experiencing homelessness. For the most part, the issue has been relegated as a problem for charity to resolve. So, how do we make a permanent impact within a profit-driven economic system? Harness society’s appetite for recreation, for gaming and gambling, into an open source gaming app that funnels profits into a self-sustaining fund dedicated to the implementation of Universal Basic Income.
GOALS
GOALS
1) Get a grasp on the statistics surrounding the situation being addressed.
2) Understand user motivations concerning the situation being addressed.
3) Design a MVP to encourage further development.
2) Understand user motivations concerning the situation being addressed.
3) Design a MVP to encourage further development.
1) Get a grasp on the statistics surrounding the situation being addressed.
2) Understand user motivations concerning the situation being addressed.
3) Design a MVP to encourage further development.
2) Understand user motivations concerning the situation being addressed.
3) Design a MVP to encourage further development.
PLOT TURN ONE – “UNCOVERING PAIN POINTS”
FACTS
FACTS
An irony I should have anticipated was that the most useful statistics didn’t pertain to the people experiencing housing issues. It was a question of what motivated the people around them.
I was working a retail job at the time and this afforded me the opportunity to conduct unmoderated surveys of 32 gammers and 59 charity-givers at random, from various walks of life. Virtually every person expressed concerns about whether their time and money are being well-spent. More and more, people are questioning the value of their free time.
The raw statistical data pertaining to generational activism (Census data, Housing market statistics, Pew, etc.) shows a growing trend, as best summarized in this quote: “The Pilanthroteens (’90s -2010s), as they have become known, have grown up in a connected, tumultuous world where dire issues are reported on news feeds 24 hours a day. They have a super-charged awareness of their responsibility to make a difference in the world.” And this charitable growth continues in even younger demographics.
I was working a retail job at the time and this afforded me the opportunity to conduct unmoderated surveys of 32 gammers and 59 charity-givers at random, from various walks of life. Virtually every person expressed concerns about whether their time and money are being well-spent. More and more, people are questioning the value of their free time.
The raw statistical data pertaining to generational activism (Census data, Housing market statistics, Pew, etc.) shows a growing trend, as best summarized in this quote: “The Pilanthroteens (’90s -2010s), as they have become known, have grown up in a connected, tumultuous world where dire issues are reported on news feeds 24 hours a day. They have a super-charged awareness of their responsibility to make a difference in the world.” And this charitable growth continues in even younger demographics.
An irony I should have anticipated was that the most useful statistics didn’t pertain to the people experiencing housing issues. It was a question of what motivated the people around them.
I was working a retail job at the time and this afforded me the opportunity to conduct unmoderated surveys of 32 gammers and 59 charity-givers at random, from various walks of life. Virtually every person expressed concerns about whether their time and money are being well-spent. More and more, people are questioning the value of their free time.
The raw statistical data pertaining to generational activism (Census data, Housing market statistics, Pew, etc.) shows a growing trend, as best summarized in this quote: “The Pilanthroteens (’90s -2010s), as they have become known, have grown up in a connected, tumultuous world where dire issues are reported on news feeds 24 hours a day. They have a super-charged awareness of their responsibility to make a difference in the world.” And this charitable growth continues in even younger demographics.
I was working a retail job at the time and this afforded me the opportunity to conduct unmoderated surveys of 32 gammers and 59 charity-givers at random, from various walks of life. Virtually every person expressed concerns about whether their time and money are being well-spent. More and more, people are questioning the value of their free time.
The raw statistical data pertaining to generational activism (Census data, Housing market statistics, Pew, etc.) shows a growing trend, as best summarized in this quote: “The Pilanthroteens (’90s -2010s), as they have become known, have grown up in a connected, tumultuous world where dire issues are reported on news feeds 24 hours a day. They have a super-charged awareness of their responsibility to make a difference in the world.” And this charitable growth continues in even younger demographics.
FEELINGS
FEELINGS
This deeper understanding of the problem allowed me to dig in and identify triggers that will drive our target groups to act. To this end, I conducted interviews with a diverse set of gamers and non-gamers across varied demographics.
This deeper understanding of the problem allowed me to dig in and identify triggers that will drive our target groups to act. To this end, I conducted interviews with a diverse set of gamers and non-gamers across varied demographics.
INSIGHTS
INSIGHTS
I consolidated the insights gathered from research, user journey maps, and personas, in the form of Empathy maps. The data is revealing. OOBI will be a nonprofit, with an open source library of games, clean information architecture and a simple UI – to ease the burden for technicians and moderators. Yet, reaching the U.B.I. goal will take many years. I still needed to guarantee user buy-in, needed to motivate players to pursue the ultimate goal.
I consolidated the insights gathered from research, user journey maps, and personas, in the form of Empathy maps. The data is revealing. OOBI will be a nonprofit, with an open source library of games, clean information architecture and a simple UI – to ease the burden for technicians and moderators. Yet, reaching the U.B.I. goal will take many years. I still needed to guarantee user buy-in, needed to motivate players to pursue the ultimate goal.
SOLUTION
SOLUTION
The pain points told me that a tiered system of ‘fundraising goals’, (such as eliminating child poverty), would help motivate users over the long term. We could also raise monetary awards via short-term celebrity fundraisers to reward users with monetary awards. Those efforts would have the added benefit of also helping to promote the app.
The Branding gods also spoke to me, a strong branding strategy will help leapfrog our way to the goal.It isn’t difficult to imagine merchandising opportunities, or to see how contributions to a UBI fund would benefit celebrities and companies.
The Branding gods also spoke to me, a strong branding strategy will help leapfrog our way to the goal.It isn’t difficult to imagine merchandising opportunities, or to see how contributions to a UBI fund would benefit celebrities and companies.
The pain points told me that a tiered system of ‘fundraising goals’, (such as eliminating child poverty), would help motivate users over the long term. We could also raise monetary awards via short-term celebrity fundraisers to reward users with monetary awards. Those efforts would have the added benefit of also helping to promote the app.
The Branding gods also spoke to me, a strong branding strategy will help leapfrog our way to the goal.It isn’t difficult to imagine merchandising opportunities, or to see how contributions to a UBI fund would benefit celebrities and companies.
The Branding gods also spoke to me, a strong branding strategy will help leapfrog our way to the goal.It isn’t difficult to imagine merchandising opportunities, or to see how contributions to a UBI fund would benefit celebrities and companies.
ACT TWO – PROCESS
ACT TWO – PROCESS
PINCH ONE – “DESIGN STRATEGY”
PRODUCT
STRATEGY
PRODUCT
STRATEGY
Contributions
Fundraising tiers
Open Source
Fundraising tiers
Open Source
Contributions
Fundraising tiers
Open Source
Fundraising tiers
Open Source
H.M.W.
H.M.W.
Fundraising tiers
Fundraising tiers
DESIGN
STRATEGY
DESIGN
STRATEGY
Clean — Information Architecture needs to be obvious and straightforward.
Simple — To the point above, the User Interface should also be simplistic. Begin with the app design first.
Benchmarks — Emphasize
Simple — To the point above, the User Interface should also be simplistic. Begin with the app design first.
Benchmarks — Emphasize
Clean — Information Architecture needs to be obvious and straightforward.
Simple — To the point above, the User Interface should also be simplistic.
Benchmarks — Emphasize
Simple — To the point above, the User Interface should also be simplistic.
Benchmarks — Emphasize
MIDPOINT – “WIREFRAMES”
PINCH TWO – “MOCK UPS”
ACT THREE – TAKEAWAYS
ACT THREE – TAKEAWAYS
PLOT TURN TWO – “VALIDATION”
TEST
ANALYZE
REITERATE
TEST
ANALYZE
REITERATE
I conducted usability testing sessions (card sorting, usability testing, unmoderated remote testing) with sample users to validate my design choices. Testing sessions revealed that users would be motivated to pursue the long term goal of achieving UBI if there were more immediate rewards, in closer perceived proximity, even if the users are primarily motivated by the charitable aspects of the app.
I conducted usability testing sessions (card sorting, usability testing, unmoderated remote testing) with sample users to validate my design choices. Testing sessions revealed that users would be motivated to pursue the long term goal of achieving UBI if there were more immediate rewards, in closer perceived proximity, even if the users are primarily motivated by the charitable aspects of the app.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Creating a strategic plan to launch an MVPhelps deliver a quality product in time.
User feedback when paired with the iterative design process is the most effective tool for building digital solutions.
Perceived need outweighs actual need over the long term.
User feedback when paired with the iterative design process is the most effective tool for building digital solutions.
Perceived need outweighs actual need over the long term.
Creating a strategic plan to launch an MVPhelps deliver a quality product in time.
User feedback when paired with the iterative design process is the most effective tool for building digital solutions.
Perceived need outweighs actual need over the long term.
User feedback when paired with the iterative design process is the most effective tool for building digital solutions.
Perceived need outweighs actual need over the long term.
RESOLUTION – “HI FI PROTOTYPE”