INPOWER.
A one-stop platform for anyone looking to grow, heal, and learn.
Introduction
Timeline: 4 weeks
Designers : Katya, Sasly, Chaya
Client: Razan
Other stakeholders: Lamia, Purva
For the Industry Design Project my teammates and I got matched with InPower startup.
It is an alternative social media app for those who have suffered abuse, harassment, trolls, flaming, and other forms of cyberbullying and looking to be part of a safe space online where members put in the work to illuminate unhealthy communication and misinformation.
Nurturing community where women and non-binary folks can connect, share experiences, and find strength in unity.
The app will offer a range of features designed to facilitate meaningful interactions, including forums, chat functionalities, and resources tailored to address the unique challenges faced by its users.
We were tasked to redesign the first version of InPower app.
Specifically to create a Resource library - a place within the app where users can find all that they need for self growth and self empowerment, as well as empowering each other to be members of a safe digital community that cares.
We started by creating a project plan that outlined the timeline of the project and the scope for each phase.
Problem
Users struggle with finding relevant materials, navigating through a cluttered interface, or managing resources efficiently.
Solution
Creating a more intuitive and organized Resource library, by providing a user-friendly interface that allows easy access, search, and organization of resources.
Tools & Methods
Figma, User persona, User flows, Sketching, Wireframing, Prototyping, High fidelity mockups
Research
Discovery phase helped us to better understand the problem's context.
It consisted of several steps:
Secondary Research
User Survey
Competitive analysis
Secondary Research
Secondary Research underscored the importance of creating inclusive, supportive, and safe online environments that empower users to connect and collaborate.
As well as channels for building support networks and accessing information related to gender identity, sexuality, mental health, and other topics relevant to women and non-binary individuals.
Privacy and safety concerns are significant considerations for women and non-binary individuals engaging in online communities.
Social platforms need to implement robust privacy settings, anti-harassment policies, and moderation mechanisms to ensure the safety and well-being of their users.
User Survey
InPower started as a Facebook group fostering women and non-binary individuals grappling with instances of harassment or bullying, and seeking a safe and supportive online environment.
Now its user base exceeds 30,000 group members.
As a part of the user research, we wanted to hear directly from the current users.
Asking them about what type of content they like to engage with the most, what skills they like to improve, in which ways they like to connect with others and so on.
We have gained many insights from the user survey and not just for the part of the project we were working on, but for the app as a whole.
Competitive Analysis
There are quite a few social platforms specifically designed for women and/or non-binary individuals, catering to their unique needs for community, support, networking, and empowerment.
These platforms offer inclusive spaces where users can connect, share experiences, access resources, and advocate for social change.
Through features like forums, events, and networking tools, these platforms foster a sense of belonging and solidarity among diverse communities, contributing to personal and professional growth, as well as the promotion of gender equality and inclusivity.
The common features among them is a strict multi step onboarding process, to make sure users are being truthful about who they are to insure safety and trust.
Research Synthesis
After conducting user survey and secondary research, we created User persona to solidify our understanding of the users, their challenges, goals and motivation.
InPower already had one user persona, which was representing non-binary users.
We created an additional one which will represent a segment of women users.
Ideation
Using Figma we created 2 user flows that Resource Library would help them accomplish:
Sign up for the journey/course
Earn a badge
Design
To put ideas on paper each of us on the team sketched the red routes for the resource library.
Which were presented to the stakeholders.
Sketches
Wireframes
After getting feedback from Stakeholders we created low fidelity wireframes for the red routes and for the rest of the content in the resource library.
UI style and company name
InPower provided us with their style guide.
We had to add new components and new icons we used in new design. But most of it stayed unchanged.
High fidelity mockups
Final deliverables of the project were high fidelity mockups.
Outcomes & Lessons
This project was my first time working with a team of designers. Prior I worked solo on my projects, deciding when and how to do things.
Being part of a team helped me practice leadership and communication skills.
I learned that each designer has their own way of working. We also learned how to resolve disagreements and stay focused on our goals, even with limited time and resources.