PROJECT SCOPE
• Food Insecurity Support Application
• Date: November 2022
• Duration: 3 months
• My Role: UX Researcher
• Methodology: Wireframes, User Testing, User Journey Maps
• Tools: Miro, Zoom, Figma
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
• This project was focused on designing and researching a support page for those struggling with food insecurity.
• The application was designed to help food insecure individuals locate local food pantries in their area.
• It also helped refer them to assistance programs that can help them set up a schedule for dietary resources.
WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM?
• Due to the fact that we were dealing with a sensitive issue, the onboarding process became a challenge.
• Many were understandably not comfortable discussing their situation, because of social stigma and shame.
HOW MIGHT WE. . .
• Create an informative website for food-insecure individuals with feelings of shame/embarrassment and the desire to stay anonymous?
• We worked through the problem by ensuring that our users understand the importance of the application and how it would aid those within their communities.
• My team and I made sure to clearly inform our users that their identities were completely anonymous.
USER JOURNEY MAP
• Our map helped us consider the different steps that our users might take.
• It also helped to showcase our users as individuals, rather than just participants.
• This meant acknowledging that we were dealing with a serious social issue (i.e., food insecurity) and that there were unique barriers that needed to be taken into account.
HOMEPAGE MOCKUPS
• We made sure to highlight the tools that would be most useful prior to constructing our final product.
• What was most important was having the resources showcased in an easy-to-recognize fashion.
•My team and I did this by displaying such services on the homepage, making that the first thing that users see.
WIREFRAME ITERATIONS
• The final iterations were constructed with immense attention to detail.
• Rather than simply choosing what would be visually appealing, we chose a layout that would greatly resonate with our users' stories.
• For example, when taking into consideration color theory, green is often a symbol of nature and good fortune.
• We coupled this detail with an easy-to-use platform that serves to mitigate the frustration our users might be experincing in their daily lives.
USER TESTING
• In order to ensure that our webpage was functional, my team and I conducted a user test.
• Among the participants that I worked with, many reported that the application was effective and conveyed its message well.
• For example, several of the participants whom I worked with cited how they felt the wireframe was simple and easy to use, and that the designs didn't take away from the app's function.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Taking into account the users' personal situation was especially important for this project.
• Most users prefer a simple and easily navigable application design because they don’t want to waste time clicking through unnecessary steps in order to get the information that they need.
• Users prefer to stay anonymous because they have feelings of embarrassment and shame in relation to suffering from food insecurity.
• The majority would benefit from comprehensive and up to date information about a food organization’s operations and details about the food they offer to satisfy their dietary restrictions.
• Ultimately, our user tests yielded meaningful insights, such that our participants strive for applications that humanize them and resonate with their struggles, in a way that does not pathologize or shame them.
