The Problem
The client JustServe was interested in an integrated global platform that accelerates and streamlines Just Serve’s growth and impact supported through tech to roll out volunteers as per need to any location at any time.
For JS Partners:
A new way to AUTHOR projects
Ability to manage all the DETAILS
Deep SECURITY, even for finances
For JS Projects:
Projects LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE
Logistics shared AUTOMAGICALLY
INDIVIDUALS build new credentials
For JustServe:
We become EASIEST TO PARTNER WITH
JS continues to scale WITHOUT STAFF
All the work is GLOBAL and SECURE
My Role:
This was a group project for a 7-week class. My role here was multifaceted starting with research for opportunity area, running ideation sprints within the team, prototyping UX interfaces and finally getting the team out of creative block by stitching the plethora of ideas the team generated into a platform.
Course:
Introduction to Design Planning, 2nd Semester / Design Frontiers
Professor: Larry Keeley & Dan Chichester
Skills:
Team Facilitation, Primary Research, 10 types of innovation framework, Digital UX Design of an App
Choosing a Domain of Application
.jpg)
The project started with understanding how volunteer services work and where are the gaps that can becomes the application domain for Just Serve.
There were multiple considerations, our team considered agriculture support, addressing loneliness with elderly and post disaster relief.
After several rounds of discussion within the team, professors we settled on 'Post disaster relief in communities.' And we setup interviews with Urban Juncture working in Bronzeville near IIT Chicago doing similar work.
Interview with Urban Juncture staff working in Bronzeville, Chicago
"Wide gap exists between downtown districts and ethnic and minority communities. In this scenario the motivation of the people living here is to move out."
​
"Keeping the funding and volunteer availability balanced is a big challenge."
"The social programs which are underfunded and insufficient as per the needs. And the economic and social distance that keep growing wider."
​
"We are pitching to more funding agencies for our programs, but it takes time for us to show the change we are bringing to gain their confidence."
.jpg)
Understanding the landscape of opportunities
.jpg)
Starting Ideation and getting stuck in a loop
.jpg)
.jpg)
Helping the team in recognize the potential of the ideas coming together to deliver an experience.
.jpg)
Team Feedback!
Prototype Development
Final Deliverable: A Service Blueprint
.jpg)
Takeaways:
-
There was a dominant voice in the team that lead most of the decisions in the initial phase. Although I appreciated the facilitation initiative it became problematic when others started to validate their own ideas with the person. I had a one-to-one friendly meeting with the teammate, and this created awareness to take a step back.
-
When in a creative block I have found it effective to revisit the past work and connect the ideas which the people were most passionate about. It helps in going forward with a diverse perspective and figuring out if there is a need for more ideation to tie the missing links.