A social-emotional learning app for individuals to learn, share, and connect through personal and family storytelling
We meet people with extremely diverse travel and migration backgrounds in today’s highly mobile world. Many share a curiosity about exploring their ever-evolving geo-cultural identities. However, there is a lack of safe, engaging platforms where they can share and connect over these personal stories.
How can we make it simple and fun for people to explore, share, and connect over their personal and family histories? In this app, users can visualize their journey maps on an interactive globe. They can also locate interesting people and content using an advanced search system.
Daily user/content recommendations to expose diverse topics and cultural groups
Advanced user/content search system and chat function to connect with people with specific backgrounds
Geo-visualization of personal and family travel histories to chart and share their journeys
Daily user/content recommendations to expose users to diverse topics and cultural groups
Advanced user/content search system and chat function for users to find and connect with people with specific backgrounds
Geo-visualization of personal and family travel histories for users to chart and share their stories
Our target users are young people characterized by cultural curiosity about their personal and family history, especially those with diverse immigration and ethinic backgrounds. We conducted in-depth user research through interview and survey, and developed detailed user persona.
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👩 User Persona
Alica - An international master's student from Paraguay studying at Columbia University, New York. Her familial roots trace back to Europe through her grandparents, and she also has relatives in Virginia. While she's deeply interested in her own migration story, she faces challenges finding peers in NYC with similar backgrounds due to its niche nature. Additionally, she is also curious about the history of other racial groups in the city. Many of her friends are from different countries and linguistic backgrounds, prompting her curiosity about their reasons for coming to the city.
🔍 Interview Highlight
"Understanding where we come from and what makes us unique fosters not only a deeper understanding of our own cultures but also promotes an open mindset to the rich diversity of others."
"I learn more about history and culture when I listen to people telling their personal stories than sitting in a history classroom."
"It is an opportunity to build and restore interpersonal bonds. I realized I have never really reflected on my cultural legacy or even reached out to my family to learn about our history."
"As someone who comes from a smaller immigrant community with multiple ethnic ties, it's challenging to find a suitable niche."
"I am concerned about privacy. How do I know if my content is protected from malicious frauds, especially when I pose information about my other family members?"
"I'm looking for something that is simple, time-efficient, yet still fun and offers intriguing content."
According to the user research, I identified three major pain points. The chart below outlines how I adressed these challenges through targeted design features.
Problem
Solution
Feature
Users are interested in learning and sharing personal and family history but don't know where to start
1. Create an easy and engaging way for users to tell their stories
2. Increase exposure to diverse stories and social motivation to sharing
1. An interactive personal globe feature to visualize one's unique journey
2. Daily recommendations of user-uploaded stories and system content on different cultures/histories to provide exposure and inspirations
Users from minority groups have difficulties finding niche communities
Enable user to search content and connect with people from specific geo-historical backgrounds
1. Search functions based on topic, location, and route to locate content or individual users
2. Real-time chat and friend-adding features
Users feel unsafe due to potential cultural misunderstanding or ethnic discrimination
1. Adopt comprehensive privacy policies
2. Foster an inclusive and welcoming community culture
1. User consent notice and adjustable privacy settings for content sharing
2. Active promotion of content on diverse cultural and historical topics
3. Implementation of code of conduct and discrimination report features
Problem
Solution
Feature
Users are interested in personal and family history but struggle with starting or finding motivation to write them down.
Provide an easy and engaging way for users to tell their stories.
Increase exposure to other stories.
An interactive personal globe to visualize a user's unique journey.
Daily recommendations of user-uploaded stories and historical & cultural articles to provide context and inspirations.
An interactive personal globe to visualize a user's unique journey.Daily recommendations of user-uploaded stories and historical & cultural articles to provide context and inspirations.
Create advanced search functions, chat, and friend-adding features for users to search and connect with people of similar or specific backgrounds.
Besdies topic, location, and username search functions, add a route search function to find content from individuals with specific geohistorical backgrounds based on multiple locations.Real-time chat and friend-adding features.
Users feel unsafe due to potential cultural misunderstandings or ethnic discrimination.
Enhance privacy, promote inclusivity and diversity to create a safe and welcoming community.
Consent and privacy settings for sharing content.Active promotion of content from diverse cultural backgrounds.Code of conduct and discrimination report features.
Draft wireframe
User flow test
Incorporating results from user flow analysis and usability testing, I implemented a series of targeted enhancements, leading to our final prototype below.
Leading this project was a valuable lesson in user-centered design and leadership. By staying receptive to feedback and insights from user research and testing, I implemented numerous enhancements to user flow and usability. Fostering an open, inclusive team environment ensured that each member felt a sense of ownership and contribution, strengthening both our design and team cohesion. I am grateful for this journey and proud of our product, which received warmhearted feedback from the public audience at its final exhibition at Columbia University.
