Yolk
Bringing the Latest on News, Events, and More for the AAPI Community (Mobile App Design Case Study)
Bringing the Latest on News, Events, and More for the AAPI Community (Mobile App Design Case Study)
Bringing the Latest on News, Events, and More for the AAPI Community (Mobile App Design Case Study)
Yolk is a designed app that centralizes information and provides learning opportunities to get in touch with one's own AAPI heritage.
MY ROLE
UI/UX Designer, Research, Ideation, and Prototyping
PROJECT
SCOPE
Sole Designer,
7 months
TOOLS
Figma, Miro,
Procreate,
Qualtrics
MY ROLE
PROJECT SCOPE
TOOLS
UI/UX Designer, Research, Ideation, and Prototyping
Sole Designer, 7 months
Figma, Miro, Procreate, Qualtrics
MY ROLE
UI/UX Designer, Research, Ideation, and Prototyping
PROJECT
SCOPE
Sole Designer,
7 months
TOOLS
Figma, Miro,
Procreate,
Qualtrics
Problem
Second-Generation AAPI have difficulty accessing more information about their own cultural identity.
After 78 survey results amongst AAPI participants, a common theme revealed that beyond their home and family life, they express struggles finding ways to immerse in their cultures.
"I have a lot of surface level awareness, but it wasn't until college that I was more cognizant of dissecting the nitty gritty of navigating intersectionality."
"While I experienced my culture at home, a lot of it was suppressed in favor of assimilation."
"There were aspects of my culture I definitely felt in touch with growing up, but a lot of it in hindsight I didnt realize they were cultural values until later."
As a result, this prompts the question.
How Might We…
Guide AAPI to gaining more knowledge of their culture(s)?
Identifying Pain Points
To validate my assumptions, I surveyed AAPI to better understand the common experiences users may face. Initially, I sent my survey to friends and family but later posted it on social media to gather more results and have a better representation of other AAPI identities beyond my own Filipino community.
When surveyed participants were asked what areas of their culture they were familiar with, 96% of answers were food and pop culture. However, results showed that only 45% were proficient in their family's native language, 55% are aware of their culture's history, and only 43% are familiar with their culture's current events.
While most opportunities AAPI have to immerse in their culture are within the home, many have taken language courses or joined community organizations. However, people feel that there are a lot of topics missing in conversations unless they become popularized online such as mental health through an AAPI lens, generational trauma, and the gap between international Asians and Asian Americans.
There are a multitude of outlets online for AAPI to search that discuss Asian American news such as AsAm News and NextShark as well as community groups that connect AAPI experiences like Subtle Asian Traits. However, there seems to be a lack of one centralized platform for people to have access to all of these resources.
Defining Persona & Goals
Consolidating our key insights into 2 AAPI personas aiming to learn more about their cultures.
24, Half Filipino Half White
24, Half Filipino Half White
“I consume a lot of Asian media to understand my Asian side a bit more, but always trying to expand my knowledge and stay informed!”
“I consume a lot of Asian media to understand my Asian side a bit more, but always trying to expand my knowledge and stay informed!”
“Growing up in North Carolina, I knew I was a little different, but going to school in the west coast I feel like I’m not Asian enough with my Asian friends”
“Growing up in North Carolina, I knew I was a little different, but going to school in the west coast I feel like I’m not Asian enough with my Asian friends”
Journey Storyboard
Contextualizing the persona in a scenario helps identify possible ideas of the minimum required actions the app needs to support.
Design Goals
To address the needs of the persona and key findings, the ideal solution must be able to connect users closer to information and resources that are relevant and tailored to their identities and interests.
A personalized experience inspires users to be better informed and maintain interest.
Providing a platform to connect users can support their goals and help them feel less alone in their learning journey.
A personalized experience inspires users to be better informed and maintain interest.
Providing a platform to connect users can support their goals and help them feel less alone in their learning journey.
Any information should be easily accessible to motivate users to dive deeper in their knowledge and understanding
System Architecture
Considering the persona's context directed a user flow focusing on possible functions that might spark curiosity and engage users to further expand their passions and interests in their culture.
I want the latest news on what's happening within my community
I want to be informed on a number of topics related to my identity
I want a fun way to learn something new
I want to connect with other people like me
Iterations from Usability Testing
Through 3 rounds of moderated tests, feedback informed iterations that improved personalization and navigation of key information.
Creating a dropdown menu listing countries of origin and current location
Scrolling to select countries and separating the two questions extended the time it took to onboard new users.
Creating a dropdown menu and condensing the number of pages eased the process of signing up for a new account.
Creating a dropdown menu listing countries of origin and current location
Scrolling to select countries and separating the two questions extended the time it took to onboard new users.
Creating a dropdown menu and condensing the number of pages eased the process of signing up for a new account.
Creating a dropdown menu listing countries of origin and current location
Scrolling to select countries and separating the two questions extended the time it took to onboard new users.
Creating a dropdown menu and condensing the number of pages eased the process of signing up for a new account.
Introducing feature to add dynamic content to a discussion post
Sticking to only text based posts appeared less interesting to users and huge text blocks seemed to make it difficult to focus.
Encouraging more dynamic posts can further engage users to connect with one another and participate in discussion.
Introducing feature to add dynamic content to a discussion post
Sticking to only text based posts appeared less interesting to users and huge text blocks seemed to make it difficult to focus.
Encouraging more dynamic posts can further engage users to connect with one another and participate in discussion.
Introducing feature to add dynamic content to a discussion post
Sticking to only text based posts appeared less interesting to users and huge text blocks seemed to make it difficult to focus.
Encouraging more dynamic posts can further engage users to connect with one another and participate in discussion.
Adding a Filter button to a discussion board
Endless scrolling to find posts that users might want to read more made it less enjoyable as not every post may not have been relevant.
Instead of listing discussion posts in chronologically order, providing a Filter button gives users more freedom to tailor their experience the way that they want on viewing content.
Adding a Filter button to a discussion board
Endless scrolling to find posts that users might want to read more made it less enjoyable as not every post may not have been relevant.
Instead of listing discussion posts in chronologically order, providing a Filter button gives users more freedom to tailor their experience the way that they want on viewing content.
Adding a Filter button to a discussion board
Endless scrolling to find posts that users might want to read more made it less enjoyable as not every post may not have been relevant.
Instead of listing discussion posts in chronologically order, providing a Filter button gives users more freedom to tailor their experience the way that they want on viewing content.
Final Solution
Catching Up On The Latest
Learn & Play
Dive Deeper
Find Your Community Online+Offline
Profile/Recommended For You
Project Takeaways
As a fellow member of the AAPI community and growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood, I know how difficult is can be to often find ways to get in touch with my Filipino roots beyond my family. It's the reason why I joined Filipino/AAPI communities as I grew older to find the resources and people that I can relate to most. After interviewing and seeing surveys of other AAPI who resonate with an idea to connect and better inform us of our identities, I truly see the value in generating an app such as Yolk.
