Bridging Communities: A Digital Platform Connecting People in Small to Mid-Sized Cities
Bridging Communities: A Digital Platform Connecting People in Small to Mid-Sized Cities
Building for real people in real communities.
Building for real people in real communities.
Project Overview
Project Overview
What is this Platform for Small to Mid-Sized Cities?
What is this Platform for Small to Mid-Sized Cities?
A civic-tech platform designed for towns with populations between 10k–100k. The goal was to improve local awareness, connection, and participation by bringing events, job listings, small businesses, and community news into one clean, easy-to-use experience.
A civic-tech platform designed for towns with populations between 10k–100k. The goal was to improve local awareness, connection, and participation by bringing events, job listings, small businesses, and community news into one clean, easy-to-use experience.
Due to NDA constraints, this case study focuses on my design process and decisions rather than visual designs.
Due to NDA constraints, this case study focuses on my design process and decisions rather than visual designs.
My Role
My Role
Experience Designer
Experience Designer
Platform
Community Engagement Platform
Community Engagement Platform
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
Research: Market analysis, surveys, user interviews
Research: Market analysis, surveys, user interviews
Design: User flows, wireframes, UI, design system
Design: User flows, wireframes, UI, design system
Testing: Cognitive walkthroughs, Design Iteration, SUS evaluation
Testing: Cognitive walkthroughs, Design Iteration, SUS evaluation
Timeline
Timeline
3 Months
3 Months
Team Members
Team Members
Arati Ghimire (Me)
Prakriti Koirala
Arati Ghimire (Me)
Prakriti Koirala
Tools
Tools
Figma, FigJam, Google Forms, Google Meet
Figma, FigJam, Google Forms, Google Meet
Understanding the Problem
Understanding the Problem
The project was initiated to address challenges around connection, communication, and awareness within smaller communities. People often lacked a simple way to stay informed or involved in what was happening around them, while others faced difficulties reaching the right audience locally.
The project was initiated to address challenges around connection, communication, and awareness within smaller communities. People often lacked a simple way to stay informed or involved in what was happening around them, while others faced difficulties reaching the right audience locally.
Project Approach
Project Approach
🌀 Human-Centered Design
🌀 Human-Centered Design
As our project was heavily focused on user empathy, pain points, and iterative prototyping using Human-Centered design approach was best as it is Ideal for community-driven or civic tech projects.
As our project was heavily focused on user empathy, pain points, and iterative prototyping using Human-Centered design approach was best as it is Ideal for community-driven or civic tech projects.
Process and Responsibilities
Process and Responsibilities
As this is end-to-end design process focused on understanding user needs and creating a clear, functional platform, I have highlighted key process and responsibilities.
As this is end-to-end design process focused on understanding user needs and creating a clear, functional platform, I have highlighted key process and responsibilities.
👁️ Understand the Problem
👁️ Understand the Problem
Worked with the founding team to align on the platform’s goals — creating a focused, clutter-free alternative to social feeds.
Worked with the founding team to align on the platform’s goals — creating a focused, clutter-free alternative to social feeds.
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📖 Market Research
📖 Market Research
I conducted a competitive audit to identify gaps in existing solutions, focusing on areas like trust, discoverability, and simplicity for local users.
I conducted a competitive audit to identify gaps in existing solutions, focusing on areas like trust, discoverability, and simplicity for local users.
⭐️ User Survey and Insights
⭐️ User Survey and Insights
To validate assumptions and uncover user needs, I designed and distributed a survey targeting potential users helping me prioritize core features and pain points.
To validate assumptions and uncover user needs, I designed and distributed a survey targeting potential users helping me prioritize core features and pain points.
⌨️ Ideate
⌨️ Ideate
Created low-fidelity wireframes to establish layout, followed by a design system with consistent typography, color palette, and reusable UI components.
Created low-fidelity wireframes to establish layout, followed by a design system with consistent typography, color palette, and reusable UI components.
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⭐️ User Survey and Insights
To validate assumptions and uncover user needs, I designed and distributed a survey targeting potential users helping me prioritize core features and surface pain points.
Wireframes
Created low-fidelity wireframes to establish layout, followed by a design system with consistent typography, color palette, and reusable UI components.
🧪 User Testing and Iteration
Conducted cognitive walkthroughs to identify usability issues, then iterated based on feedback. Improved the SUS score in the second round of testing.
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Wireframes
Created low-fidelity wireframes to establish layout, followed by a design system with consistent typography, color palette, and reusable UI components.
Collaborations and User
Testing
Collaborations and User
Testing
We conducted user testing with diverse participants to observe interactions with the prototype and gather actionable feedback.
We conducted user testing with diverse participants to observe interactions with the prototype and gather actionable feedback.
Note: This is one of the many user testing that was done!
Note: This is one of the many user testing that was done!
Data Results
Data Results
The following metrics reflect the positive outcomes from the design and testing process
The following metrics reflect the positive outcomes from the design and testing process
30+
30+
Surveys and Interviews
Surveys and Interviews
10+
10+
User Pain Points
2
2
Design Iterations
Results
Results
After conducting multiple user interviews and two design iterations, we measured the System Usability Scale (SUS) to evaluate improvements. The comparison revealed a clear enhancement in user flow and overall usability between the first and second iterations.
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
01
01
User Feedback is Everything
Early surveys and testing uncovered real community pain points that shaped the product direction.
02
02
Iteration Drives Results
Small UX improvements across two design rounds led to a measurable boost in usability.
03
03
Designing for Real People Feels Meaningful
Creating something that could strengthen local connection and awareness added purpose to every design decision.
View my Other Projects
Let's join forces and create design magic!
Together, we'll make pixels dance and users smile.😎
Let's join forces and create design magic!
Together, we'll make pixels dance and users smile.😎