Iterative Design & Development
I enjoy leading iterative design processes, taking small, deliberate steps toward the right solution without being attached to getting it perfect the first time, while balancing the stakes for future iterations.
Building A Digital Engagement Platform for Youth Development
The Future Project
Challenge
Develop a tool to help Dream Directors (program staff) track student engagements, measure impact, and strategize their interactions by creating a centralized digital tool.
My Role:
Product Designer: Directed prototyping, user research, and feedback integration.
Team members:
UI Designer
Technology Team
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Conducted tagalongs with staff stakeholders, Dream Directors, to observe their documentation processes and identify pain points and opportunities for a digital solution.
Researched analogous platforms to gather best practices – looking across other education-based documentation tools.
Developed an early prototype, "The Blueprint," using Google Sheets to test a single documentation tool collecting information about their engagements, outcomes, and adherence to the program model.
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Design, and released updates to "The Blueprint" every 2–3 months, based on feedback from a pilot set of Dream Director users.
Introduced features like simplified prompts, continuous tracking, and personalized goals
Codified the feedback and updates into a core set of product features and deign principles for a net new digital platform.
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Conducted a value assessment of the potential benefit of custom tool design for our use case.
Partnered with the tech team to develop Dream.ly, integrating features like engagement tracking, personalized reminders, and individual student profiles.
Rolled out the platform to 50+ users with training support.
Project Overview
Project Highlights
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Tested a New Methodology with a Subset of Dream Directors
Worked with a subset of 12 Dream Directors to test a new methodology for tracking their work in schools. Created an initial Google spreadsheet and form to gather insights on what could be tracked and what would be useful for them.
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Iterated and Redesigned the Tool
Based on feedback from the Dream Directors, I made regular micro-iterations to the Google Form and Spreadsheet, ultimately redesigning the tool monthly. The second version introduced aesthetic improvements and added features to better align with the Dream Directors' planning routines and needs.
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Coordinated Development of a Custom Digital Tool
Leveraged the insights from the iterations to collaborate with the UI designer and technology team to develop a custom digital product. This tool underwent two major iterations before being fully adopted by 60 Dream Directors and used to track student engagement for over 1,000 students.
