Services
UX Research • UX Design • UI/Visual Design • Prototyping
Chip In Case Study
Nonprofits struggle to source motivated, high-caliber, volunteer talent. Due to their modest budgets, they have trouble hiring full time staff with competitive pay. I hypothesized that by creating a network specifically for volunteers who are looking for causes to contribute to, NPO’s will have an easier, faster way of securing talent and meeting their organization’s goals. The result was my development of the Chip In Prototype and high-fidelity wireframes of this opportunity seeking app.
RESEARCH
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
I researched popular job search apps and compared key features and design drawbacks that influence users’ experience. My key finding showed Linkedin to be the most robust and ideal talent search app with supplementary features such as maps of potential opportunities and a social media aspect for networking.
LinkedIn has more connectivity in Network
Map adds access for users searching for opportunities
Zip Recruiter
Custom branding option available
Salary, benefits and other details mostly unknown
Indeed
Easiest to navigate
Least aesthetic UI
Upwork
More transparency of work rates
Too much info on the page, feels disjointed
KEY FEATURE COMPARISON
INTERVIEWS
User research for Chip In included interviews with four (4) individuals with the following crucial backgrounds:
Job seekers
NPO external hiring experience
Volunteer experience
After noting their behaviors and feelings with regards to finding work or talent and their volunteer experiences, I was able to create two key user personas, Abby and Jasmine, whom represent the ideal user for Chip in.
“I’d work a long time for a cause I care about, but I don’t want to sacrifice my main source of income.”
After conducting interviews, I was able to create two key personas that best represent users of Chip In: Abby, a socially conscious person, who wants to use their time and resources to help organizations they are passionate about with transparency about the organization’s needs; and Jasmine, a hard working manager at a non profit organization who struggles to find long term or consistent talent within a NPO’s modest budget.
“My work is volunteering.”
“I want to volunteer but I don’t want to feel taken advantage of.”
PROTOTYPING
USER FLOW/SITE MAPPING
While creating the user flow for Chip In, I specified two key paths for our personas: Volunteers seeking opportunities and organizations seeking talent. Both include, upon their first use, account creation which includes choosing your skill set, availability and social interest of volunteers to generate results that meet their interests. Organizations also create an account that allows them to post volunteer opportunities as well as information about the organization and direct line of contact.
PAPER SKETCHES
The paper sketches were to reflect users’ journey from signing in/up adding their skill sets and cause preferences, to selecting a volunteer opportunity based on the user profile’s skill set and cause interests.
