• Social Isolation: 3.7 million Canadian adults and 2 million seniors report lacking reliable support systems, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating loneliness and disconnection.
• Barriers to Volunteering: Potential volunteers face unclear opportunities, excessive onboarding friction, and safety concerns.
• Accessibility Gaps: Many platforms overlook users with disabilities, limiting their ability to participate fully in community life.

Quantitative: Surveyed 100+ community members and volunteers to map needs, motivations, and barriers.

Qualitative: Conducted 10 in-depth interviews (5 seekers, 5 volunteers) to uncover pain points and emotional drivers.

Key Insights:

• Seekers value privacy, trust, and clear communication.
• Volunteers are motivated by impact and ease of engagement but are deterred by unclear processes and safety risks.
• Both groups desire flexible, location-based matching and accessible, mobile-first design.

User stories were essential in guiding the development of the Here2Help Community app, ensuring that every feature was designed with real user needs in mind. By focusing on the specific goals and challenges of both volunteers and people seeking support, we were able to prioritize features that truly mattered. This user-centered approach helped us create a practical, intuitive, and supportive experience for everyone in the community.

Ideation & User Flows

• Mapped end-to-end journeys for seekers and volunteers.
• Prioritized rapid access to core features: posting/accepting requests, secure chat, and emergency reporting.

For the Here2Help Community project, I created a simple, accessible design system to ensure a consistent look and feel across the app and website. I defined key elements like colors, fonts, buttons, and forms, making sure everything was easy to use and met accessibility standards. This design system helped our team work faster and made the user experience clear and welcoming for everyone.

• Smart Matching: Recommendations based on location, availability, and preferences.
• Secure Chat: In-app messaging with reporting/blocking and privacy controls.
• Event Calendar: Community events and volunteer opportunities, easily updated by admins.
• Donation Gateway: Streamlined, accessible donation flow supporting multiple payment options.

• User Growth: 500+ active users in first 3 months post-launch.
• Engagement: 80% of requests matched within 48 hours; 92% positive feedback on app usability.
• Accessibility: Rated 4.8/5 by users with disabilities in post-launch survey.
• Community Impact: Over 500 volunteer hours logged, reducing reported loneliness among seekers by 30% (survey).

Leading the UX for Here2Help Community reinforced the value of inclusive, research-driven design. By centering user needs and iterating rapidly, we built a platform that not only connects people but also empowers them to build lasting, supportive relationships.

• Social Isolation: 3.7 million Canadian adults and 2 million seniors report lacking reliable support systems, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating loneliness and disconnection.
• Barriers to Volunteering: Potential volunteers face unclear opportunities, excessive onboarding friction, and safety concerns.
• Accessibility Gaps: Many platforms overlook users with disabilities, limiting their ability to participate fully in community life.

Quantitative: Surveyed 100+ community members and volunteers to map needs, motivations, and barriers.

Qualitative: Conducted 10 in-depth interviews (5 seekers, 5 volunteers) to uncover pain points and emotional drivers.

Key Insights:

• Seekers value privacy, trust, and clear communication.
• Volunteers are motivated by impact and ease of engagement but are deterred by unclear processes and safety risks.
• Both groups desire flexible, location-based matching and accessible, mobile-first design.

User stories were essential in guiding the development of the Here2Help Community app, ensuring that every feature was designed with real user needs in mind. By focusing on the specific goals and challenges of both volunteers and people seeking support, we were able to prioritize features that truly mattered. This user-centered approach helped us create a practical, intuitive, and supportive experience for everyone in the community.

Ideation & User Flows

• Mapped end-to-end journeys for seekers and volunteers.
• Prioritized rapid access to core features: posting/accepting requests, secure chat, and emergency reporting.

For the Here2Help Community project, I created a simple, accessible design system to ensure a consistent look and feel across the app and website. I defined key elements like colors, fonts, buttons, and forms, making sure everything was easy to use and met accessibility standards. This design system helped our team work faster and made the user experience clear and welcoming for everyone.

• Smart Matching: Recommendations based on location, availability, and preferences.
• Secure Chat: In-app messaging with reporting/blocking and privacy controls.
• Event Calendar: Community events and volunteer opportunities, easily updated by admins.
• Donation Gateway: Streamlined, accessible donation flow supporting multiple payment options.

• User Growth: 500+ active users in first 3 months post-launch.
• Engagement: 80% of requests matched within 48 hours; 92% positive feedback on app usability.
• Accessibility: Rated 4.8/5 by users with disabilities in post-launch survey.
• Community Impact: Over 500 volunteer hours logged, reducing reported loneliness among seekers by 30% (survey).

Leading the UX for Here2Help Community reinforced the value of inclusive, research-driven design. By centering user needs and iterating rapidly, we built a platform that not only connects people but also empowers them to build lasting, supportive relationships.