client

hopelab

duration

3 months
[ january - march 2020 ]

ROLE

user research lead
ui//ux design lead

SKILLS

market research // benchmarking
survey design
user research
user testing
persona development
prototyping
mobile ui // ux design

// the problem

Curious queer youth could benefit from access to a low-risk digital platform which faciliates the exploration of self-identity and sexuality. Non-queer specific dating apps are not yet meeting the needs of LGTBQIA+ youth, and a way to make platforms be more inclusive and encourage queer youth to explore their identitiy, relations, sexuality, etc. could be beneficial.

of the many options that exist today, The profile creation stage dating apps use is a great “low stakes” way for queer youth to reflect on their identity. however, Although gender options on dating apps are becoming more diverse, sexual interest and orientation options are still lacking. Even queer youth who are confident in their identity // sexuality find it difficult to navigate the online dating landscape (due to factors such as compromises, a small pool, etc.).

// the process

we first created ecology and stakeholder maps in order to map out the field of digital, peer-to-peer, participant interactions and products that exist today. of the six categories, the area of dating apps seemed to be most promising, as people on the platform could not simply be observers and had to participate to some degree.

we then tried to learn more about the problem space through conducting In-person interviews with four queer youth focused on their dating app experiences. Primary, experiential research on dating apps was done by downloading apps and going through the on-boarding process ourselves. we found that there were many opportunities at this stage, as there were glaring gaps.

informed by both our personal experiences and insights from interviewees, we made a journey map of the process to help us better understand the motivations, pain points, and emotions of users.

we wanted to create A questionnaire // survey, similar to the dating app profile creation experience, that is more inclusive and thorough. By filling it out, users can learn more about their identity and sexuality. this led us to create a two-part service, the first being the appearance creation stage, and the second being the identity exploration stage.

// the solution

Camp Milk is a virtual safe space app designed for LGTBQIA+ youth. Users can create their own characters and explore their identity, sexuality and relationships with others through introspection, conversing with a chatbot and interacting with other explorers.

For our service, we created an app designed for queer youth, especially for those looking for a medium to explore. The main goal was to lower their inhibitions and give them a fun way to learn, explore identity, and connect with others that they can relate to or learn from. Through the app, users can create their own personas that they feel represents them and makes them feel more comfortable. then, they can take this character and engage in introspective conversation with the chatbot, as well as have the opportunity to enter as safe social space with others