Context
Problem
1/3 of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+. They may feel unsafe in their own homes or be disowned purely for their sexuality and gender expression, with nowhere to turn to.
Solution
A homestay app that connects users to hosts volunteering their homes and safe spaces for queer youth.
Role
Lead Product Designer
Purpose
UXL Designathon 2022,
1st Place 🥇
Team
Me, Andy Zhen, Grace Li, Keeley Fay
2 Product Designers
1 Graphic Designer
1 Pitch Lead
Timeline
March 2022 (< 48 hours)
Ideation & Analysis
We were given an exciting opportunity to participate in a designathon where we were tasked with creating and presenting our solution to the following design prompt:
"How might we intentionally explore what matters to us?"
One of the most important issues to our team were LGBTQ+ rights and safety. As a community that the majority of our team identified with, it was a no-brainer to explore this issue further.
Since our app targets at risk users, it was important to discuss how this app would keep them safe. Ideally our app would partner with the Canadian government to verify and perform background checks on hosts to ensure safety. Consistent and reliable hosts may also be funded by the government, queer organizations, and donations to incentivize safety and reward great hosting.
A collage of our failed recording attempts 😁👍
After brainstorming ideas and finalizing our choice. I formed a creative brief to help guide and direct us during design.
Hypothesis
"If we can connect LGBTQ+ youth with safe spaces during hard times, we can keep them off the streets and save lives."
Main Scenarios
You need a safe place to stay while you get back on your feet
You don't feel safe in your own home
You need support from a trusted adult
Business Opportunities
Find and coordinate a homestay in the same app
Tap into local support instead of funded initiatives
Get to learn familizarize yourself with your host before meeting.
Principles
Personal connection/relationship building
Safety and comfort
Final Designs
Explore
Find places around you, with a bigger focus on the host and people. Find homes and safe spaces around your person as well with an interactive map.
Home Details
With an emphasis on connection and building a relationship, learn more about a host and their home with an introduction video, host details, and past experiences.
Profiles
Dive deeper into a host's profile and also your own.
Inbox
Keep track of your messages and stays.
Reflection & Takeaways
Opportunity to Lead
Being the only member with design experience, I had the opportunity to lead and guide the team through the design process. It was a great learning opportunity for me, especially being all of our first designathons.
Allow Ample Time
It was really hard getting the perfect take and we didn't expect recording to take so long. We were almost disqualified, but clutched up with an extension on the deadline 😭