Gracepoint Seattle, a non-profit my team collaborated with, hosts weekly events requiring equipment like cameras and lighting stored in various locations. Volunteers often coordinate extensively to locate and return items.
Previously, a Google Sheet and labeling system were used to track equipment, but the process became tedious and inefficient, requiring constant communication to locate misplaced items. This led to the system being abandoned.
The goal of this project is to create a product that allows organizations with resources spread across multiple locations used by many volunteers to be able to know where resources are at all times.
In winter 2020, Gracepoint members developed an RMS to track tech equipment with code scanning and a data store. However, its complexity slowed adoption among volunteers and managers.
To understand user needs, my team interviewed seven participants, both experienced and new to the RMS. We analyzed their feedback to identify key pain points and connections.
To explore solutions, my team conducted multiple rounds of affinity mapping, clarifying pain points and key features to design for.
My team and I continued our analysis by crafting a user persona and journey map to gain a better, general understanding of the problem as well as design opportunities.
As a result of the research analysis, my team and I solidfied the key findings as well as mapped the relationship between users’ pain points and needs.
In order to understand the app’s structure, my team and I crafted a general user flow to dictate the relationship between various actions and pages.
Putting ideas into action, my team and I then created and ideated upon wireframes for the app.
With the wireframes created, my team and I conducted user testing with some of the current volunteers and users that we previously interviewed.
Based on these tests, my team and I implemented a number of key design solutions into our final designs.
The following flows allow users to quickly checkout their needed items quickly and seamlessly, without the need for any scanning.
Users are able to quickly view individual items and return them to the inventory.
Providing this quick digital process motivates users to complete the phyiscal task of returning the items to their original locations while communicating to other users of the items’ location.
One of the key points from user research is related to users feeling that the previous system was extremely tedious dealing with multiple items.
Providing the opportunity to reserve things in advance provides more flexibility and organization for users.
The following flows allow users to make changes based on any changes or latest information that can support the overall organization.
Users can quickly and efficiently update (edit, add, or delete) items and lists, allowing people in their organization to also be aware of what’s in the overall inventory.
Providing areas to add details about certain items distinguishes the new RMS design compared to the previous google sheets.
In addition to editing the details of individual items, users are also able to make organizational changes to lists.
Organizational issues were one of the key user pain points, allowing them to adjust their lists adds more support.
My team and I created a design system for the RMS app, basing the design off Material UI.
Spark Blue
#3B99F7
Spark Yellow
#FCBE00
Light Spark
#FFFFFF
Dark Spark
#000000
Muddy Spark
#E5E5E5
To experience the full user flow, the interactive prototype allows you to explore the new resource management experience.
Through this project, I was able to build a upon a current system that did not account for its users needs. By interacting directly with our target audience, I collaborated with the design team and the developers to improve a product to become more centered around its users.
Other opportunities that I discovered while working on this project include exploring the possibility of branching out to different organizations outside of Gracepoint to include a wider audience as well as building upon the mobile design to create a desktop app or website to account for more platforms.
