Experience community and connection with fellow Christian youth in a welcoming and wholesome space designed for fellowship.
Timeline: April - August 2022
My Role: Product Designer, Researcher
Design Tool: Adobe XD
Craft a vibrant mobile app that fosters genuine social connections among youth, enabling them to share and experience life and church events together in real-time, all within a clean and secure environment.
In 2011, YOFFC, short for Youth On Fire For Christ, came to life as a web application, instantly capturing the hearts of 30+ active users upon its debut. Originally crafted for the exclusive embrace of Lighthouse Gospel Ministries, YOFFC was a beacon of success from the start. As we embark on this new chapter, YOFFC is set to broaden its horizons, opening its doors to a wider community, ready to forge connections that span beyond the initial vision.
In the quest to shape YOFFC's features and functionalities, I delved into the realms of giants like Facebook and Instagram, seeking inspiration yet mindful of their pitfalls. What I discovered was a digital landscape where security often took a backseat, where content roamed unguarded, and profanity filled the air without check.
Armed with these insights, YOFFC charted a different course. We instituted a cadre of vigilant moderators and fortified our platform with robust security measures, ensuring that profanity and unclean words find no harbor in our community. Furthermore, we committed to a meticulous review of all uploaded videos, upholding a standard of cleanliness and safety that sets YOFFC apart, making it a haven for positive, meaningful interactions.
I embarked on a journey of discovery, reaching out to the vibrant youth who breathe life into our website. I was eager to hear their stories—what captivated them, what fell short, and what dreams they harbored for this digital space we share. A chorus rose among their voices, a longing for freedom from the chains of stationary screens. They envisioned a future where they could roam, connected and unbound, their community always within reach.
And so, the decision was as clear as the call of adventure: An app it will be—a new chapter where our users carry the essence of connection in their pockets, ready to explore, share, and engage with the world around them, anytime, anywhere.
In this journey of creation, I stand as the lone architect, weaving both design and code into the fabric of our project. Embarking on a quest to master the mysteries of mobile development for both iOS and Android, I seek knowledge not just for the sake of learning, but as a beacon guiding my design decisions. With this newfound understanding, each choice is crafted with the nuances of each platform in mind, ensuring a seamless and intuitive experience across all devices. This is my path—to design and develop with insight, creating a world that resonates with every touch and swipe.
I kicked off this project with two goals in mind: give the current website a fresh look and whip up a brand new mobile app. I started simple, sketching out rough ideas for the website's redesign. These early sketches were like the first draft of a story, which I then polished into detailed, high-quality designs for the mobile app. This approach helped me make sure that both the website and app would not just look good together but also offer a smooth, user-friendly experience.
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In the heart of my journey, I embarked on a mission of discovery, orchestrating two unmoderated user tests. Participants navigated through a series of tasks, their interactions unfolding like chapters in a book, each move telling me more about their experience. This exploratory adventure brought to light invaluable insights, painting a picture of how I could further refine my design. The feedback was like a compass, pointing me toward the additional tweaks needed to ensure my creation not only meets but exceeds user expectations. Through this process, every step I took, every adjustment I made, brings me closer to a design that truly resonates with its users.
Heading into the first round of user testing, I was curious about one thing: Could users easily find their profile page tucked away in the "Menu" instead of sitting upfront in the primary navigation? Turns out, it was a bit of a challenge for them. This insight was a lightbulb moment for me, highlighting a key area where I could make the journey smoother and more intuitive for everyone.
50% Direct Success
43.8% Indirect Success
6.3% Give-up / Bounce
This time around, things looked up—80% of users found their way to the profile page with ease, a big leap from the first round. Yet, this victory shone a light on new challenges that needed my attention. It was clear there was more work to be done, but I was ready to tackle these issues head-on, ensuring every user's journey was as smooth as possible.
Name: Nayla Adkins
Age: 35
Title: Youth Worship Leader
Church: Lighthouse Gospel Ministries
To invite youth to worship events
Spiritual Growth and Development
When she shares her love for Christ
in a post, she's met with negative comments.
In the midst of reshaping our approach, I reached out to the vibrant community of Facebook's Christian Youth Leader groups with a survey. My mission? To dive deeper and gather real, actionable insights. Armed with valuable feedback from both our user testing and this new survey data, I was able to craft a user persona that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of our audience. This persona became my north star, guiding every decision with clarity and purpose.
With a sharp focus on enhancing user navigation, clarifying icon functions, and refining our color scheme and font—while staying true to our signature purple and white—I've tailored some key design upgrades. These changes are deeply rooted in what our users need, ensuring YOFFC unmistakably stands out as a vibrant space for the youth in Christ. Here's a rundown of the impactful enhancements inspired directly by our user data.
I've crafted and prototyped a suite of screens that guide users seamlessly through their app journey, showcasing the ease and intuition of navigation.
As a Christian, I recognize the importance of persevering in sharing Christ's love, even when faced with challenges. With YOFFC, I'm proud to offer a platform where believers can freely express themselves, nurtured by a safe and positive community.
The journey continues as I dive into the development phase of the YOFFC app, set to light up app stores on both Android and iOS. Excitement is in the air, and the launch is just around the corner. Stay tuned for what's coming your way!
