Equiballot
Equiballot
Worked with a women-run start-up that aims to make the electoral process more equitable
Worked with a women-run start-up that aims to make the electoral process more equitable
Overview
Overview
I recently worked as a UX Designer for Equiballot, a women-run start-up making voting and campaigning more equitable for candidates, campaign team members and voters of all experience levels.
I recently worked as a UX Designer for Equiballot, a women-run start-up making voting and campaigning more equitable for candidates, campaign team members and voters of all experience levels.
Role: Head Web Editor, UX Researcher, UX Designer, UI Designer, Web Designer
Collaborator: Rami Abdul-Aziz, Alexa Libbey, Silas Clark
Timeline: August 2024 - Present
Tools: Figma, Miro, Canva
My Role
Head Web Editor
UX Researcher
UX Designer
UI Designer
Web Designer
Collaborator
Team
Rami Abdul-Aziz
Alexa Libbey
Silas Clark
Timeline
August 2024 - Present
Tools
Figma
Miro
Canva
Problem
The Equiballot start-up aims to create a digital web-app that increases accessibility and engagement with the electoral process. The product was still in its early stages, so our group was tasked with identifying a need for improving its brand image, accessibility, and determining specific features that user groups would definitely want to use.
What My Team Accomplished
Conducted user research of candidates, campaign team members as well as new and experienced voters to determine most suitable user needs.
Created updated user branding identity to uplift trustworthy, professional workspaces.
Updated candidate and voter web-based app interfaces based on research, ideation stages, and usability tests.
Submitted final report and had a final presentation of our work to clientele.
Problem
Problem
The Equiballot start-up aims to create a digital web-app with both a voter side and a candidate side that increases accessibility and engagement with the electoral process. The product was still in its early stages, so our group was tasked with identifying a need for improving its brand image, accessibility, and determining specific features that user groups would definitely want to use.
The Equiballot start-up aims to create a digital web-app with both a voter side and a candidate side that increases accessibility and engagement with the electoral process. The product was still in its early stages, so our group was tasked with identifying a need for improving its brand image, accessibility, and determining specific features that user groups would definitely want to use.
What My Team Accomplished
Conducted user research of candidates, campaign team members as well as new and experienced voters to determine most suitable user needs.
Created updated user branding identity to uplift trustworthy, professional workspaces.
Updated candidate and voter web-based app interfaces based on research, ideation stages, and usability tests.
Submitted final report and had a final presentation of our work to clientele.
What My Team Accomplished
Conducted user research of candidates, campaign team members as well as new and experienced voters to determine most suitable user needs.
Created updated user branding identity to uplift trustworthy, professional workspaces.
Updated candidate and voter web-based app interfaces based on research, ideation stages, and usability tests.
Submitted final report and had a final presentation of our work to clientele.
User Research
User Research
Assigning Research
Assigning Research
My team assigned ourselves one of 4 different user groups to research. These user groups consist of new voters, experienced voters, political candidates, and campaign team members. I was assigned to conduct user research on political candidates. We then determined the best mode of user research to utilize— I chose to conduct an expert review.
My team assigned ourselves one of 4 different user groups to research. These user groups consist of new voters, experienced voters, political candidates, and campaign team members. I was assigned to conduct user research on political candidates. We then determined the best mode of user research to utilize— I chose to conduct an expert review.
Affinity Mapping
I synthesized an affinity map that contains notable quotes from candidate interviews that address the potential to increase voter outreach, implement fact-checking and bias checking, increasing financial and member support for campaigns, as well as including voter data analytics.
Affinity Mapping
I synthesized an affinity map that contains notable quotes from candidate interviews that address the potential to increase voter outreach, implement fact-checking and bias checking, increasing financial and member support for campaigns, as well as including voter data analytics.
Affinity Mapping
I researched the candidate user group through conducting an expert review of 13 user interviews Equiballot staff had previously done regarding their potential interest for possible features to implement in the candidate side of the app.
Upon reviewing the interviews, I synthesized an affinity map that contains notable quotes from candidate interviews that address the potential to increase voter outreach, implement fact-checking and bias checking, increasing financial and member support for campaigns, as well as including voter data analytics.
User Personae
User Personae
We created a total of 4 user personae for our 4 user groups that highlight lifestyles, aspirations and other main takeaways that we were able to gather. My research revealed that candidates are frustrated by misinformation spreading and value ways of increasing voter engagement and hope to have more knowledge of voter stances on political issues. The research called for a need for live streaming to voters and stakeholders, voter data analytics, as well as features to promote campaign events.
We created a total of 4 user personae for our 4 user groups that highlight lifestyles, aspirations and other main takeaways that we were able to gather. My research revealed that candidates are frustrated by misinformation spreading and value ways of increasing voter engagement and hope to have more knowledge of voter stances on political issues. The research called for a need for live streaming to voters and stakeholders, voter data analytics, as well as features to promote campaign events.
Ideation
Ideation
Ideating Features
Moving onto the ideation stages, my team and I compiled a spreadsheet full of features that might be useful for the candidates side and the voters side based on results from our user research. We narrowed down features by priority levels.
UI Flow
UI Flow
After determining necessary features for the web-app, we designed the UI Flow for both the candidate side and the voter side. Our design revised the initial voter UI flow that our clients had previously provided to add functionality through creating the main homepage which branches off into sections for civic information like where to vote, candidate communication and information like their events, and voter account management.
The four main branches of the candidate side of the product are the events calendar, announcements including making posts and live streaming, voter data and analytics, and profile editing/information. We used these UI flows as the basis of our designs
After determining necessary features for the web-app, we designed the UI Flow for both the candidate side and the voter side. Our design revised the initial voter UI flow that our clients had previously provided to add functionality through creating the main homepage which branches off into sections for civic information like where to vote, candidate communication and information like their events, and voter account management.
The four main branches of the candidate side of the product are the events calendar, announcements including making posts and live streaming, voter data and analytics, and profile editing/information. We used these UI flows as the basis of our designs
Candidate UI
Candidate UI
Our design revised the initial voter UI flow that our clients had previously provided to add functionality through creating the main homepage which branches off into sections for civic information like where to vote, candidate communication and information like their events, and voter account management.
Our design revised the initial voter UI flow that our clients had previously provided to add functionality through creating the main homepage which branches off into sections for civic information like where to vote, candidate communication and information like their events, and voter account management.
Voter UI
Voter UI
The four main branches of the candidate side of the product are the events calendar, announcements including making posts and live streaming, voter data and analytics, and profile editing/information. We used these UI flows as the basis of our designs
The four main branches of the candidate side of the product are the events calendar, announcements including making posts and live streaming, voter data and analytics, and profile editing/information. We used these UI flows as the basis of our designs
Wire Frames
Wire Frames
We then created two user personae– one being focused on the functionality of our website and club as well as one who cares more about the personality and vibe of FH and our website.
We then created two user personae– one being focused on the functionality of our website and club as well as one who cares more about the personality and vibe of FH and our website.
Moodboard
Moodboard
We wanted to also update the branding identity of Equiballot's web-app prototype to present as more trustworthy and blending both elements of political information and social platforms. We looked into sites such as Vote.org and ACLU as well as examining social media workspaces, notably Meta Business Suite, as inspiration for the updated prototype.
We wanted to also update the branding identity of Equiballot's web-app prototype to present as more trustworthy and blending both elements of political information and social platforms. We looked into sites such as Vote.org and ACLU as well as examining social media workspaces, notably Meta Business Suite, as inspiration for the updated prototype.
Style Guide
Style Guide
After creating a mood board of such platforms, we ultimately decided to change the existing branding identity of Equiballot to include harder edges to buttons, graphics, and incorporate more white and light-mode pages to our prototypes
After creating a mood board of such platforms, we ultimately decided to change the existing branding identity of Equiballot to include harder edges to buttons, graphics, and incorporate more white and light-mode pages to our prototypes
Design
Design
Design
Usability Test
Usability Test
Once we completed an initial prototype draft, we conducted 8 usability tests to gather additional feedback. Each user completed 5 tasks in the prototype that would frequently be done by voters and candidates We also had them answer qualitative and quantitative survey questions regarding their experiences with the prototype, as well as having them complete the quantitative System Usability Scale questionnaire.
Our initial prototype scored a "good" score on the System Usability Scale questionnaire. We also received suggestions that we used to revise our prototype including changing the wording of certain navigation bar terms and icon appearances to be more understandable.
Once we completed an initial prototype draft, we conducted 8 usability tests to gather additional feedback. Each user completed 5 tasks in the prototype that would frequently be done by voters and candidates We also had them answer qualitative and quantitative survey questions regarding their experiences with the prototype, as well as having them complete the quantitative System Usability Scale questionnaire.
Our initial prototype scored a "good" score on the System Usability Scale questionnaire. We also received suggestions that we used to revise our prototype including changing the wording of certain navigation bar terms and icon appearances to be more understandable.
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
We then created two user personae– one being focused on the functionality of our website and club as well as one who cares more about the personality and vibe of FH and our website.
We then created two user personae– one being focused on the functionality of our website and club as well as one who cares more about the personality and vibe of FH and our website.
Voter UI
Voter UI
The Voter UI home page provides a news feed, "saved" candidates, upcoming election dates to keep in mind, and an intuitive nav bar for voters to engage with.
The Voter UI home page provides a news feed, "saved" candidates, upcoming election dates to keep in mind, and an intuitive nav bar for voters to engage with.
Engaging Users
Engaging Users
We implemented ways for voters to donate, endorse, and volunteer if they hope to add an extra level of support for candidates they feel positively about!
We implemented ways for voters to donate, endorse, and volunteer if they hope to add an extra level of support for candidates they feel positively about!
Voters can also engage with candidate profiles by searching them, viewing their proposed policies, upcoming events, and posts!
Voters can also engage with candidate profiles by searching them, viewing their proposed policies, upcoming events, and posts!
Learning About Voting Information
Learning About Voting Information
Voters can easily learn the steps they must take to vote at elections from the local to federal levels such as registering to vote or searching for nearby polling locations, searching for referendums, and brush up on frequently used political jargon.
Voters can easily learn the steps they must take to vote at elections from the local to federal levels such as registering to vote or searching for nearby polling locations, searching for referendums, and brush up on frequently used political jargon.
Not signed in? No problem! Our landing page includes all information
you need to know in order to start your voting journey.
Not signed in? No problem! Our landing page includes all information
you need to know in order to start your voting journey.
Candidate UI
Candidate UI
The candidate home page contains an overview of voter analytics, announcements, events, and important dates to keep in mind. There is also an account personalization option with features including updating profile information, privacy, and adding collaborators.
The candidate home page contains an overview of voter analytics, announcements, events, and important dates to keep in mind. There is also an account personalization option with features including updating profile information, privacy, and adding collaborators.
Creating Announcements and Livestreams
Creating Announcements and Livestreams
Candidates are able to create announcements, events, and livestreams that bolster voter engagement!
Candidates are able to create announcements, events, and livestreams that bolster voter engagement!
Access to Voter Data Analytics
Access to Voter Data Analytics
Candidates have access to exportable and sharable voter data analytics such as engagement, demographics, and political stances that they can streamline their campaigns to.
Candidates have access to exportable and sharable voter data analytics such as engagement, demographics, and political stances that they can streamline their campaigns to.
Candidates also have the option to edit how they view analytics charts that best suit their needs.
Candidates also have the option to edit how they view analytics charts that best suit their needs.
Reflections & Goals
Reflections & Goals
From our affinity mapping and user persona development, we gathered the following pain points to resolve for our
website redesign:
From our affinity mapping and user persona development, we gathered the following pain points to resolve for our
website redesign:
What I Learned
🌱I was able to expand upon my learnings from VoteGo through the Equiballot project as I got to work with real clientele on a long-term project!
🌱My writing and oral skills in articulating user research findings improved with final report developments.
🌱Learning more about using branding and graphic design principles for UI design with the creation of the moodboard and style guidelines.
🌱I learned more about developing data analytics and news-based interfaces in ideation and design phases!
🌱I was able to expand upon my learnings from VoteGo through the Equiballot project as I got to work with real clientele on a long-term project!
🌱My writing and oral skills in articulating user research findings improved with final report developments.
🌱Learning more about using branding and graphic design principles for UI design with the creation of the moodboard and style guidelines.
🌱I learned more about developing data analytics and news-based interfaces in ideation and design phases!
Goals for the Future
✨Adding more button variants and pages with account personalization features!
✨Having a second round of usability testing in which participants try out the finalized prototype and give additional feedback to the Equiballot staff.
✨Working with developers in future projects to get a better sense of what it is like to work in UI and UX design in a professional space.
✨Adding more button variants and pages with account personalization features!
✨Having a second round of usability testing in which participants try out the finalized prototype and give additional feedback to the Equiballot staff.
✨Working with developers in future projects to get a better sense of what it is like to work in UI and UX design in a professional space.
