During DevPost’s Hacktivism event, our team tackled a growing issue: voter disengagement and the spread of misinformation. We created VIEW, a centralized platform designed to empower voters with accurate, accessible information to confidently participate in elections. Over two weeks, our team worked across time zones to deliver this innovative solution that addresses the unique challenges voters face today.
Problem
Voters often encounter significant barriers when searching for trustworthy election information. With scattered and biased sources, many individuals struggle to find the reliable insights they need to make informed decisions. The challenge was to design an engaging, user-friendly platform that would offer localized, relevant, and unbiased information to diverse voter groups.
Solution
We developed VIEW as a solution, focusing on delivering clear, reliable voter information through intuitive navigation and AI-powered search. The platform aimed to engage different voter personas—including first-time voters, disengaged voters, and informed voters—by providing personalized, localized data. Our solution was grounded in comprehensive user research, including surveys, interviews, and competitive analysis.
Key features of VIEW included:
- AI-powered search functionality for personalized information.
- Streamlined navigation with a clear taxonomy and content hierarchy.
- Voter guides tailored to different user personas for better engagement.
Results
Platform usability:
- Significantly improved ease of navigation with user-friendly interface design.
Task completion:
- 25-50% reduction in task completion time due to optimized information architecture and AI-powered features.
Engagement:
- 100% satisfaction rating from our testing participants, particularly among first-time and disengaged voters.
Team
The team collaborated effectively across time zones using asynchronous workflows and tools like Figma, Slack, and Miro, ensuring that we stayed aligned and delivered the project on time.
Sajal Gandhi
UX Designer
Patrick Lesage
Product Manager
Negar Kolahi
UX Designer
My Role
As the Product Manager, I led the team through all phases of the project, from initial discovery to final delivery. I facilitated workshops, prioritized features, and ensured that the design adhered to user needs and the project’s objectives. I also played a key role in creating the product roadmap, aligning our development sprints with the team’s capabilities, and maintaining clear communication across roles.
Process
Discovery & Research:
We began by conducting user research to understand voter pain points, surveying potential users and conducting interviews. Research showed that 89% of respondents felt overwhelmed by election information, underscoring the need for a clear, easy-to-use platform.
Key personas were developed, representing first-time voters, disengaged voters, and informed voters. These personas guided the design process, ensuring that we catered to a wide range of needs.
Ideation & Prototyping:
Using insights from our research, we organized workshops to determine the core features of VIEW. We used a Business Model Canvas and SWOT analysis to refine the platform’s objectives, focusing on features that would drive the most user impact.
We quickly produced wireframes and prototypes in Figma, allowing for early testing and feedback.
Development & Testing:
Our team created a functional prototype and validated it through usability testing. The AI-powered search feature was one of the key innovations, allowing users to easily access relevant information tailored to their location. The sitemap and content structure were continuously improved based on feedback to enhance usability.
Throughout the process, we maintained user-centered design principles, ensuring that our solution addressed the key barriers to voter engagement.
Delivery:
We submitted our final product, complete with wireframes, a product requirements document, business model canvas, and a roadmap.
The project was recognized at DevPost’s Hacktivism event, securing second place.
User task: Compare candidates
User task: Find a polling station
Conclusion
VIEW was a successful hackathon project that demonstrated the power of user-centered design to solve real-world problems. Through extensive research and collaboration, we developed a voter engagement platform that simplifies access to trustworthy election information.
This project showcased my ability to lead cross-functional teams, prioritize user needs, and deliver impactful solutions on tight timelines.
