Volly

A volunteer app that connect people to create community impact with a unique chance for local businesses to sponsor volunteer events.

Problem

How might we connect local individuals to volunteer in their communities and make it fun and exciting?

People are increasingly isolated, and communities often lack the support they need. Volunteer opportunities are scattered and not easily accessible. Local businesses struggle to connect with their communities effectively. We need a solution that brings people together, makes volunteering accessible, and empowers local businesses to engage meaningfully with their neighborhoods.

Solution

Provide networking and sponcership features.

We created "Volli," the volunteer app that connects users, fosters friendships, and links local stores for impactful sponsorship opportunities. WithVolli, users can seamlessly discover volunteer opportunities that align with their passions and interests, all while building lasting relationships with like-minded individuals.

Process

Research

User Interview

Affinity Mapping

Persona

Journey Map

Design

Usability Testing

Our initial problem statement was validated by our research, suggesting that volunteers would appreciate being rewarded, and they prefer local events over travel. The changes made between the mid-fi and hi-fi prototypes were successful over the two rounds of usability testing. For the next steps, we will continue to conduct more rounds of user research to understand what local business owners and volunteer organizations need from our platform.

User Research

Volunteering is fun, but what is missing?

Without an established presence for this app, we weren't able to recruit existing Volli customers, so reached out to 5 volunteers to gain insights on their needs, motivations and frustrations to help shape the app solution. We crafted from data synthesized directly from user interviews. Then we created our persona. She represents our quintessential user whose problems and challenges.

Social Volunteering

Volunteers often seek opportunities to connect with others and build relationships while engaging in their work. This social aspect of volunteering can be just as important as the actual work being done, as it allows volunteers to feel a sense of belonging and community.

Local Engagement

Volunteers prefer to participate in local events rather than traveling far from home. This is often due to the convenience and familiarity of working within their community. Additionally, volunteers prefer to review transparent feedback to make informed decisions.

Feedback & Motivition

Recognition and gratitude is a powerful motivator for good deeds as it gives people a sense of purpose and inspires them to continue. Tangible rewards can also be a way to show appreciation for volunteers, but they are not always necessary for people to feel valued.

Competitive Analysis

We aim to develop a unique product that enables individuals like Mari to easily connect with others who share a passion for community volunteering. This product will feature a dual review system for both volunteers and organizations. It will include sharing features to foster community building and engagement among users.

Design Studio

Transfer insights to actionable features

We launched our design studio to collaboratively brainstorm and prioritize features. In structured 20-minute sessions, we sketched ideas, presented them, and received feedback. We then combined the best elements into a unified wireframe.

User Flow

We then created a user flow to visually represent the steps a user takes to complete a task with Volly, ensuring a logical progression and a seamless, intuitive experience.

Outcome

The project successfully implemented user-centric pages, including social networking, event planning, event reviews, business sponsorship opportunities, and personal appreciation pages.

This innovative concept enhanced the efficiency and creativity of the local volunteering program and received positive feedback from the project team.