About Linkmate
Linkmate is a not for profit that connects members (people seeking help) with mates (trained peers) who want to help them. The Linkmate platform aims to create prevention methods for mental health issues before they become extreme through: peer support, active-empathetic listening, and social prescribing.
Project Overview
To further find ways to improve and simplify the Linkmate app design prior to the launch of the app.
Responsibilities
- Implemented the design proposed during the bootcamp project introducing improvements
- Ongoing usability testing for the beta version of the app
- Sales imagery for use on the apple store
- Recurring notifications for the app using firebase improving engagement
- Introduced the team to using atomic design principles for our components improving team collaboration
Design system development
I Implemented a design system and a handoff procedure for Linkmate and led the user testing of the Linkmate app. I collaborated with one other designer, an engineer/cofounder and the founder of Linkmate. I was really interested in design systems and noticed an opportunity for Linkmate to build one as they were just getting started it was good to get a reasonable one in place. I was curious about design systems because o understood the concept having come from working with design libraries in building design and as a 3d Dsigner I understood the importance of building on top of your progress and not recreating work with only small variations. I produced a design system for storing linkmate specific components and elements created in a way that makes the elements easily interchangeable by component, type, size, and colour. I was learning advanced Figma techniques and the process to develop an effective design system through the Figma masterclass course created by the designership.I took initiative and proposed creating a design system and handoff for Linkmate to improve communication between the team.
Redesign and Development
Learnings
This was my first project where the end to end product design structure was held to budget and time constraints. It was also my first time in a product design role working alongside developers. My initial fears were how I was to apply design thinking non linearly. I overcame this by applying my understanding where I saw it to logically fit inside the design process.
I Initially dabbled with an application called Mockplus to plan hand offs as it was my first time creating one within a real project I realised this program didn’t really save me any additional time and changed my method to using Figma for handing off projects at linkmate.
Next Steps
Design sprint (Connected callers) During user testing of participants, there was mention of a situation faced by helplines where people dealing with mental health issues can call up and make up stories or personalities so they feel heard and have someone to talk to they’re called connected callers and unfortunately, this can cause disruption to the time of helpline workers there to support those in need. There is a potential opportunity for Linkmate to research around connected callers and ideate a solution for this issue within the link-mate platform.