The YMCA Life Pro App
Conceptual App creation
The YMCA Life Pro App: Empowering Young Adults with Life Skills.
Type: End-to-end app
Role: UX/UI Designer, Research
Industry: Ed Tech, Life Skills
Team: 4 members; (Alastair Mann, Daisy Barie, Elyana Valdes and myself, Nira Bouzgarrou.
Tools: Figma, Zoom, FigJam, Slack.
Duration: Two weeks
DISCOVER
WHY CREATE THE LIFE PRO APP?
The Challenge
Getting to Know Our Competitors
Interview Takeaways
DEFINE
DEVELOP
DESIGN
DISCOVER
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DISCOVER •
WHY CREATE THE LIFE PRO APP?
The YMCA sought to engage and empower young adults by providing them with essential life skills through a user-friendly mobile app.
Our team was tasked with designing an accessible platform that would cater to this demographic, helping them navigate the challenges of independent living, with a focus on financial literacy, time management, and community engagement.
Young adults, especially those transitioning to independent living, often struggle with managing finances, time, and self-care.
The Challenge
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Lack of Financial Literacy
Many young adults lack the financial skills necessary to manage their households effectively.
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Overwhelming Responsibilities
The transition to independent living can be overwhelming, leading to stress and a sense of being lost.
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Need for Community Support
Young adults value peer and mentor support but often lack a structured way to engage with a community.
To ensure our design would truly meet the needs of young adults, we began with a robust research phase that included both qualitative and quantitative methods
Getting to Know Our Competitors
In analyzing the competitive landscape, the focus was on two prominent educational platforms: Study.com and Khan Academy. The goal was to understand how these platforms deliver educational content and the unique features they offer to engage users, particularly young adults seeking to develop life skills.
Study.com and Khan Academy excel in providing structured learning paths with clear progress tracking, helping users stay organized and motivated. Both platforms also offer a wealth of educational content that is easily accessible and designed for a broad audience.
However, both platforms lack the deep personalization and community engagement features that are crucial for young adults navigating the complexities of independent living. While they provide some degree of content recommendation, they do not adapt dynamically to the evolving needs of users or offer the kind of supportive community environment that the target audience desires.
View full competitive analysis
Getting to know our users
In-depth interviews were conducted with 8 participants aged 18-29, all of whom were in significant life transitions, such as moving out of their parents' homes, starting their first full-time jobs, or managing their finances independently for the first time. These interviews were instrumental in uncovering the nuanced challenges that young adults face as they navigate the complexities of independent living.
Affinity Map from user interview notes.-
"Managing my budget is really overwhelming—I'd love a tool that simplifies it."
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"I need reminders to stay on top of my tasks; otherwise, I tend to forget important things."
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"It’s hard to find trustworthy advice online, so having a reliable resource would be a game-changer."
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"Connecting with others who are going through the same challenges would make me feel less alone."
Interview Takeaways
Daily Challenges:
Participants frequently feel overwhelmed by the complexities of managing their finances and balancing their responsibilities. They expressed a strong need for simple, practical tools that could help them navigate these aspects of independent living more effectively.
Financial Planning Needs:
There is a significant demand for personalized financial planning tools that go beyond basic budgeting. Participants want tailored guidance that aligns with their specific financial goals, income, and spending habits, enabling them to make informed decisions with confidence.
Time Management:
Young adults struggle with prioritizing and managing their time effectively. They need flexible scheduling tools that help them stay organized while accommodating the unpredictability of life, offering reminders and goal-setting features to keep them on track.
Community and Support:
A sense of isolation during this transitional phase is common, with participants expressing a desire for stronger social connections. They are looking for a platform where they can connect with peers and mentors, share experiences, and receive support and advice from others who understand their challenges.
Information Overload:
Participants are often overwhelmed by the vast amount of information available online, making it difficult to find reliable, actionable advice. There is a clear need for curated content that provides step-by-step guidance tailored to the specific needs of young adults in transition.