Social Connector
UX, UXR, HCD
Challenge
Using the Human-Centered Design Framework, we were challenged to create an innovative idea to answer the following question:
How Might We Enable More Young People to Become Social Entrepreneurs?
Inspiration
Team Knowledge & Assumptions
Learn from People
We had the opportunity to talk to a young entrepreneur who always had an interest in social entrepreneurship, mainly because she lives in the context of social inequality in the Brazilian Northeast.
We obtained valuable information and received some photos to observe their routine and the impact of her business on the community.
Learn from Experts
Our first conversation was with an entrepreneur who works with the Government to help families and children of different ages.
We also talked to a young professional who works to fight hunger, and we saw how she had to adapt because of Covid-19.
Desk research
Due to the coronavirus restrictions imposed in Brazil, we weren’t able to conduct an immersion experience, so we tried to obtain more knowledge through desk research.
We found an article that provided us with data about young people and social entrepreneurship in Brazil.
61% of young favela residents want to become entrepreneurs
65% of young people would like to have their own business
55% of the young people interviewed said that helping other people to improve their reality is one of their life goals
Synthesis
Insight Statements
There is a need for digital marketing to reach more support from the population, such as donations, credibility, and volunteers.
It's hard to find private companies that provide support for social causes.
Society does not believe that social entrepreneurship can work and does not encourage people who follow its path
How might we?
How Might We
help social entrepreneurs have a wider reach and receive support through digital marketing?
How Might We
help entrepreneurs find support from private companies?
How Might We
encourage the community to be more supportive of social entrepreneurship and believe that it can be profitable?
Ideation
Brainstorm
Gut Check
A Website that compiles all companies and public notices that support social entrepreneurship
How will this idea have an impact on the challenge we are addressing?
We discovered that social entrepreneurs have difficulties finding private companies that support social causes. Our goal is to create a portal to facilitate access to companies and public notices that support social causes, reducing some of the pain of potential young social entrepreneurs.
Storyboard
Maria needed help to get on with her social project, but she was having trouble finding companies to support her financially.
Searching online she found the portal, where there were several companies registered with their public notices and opportunities for her to get support.
After being selected by some companies, she obtained more resources and can help even more people.
Prototype
Maketing landing page
The prototype starts with a marketing landing page. The aim is to be informative in a simplified way and convert more users to the site.
Step-by-step on how to use the portal followed by a call-to-action button.
There is also the option to register to receive notices by email, so users can receive updates on new public notices.
The advantages of using the portal are, making use of icons to make communication more visual.
The carousel displays the most recent notices added to the site allowing the user to preview the content
Home page
The portal's home page presents the open notices. There's also a search option, making it easier for users to find what they want.
The option to register email helps users receive notifications of new public notices by email.
The public notice cards present summarized information about the bidding documents. When clicking on the card the user is directed to the public notice page.
Testing
The prototype was tested remotely with a group of people that fitted the user profile. Mostly receiving good feedback on the idea.
One of the insights generated during the tests was that the experience has to be simple and objective, as well as fully responsive to mobile devices.
Implementation
Short Pitch
One of the biggest struggles of social entrepreneurs is getting financial resources for their projects.
Social Connector will showcase all the opportunities private companies are offering to help social causes in one place. The portal will show the notices according to each segment, allowing enterpreneurs to have access to all of the opportunities.
