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Guardian Inc.
Guardian Inc.
Uplifting underserved communities in developing countries through design, technology, and education.
Uplifting underserved communities in developing countries through design, technology, and education.
Role
Product Manager
Brand Designer
Skills
Product Management
Design Strategy
UX/UI Design
UX Research
Branding
Timeline
October 2024 — January 2025
Oct 2024 — Jan 2025
Team
UX/UI Design + Research:
Teri Shim, Devin Hayden,
Lauryn Kinsella
Research Advisory:
Ariel Han, Shalaka Gole
Who?
Who?
Guardian Inc.'s mission is to provide underserved communities in developing countries with affordable and high-quality educational technology.
Guardian Inc.'s mission is to provide underserved communities in developing countries with affordable and high-quality educational technology.
Fat Challenge
Challenge
Challenge
When there is no internet and limited resources…
When there is no internet and limited resources…
When there is no internet and limited resources…
Underdeveloped countries such as South Sudan, Tanzania, Malawi, etc. have lower quality education due to lack of relevant resources, limited to no access to internet, and underqualified teachers.
Underdeveloped countries such as South Sudan, Tanzania, Malawi, etc. have lower quality education due to lack of relevant resources, limited to no access to internet, and underqualified teachers.
The Product
The Product
NEST
NEST
An intranet router that broadcasts a local network to multiple devices in a school or library that has built-in resources and an AI tutor that helps students and teachers understand resources depending on each individuals' educational level.
An intranet router that broadcasts a local network to multiple devices in a school or library that has built-in resources and an AI tutor that helps students and teachers understand resources depending on each individuals' educational level.
Goal
Goal
My mission was to oversee all design operations. Branding to establish a professional image suitable for a B2B technology business, and UX design and research to ensure student and teacher usability.
My mission was to oversee all design operations. Branding to establish a professional image suitable for a B2B technology business, and UX design and research to ensure student and teacher usability.
UX/UI Design Pilot Ver. 01
UX/UI Design Pilot Ver. 01
Competitive Audits
Competitive Audits
Other products have tried to accomplish this mission but failed, and the ones that have succeeded relied on the internet. So we chose to analyze the both sides—the successful online products and the failed offline products.
Other products have tried to accomplish this mission but failed, and the ones that have succeeded relied on the internet. So we chose to analyze the both sides—the successful online products and the failed offline products.
Existing offline products slapped links as resources with no consideration of how the product would be integrated into classrooms.
Existing offline products slapped links as resources with no consideration of how the product would be integrated into classrooms.
Initial Brainstorm
Initial Brainstorm
<Diverge
>Converge
<Diverge
>Converge
<Diverge
>Converge
4 designers dumped our brains out to see anything and everything we could possibly incorporate into the IDEAL experience. Then, looking at current circumstances such as time frame and user research limitations, we decided on core features and pages to design.
4 designers dumped our brains out to see anything and everything we could possibly incorporate into the IDEAL experience. Then, looking at current circumstances such as time frame and user research limitations, we decided on core features and pages to design.
Iterating
Iterating
Talking to engineering every day.
Talking to engineering every day.
Talking to engineering every day.
As product manager, I ensured that the design team and engineering teams were aligned at all times by allowing designers to directly collaborate with engineers. This led us to have a new iteration every week.
As product manager, I ensured that the design team and engineering teams were aligned at all times by allowing designers to directly collaborate with engineers. This led us to have a new iteration every week.
For users who are still learning to type, we ensured that each feature had an intuitive purpose. "Good-to-haves" could even confuse users.
For users who are still learning to type, we ensured that each feature had an intuitive purpose. "Good-to-haves" could even confuse users.
Version 1 - Prototype
Version 1 - Prototype
Due to heavy time constraints, Version 01 (pilot) had to be pushed out very quickly, which meant rushing design so the engineering team could hit the ship out deadline.
Due to heavy time constraints, Version 01 (pilot) had to be pushed out very quickly, which meant rushing design so the engineering team could hit the ship out deadline.
UX Research
UX Research
South Sudan
South Sudan
Working with EduPower Youth Foundation and LetAllGirls to conduct usability research.
Working with EduPower Youth Foundation and LetAllGirls to conduct usability research.
Meaningful Conversation - Qualitative Data
Meaningful Conversation - Qualitative Data
We were fortunate enough to get on call with a 12th-grade student who attends one of the schools we were working with, and we chatted with him to understand his hopes and challenges. This helped us gain a little bit of insight into their cultural context and perspective.
We were fortunate enough to get on call with a 12th-grade student who attends one of the schools we were working with, and we chatted with him to understand his hopes and challenges. This helped us gain a little bit of insight into their cultural context and perspective.
"computer lab" with no computers and no internet…
"computer lab" with no computers and no internet…
This meant having to borrow the teacher's phone if they were curious about anything.
This meant having to borrow the teacher's phone if they were curious about anything.
User research
(Est. to begin March 2025)
User research
(Est. to begin March 2025)
At first, we wanted to give students and teachers surveys, but given the language barrier and intrusiveness, we switched to interview format. EduYouth Power Foundation would be able to record them on-the-ground.
This would allow us to increase the sample size and understand people's relationship with education and their actual challenges other than just "oh we don't have internet".
At first, we wanted to give students and teachers surveys, but given the language barrier and intrusiveness, we switched to interview format. EduYouth Power Foundation would be able to record them on-the-ground.
This would allow us to increase the sample size and understand people's relationship with education and their actual challenges other than just "oh we don't have internet".
Usability testing
(Est. to begin March 2025)
Usability testing
(Est. to begin March 2025)
Accomplish a familiar task with a new tool.
Accomplish a familiar task with a new tool.
The library will have a Nest set up. Students will be able to participate by trying to complete their homework with the assistance of the new tool. A researcher will not moderate tasks but will be able to ask the user questions as they navigate.
The library will have a Nest set up. Students will be able to participate by trying to complete their homework with the assistance of the new tool. A researcher will not moderate tasks but will be able to ask the user questions as they navigate.
3D Mockups
3D Mockups
For rocket pitching and recruitment, we created a 3D concept render as a visual value proposition.
For rocket pitching and recruitment, we created a 3D concept render as a visual value proposition.
Brand Guidelines
Brand Guidelines
Scaling fast, we needed an identity.
Scaling fast, we needed an identity.
We needed a website, presentation decks, social media, and more as our funding and attention increased dramatically. How would multiple designers keep consistency?
We needed a website, presentation decks, social media, and more as our funding and attention increased dramatically. How would multiple designers keep consistency?
Logo Design
Logo Design
We consulted multiple designers, random people, and the co-founder to design the logo. The head symbolized our people-driven approach, and the leaves symbolized blossoming, fostering, and growth.
We consulted multiple designers, random people, and the co-founder to design the logo. The head symbolized our people-driven approach, and the leaves symbolized blossoming, fostering, and growth.
Brand Guidelines - Sample Pages
Brand Guidelines - Sample Pages
We worked to establish a brand identity that was both friendly, tech-y, and professional.
We worked to establish a brand identity that was both friendly, tech-y, and professional.
What I learned
What I learned
Depending on the business circumstances, not having great initial user research does not mean UX design can be halted. Pushing out a prototype quickly and then rapidly iterating is a viable track to pursue as well.
Depending on the business circumstances, not having great initial user research does not mean UX design can be halted. Pushing out a prototype quickly and then rapidly iterating is a viable track to pursue as well.
Being the primary point of communication between engineering and design teams means frequent meetings with both sides and allowing designers and engineers to directly work together.
Being the primary point of communication between engineering and design teams means frequent meetings with both sides and allowing designers and engineers to directly work together.
Design files must be organized in a way that is easily understandable for anyone: business and engineering need to be able to access such resources quickly.
Design files must be organized in a way that is easily understandable for anyone: business and engineering need to be able to access such resources quickly.
Being flexible as a manager/designer is key; constant and clear communication is a must-have to understand the product's context, stakeholders' needs, and project timelines.
Being flexible as a manager/designer is key; constant and clear communication is a must-have to understand the product's context, stakeholders' needs, and project timelines.