Description
My Role
Product Design Intern — User Research, Product Strategy, Visual Design, Visual Design, Wireframing, Interaction Design, Rapid Prototyping, Handoff
Timeline
June ‘24 - August ‘24
Team
1 Designer, 5 Engineers, 1 PM
Tools
Figma, Jira, Confluence, Dovetail
Overview
Description
INTRODUCTION
Vouchers 4 Veggies is a nonprofit based in San Francisco that partners with community-based organizations to provide healthy food vouchers to vulnerable residents. They work towards creating equitable local food systems and making healthy food accessible to more people. With programs in Los Angeles, Boulder, and Cumberland, their model continues to empower underserved communities throughout the nation.
They empower over 20,000 families with nutritious food choices through partnerships with 50+ San Francisco-based food stores.
Vouchers 4 Veggies has been simultaneously tackling food insecurity and bolstering local commerce since 2015.
Civil process describes the law enforcement agency responsibility to serve legal papers and execute legal processes as required to facilitate due process through the judicial system.
RESEARCH TRIP
I had the opportunity to travel to Fresno, CA to conduct on-site research the third week of my internship.
Walkthrough of an existing solution
Users are cautious when their data is collected and question where this information is going
Ride-alongs with an Officer
Witnessed the civil process out in the field, specifically eviction notices
Breakdown of civil processes
Understood the intricacies of the civil process and its varying workflows
THE CHALLENGE
How might we streamline the process of completing civil processes for officers?
WRAPPING UP
Takeaways
Always be ready to switch gears
While it's important to be immersed in the product you're working on, this summer taught me the value of being adaptable. My internship allowed me to work on multiple products, highlighting the importance of quickly shifting focus and prioritizing tasks as needed. I valued the ability to be able to quickly pick up on a different task!
Nothing compares to primary research
Designers are rarely the users of their own products, so it’s important to have that one-on-one time with your users to understand their needs first-hand. I’m super grateful for the opportunity to travel to Fresno for a research trip early on in my internship, as it gave me valuable insights that informed my work across multiple products.
Public safety is not what you see in the movies
Public safety is often dramatized in movies and the media, but the reality is far more complex and nuanced. I had the opportunity to speak with police officers and ask them a wide range of questions about their work. Through these conversations, I learned that their jobs involve much more than what’s typically portrayed on screen.
