YAHALOM FOUNDATION
2023
Mobile
January ‘23 - July 23’
Research, Problem statement, Ideation, Wireframes, Usability testing, and Visual branding.
Project Overview
Yahalom is a special forces unit within the IDF specializing in combat engineering. I volunteered at the Yahalom Foundation to help create a mobile app.
I was privileged to contribute to the Yahalom Foundation mobile app project as part of a collaborative team of three volunteer product designers. We aimed to create an engaging user experience, attract more volunteers and donors, and connect soldiers and bereaved families on a mobile device. Our commitment to this volunteer project was driven by a shared passion for making a positive impact through design.
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Target Audience
Past soldiers: Individuals recently discharged from the Yahalom unit want to feel part of the Yahalom community.
Bereaved Families: Families who lost loved ones during Yahalom service are looking for a supportive community.
User Research
To understand the unique needs of soldiers from Yahalom and bereaved families, we conducted a comprehensive survey involving 179 respondents. Insights from the survey guided our approach, ensuring the app resonated with this specialized audience.
Survey Highlights
- 82% of survey respondents are graduates of the Yahalom unit. Consequently, adjustments in content and design are necessary to cater to this specific target audience.
- Approximately 27% of respondents claim they are unsure how to join. Consequently, there is a need to provide references and explanations regarding the various ways to join.
- Of the respondents to the survey, 19% expressed interest in participating in the association. However, they highlighted a lack of attractive, engaging, and meaningful opportunities for involvement.
- 38% of respondents are unaware of the association and its activities, indicating a need to raise awareness among current and discharged soldiers from the unit.
Ideation
We incorporated survey insights into the ideation process, ensuring that design concepts aligned with soldiers' preferences and motivations for mobile usage.
- Access to information is conspicuously lacking, and there is a desire to know about the association& activities.
- There is a need for transparency regarding what the association does, what the donation is, where the money that it contributes is, and how. There is a need to create connection and community.
- It is very important to create awareness and make the association accessible to the main target audience, which is the unit graduates, and discharged soldiers.
Low Fidelity wireframes
We created low-fidelity wireframes tailored to address the specific needs of soldiers and bereaved families, emphasizing clear calls to action for various mobile engagement opportunities. These wireframes enabled us to distinctly outline the fundamental features and primary user journey of the app.
Key Features
We created low-fidelity wireframes tailored to address the specific needs of soldiers and bereaved families, emphasizing clear calls to action for various mobile engagement opportunities. These wireframes enabled us to distinctly outline the fundamental features and primary user journey of the app.
- The users should be able to create an Association Member Account.
- The users should share memories and honor fallen soldiers.
- The users should monitor their personal activities and those offered by the association, providing a comprehensive history of their actions within the app.
- The users could get notifications and information about upcoming events organized or endorsed by the association.
Visual Design
The design language reflected Yahalom unit and included elements that resonate with soldiers and bereaved families, creating a visually appealing and emotionally engaging mobile interface.
Colors & Fonts
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Some things just aren’t meant to be
Although we got close to building an initial beta version of the application, work, life, time constraints, and priorities got in the way, and I had to abandon the project. It was great fun working on it, though, and I learned a lot in the process.
As designers, we are committed to leveraging design for social impact. While my direct involvement in the project concluded, it has been an enriching experience of collaboration, design innovation, and a shared commitment to creating positive change.
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