Project Focus
By Nina Tran, Alison Nana, Keith Delk, and Harendra Udurawana
Problem Statement
• What?
Many people have experienced using one or more matchmaking apps. These matchmaking apps are also known as geo-social networking (GSN) apps. Unfortunately, existing GSN apps, such as Tinder, Bumble, or Hinge, do not support American Sign Language (ASL) or other signed languages.
As a result, they are not accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) users. Many DHH users do not feel comfortable disclosing their disability in the GSN apps, which leads to feelings of exclusion and frustration.
• Why?
Due to the stigma of being deaf, many deaf users fear rejection when disclosing their disability because GSN apps do not focus on the aspects of communication accessibility, separating users who are DHH from their hearing counterparts. Disability has not been normalized in the GSN apps because of a lack of representation.
Target Audience
Our serviceable obtainable market are Gallaudet University students and faculty who are interested in using a matchmaking app and that communicate in American Sign Language. In the next few weeks, we will conduct semi-structured interviews with 50 participants who meet the following requirements:
• At least 18 years or older
• Uses American Sign Language
• Are interested in using a matchmaking app
Having dating experience is not required for this app because we will collect information from both groups of users who have never used a GSN app before and those who are experienced users. The data from this audience will give us the information we need to design a better user experience.
Solution
SignMates will incorporate design decisions with sign languages and accessibility as native features and value community engagement. It is important for users who are deaf and communicate in sign languages to have a Deaf space in the app.
• Date
SignMates offers autoplaying videos in sign languages and displays user's sign language fluency and communication preferences.
• Hustle
Sign language (SL) users have the opportunity to match with other SL users who share similar interests, which showcase their skills and experience, and offer participation in geolocation networking events.
• Learn
SL users are able to discover various sign language learning courses and learn new sign languages from around the world.
Stakeholders
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Anyone who identifies as deaf or hard of hearing and uses American Sign Language. The perspectives of DHH users will have a major factor in the design decisions of the app because they are the primary audience that is being served.
• Sign Language Learners
The second stakeholder consists of anyone who is learning sign language and wants to meet deaf and hard of hearing people. It is important to include hearing users and allies as part of driving design decisions because SignMates provides opportunities for them to meet DHH and other sign language users.
• Sign Language Professionals
Sign language professionals are people who work with sign languages and want to share knowledge, experience, and skills with other SL professionals. They will benefit as users of SignMates by expanding their networking circle and connecting with other SL professionals.
Goals
• Collect 50+ user interviews
• Complete high-fidelity wireframing
• Raise seed money
• Get an “A+” in Accessible Human Computer Interaction
Concerns
• Low participation of hearing users
• Coding for the development of the app near the end of the design cycle
• Incentives for user research
Ideas
• Compete at BisonTank for seed money to continue development
• Solicit user research participation via personal social media, community groups, and MyGU website.
How to Involve Users
• Survey on core features and pain points
• Prototyping and user research
• Newsletter for periodic updates
How to Communicate Progress
• To communicate with our instructor, we will upload all our progress to Blackboard and an accessible website.
• To communicate with our users, we will ask for their email addresses to add to a newsletter to communicate updates on SignMates' development.
• If the user prefers not to opt in periodic communications, we’ll contact them directly about their participation via email or text message.
How to Understand An User’s Way of Communicating
In our user interviews, we ask about the users’ current behaviors, how they initiate conversations in the app, if they have any communication hurdles, and ask what their ideal solutions are.
How to Communicate the Design to Users
We will use low-fi prototyping with Figma and share the prototypes to observe users' progress through various states. This essential feedback will be used to build high-fidelity wireframes with Figma. This observation process will be repeated using Figma’s mobile app to record the users’ journey for research purposes.
Collaboration Software
SignMates will primarily use Figma and Google products for contextual inquiry, survey design, affinity diagramming, wireframing, high-fidelity prototyping, storyboarding, iteration, and design. We will use Google Forms to design our surveys before we start recruiting participants.
SignMates will meet either on Gallaudet's campus or virtually through Zoom if one of us is unable to attend physically. Discord is used to to communicate daily updates and discuss anything related to the group project.
Scheduling
SignMates plans to meet every other week on Thursdays from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM either in person or via Zoom. As deadlines approach, meetings will be conducted once a week as needed.
Team Creation
Nina Tran
Primary Role: Research Lead/Deputy
• Conduct user research and literature reviews
• Design surveys and participant recruitment methods
• Analyze data and share main findings with the team
• Proofread and check project requirements and documentations
Secondary Role: Design Lead/Documentation
• Assume responsibility and ensure that the project stays on the track if Keith is absent or needs help
• Provide support as much as needed, depending on the complexity of designing the app
Keith Delk
Primary Role: Design Lead/Deputy
• Create designs for proof of concept/Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
• Develop information architecture and user flows
• Work with Nina on user research and evaluation to guide the design decision process
• Primarily responsible for high-fidelity prototyping and final designs
Secondary Role: Project Management Deputy
• Establish and set deadlines for each project milestone
• Communicate with stakeholders on updates and progress
• Identify project challenges and propose solutions
• Monitor a project management tool (Trello or Monday)
Harendra Udurawana
Primary Role: Information Technology/Policy/Ethics/Assistant
• Responsible for information technology
• Accessibility guidelines conformance testing (WCAG)
• Propose developer applications and review policy and ethics
• Assist Nina Tran and Keith Delk
Secondary Role: Design and Research Deputy
• Step in as deputy if Nina and Keith are absent
• Provide support to Nina with research as needed
• Provide support to Keith with design as needed
Alison Nana
Primary Role: Accessibility Assistant
• Assist Harendra with reviewing policy and ethics
• Check whether the app design meets the accessibility guidelines (WCAG 2.1)
• Provide support to the team as needed
Secondary Role: Research Assistant
• Assist Nina with user research and participant recruitment
• Provide support to Keith with design as needed
Community Agreements
• Communicate with Transparency
We will communicate openly and honestly. It is important that we create a safe space that allows everyone to build trust with each other.
• Respect Yourself and Others
We should always honor the feelings and perspectives of ourselves and others. If one of us does not agree with another, it is okay to agree to disagree.
• Be Kind to Yourself and Others
We will try to understand each other's daily obligations and responsibilities and have compassion for each other. We all have one or more jobs, family, and health issues. Communication in free form is essential.
• Struggle Together
We will stay committed to this project throughout the process and beyond because we are in this together and will do our best to support each other.
The bottom line is that we will not expel anyone on the team because it is our responsibility to check in with each other and make sure that everyone’s voices and feelings are heard.