^{My Role           The Team           Project Timeline           My Key Contributions}

    Research          Individual             Sep - Dec. 2017                Project Management
    UX Design                                                                                   User Research
    UI Design                                                                                    Define Problem & User Needs
                                                                                                          User Flow & Wireframe
                                                                                                          Prototyping
                                                                                                          Interaction Design
                                                                                                          UI Design
   

Find New
Job
Opportunities

There’s a way to think differently about panhandling
and lift people up through the dignity of work. Better
way offers new job opportunities and helps restore
hope to those who need it most.

02-01
The Opportunity

Insights

Employment opportunities do exist for those with criminal records.
Fair-chance employers actively seek people to fill jobs, giving
those individuals a second chance.

Insight # 1
Resource Limitation


Some homeless people do not have mobile
phones and internet, and they are restricted
from accessing the library. Even people with
mobile phones, there is a shortage
of information and social knowledge.

Solution: Connect the homeless with
companiess that do offer second chance
jobs for people with criminal records. And
check the status of work information through
the block sharing kiosk. 

Insight # 2
Lack of Application
Process

They are not confident and do not a guide
for navigating each step of the job application process. They don’t know how to write a
resume, coverletter, etc.

Solution: Broken down the process to the
basics, and here to present them with an
action plan on how to apply for a job and
— hopefully get an offer!
 

Insight # 3
Job Scam

People who are unfamiliar with job scams
are most likely to lose time and effort to them.
It can be hard to tell the difference between a
scam and a genuine offer.

Find real job resources nearby the user and
connect with users.

02-02
How Would
It Work?

Solution


BETTER WAY will connect homeless and formerly incarcerated
individuals with existing jobs and resources. Our pilot proposed
a partnership with the website 70 Million jobs and the LinkNYC
kiosk network. The platform aims to support the job application
process with an accessible, friendly and simple to use interface
that helps restore hope and opportunities to those who need it most.

I began sketching LinkNYC user journey and Better Way
platform screens. After a couple of design rounds, I began to
test the prototype and interview homeless on the street. I found
out some issues need to be solved.

02 - 03
User Testing

Tring It Out In the Real World

When I really took the prototype to the street and tested it
for homeless people, I found that their habits and environment
deviated from what I knew. For example, homeless people have
different education, it takes more time to spell and type personal
information. So I want to create a video resume and intrdouce
themselves to solve typing problems.

But I ignored the fact that recording video might also increase
the time cost. It is impossible to complete the whole process in
lesss than 15 mins.

LinkNYC across the fice boroughs in New York City. I want to give users the maximum freedom to choose where they want to work. But after the street interview and prototype, I found that the living are of the homeless has a fixed range. They are more likely to look work within their comfort zone.

All the job opportunities are nearby them. Every LinkNYC will show the latest and newest job opportunities.

I just thought about the typing and speed of the user. I didn’t take into account their ability to read words. The entire platform uses graphics and words to represent all jobs and presentation.

Words and images describle work and display work environments to give users quick access to information.

The original idea is to help users looking for a full-time, stable job, to stipend for the situation.

In a later interview, it was discovered that a small number of people who slept on the street had jobs. But they needed extra short-term work for themsleves or their families to survive.

Some employers also said that sometimes it is true that employees resign and the employers need to find new employees immediately.