The Commonwealth
The Commonwealth
Empowering the citizens of developing countries to build smart villages
Empowering the citizens of developing countries to build smart villages
My Work:
My Work:
Qualitative Interviews,
UX + Interaction Design,
Advanced Prototyping,
Usability Testing
Qualitative Interviews,
UX + Interaction Design,
Advanced Prototyping,
Usability Testing
Stakeholders:
Stakeholders:
3 Product Managers,
1 Data Scientist,
Smart Village Movement,
Humans.ai (ML partners)
3 Product Managers,
1 Data Scientist,
Smart Village Movement,
Humans.ai (ML partners)
Duration:
Duration:
February - May 2024
February - May 2024
Tools:
Tools:
Figma, Miro
Figma, Miro
Process:
Process:
Research
6 user interviews
White paper research
Research
Competitive analysis,
Persona construction
Strategize
Project roadmap, Feature prioritization
Strategize
Project roadmap,
Feature prioritization
Ideate
Sketches,
Low fidelity wire-framing
Ideate
Sketches,
Low fidelity wire-framing
Feedback
4 moderated user tests,
XFN feedback sessions
Feedback
4 moderated user tests,
XFN feedback sessions
Outcomes
Success metrics,
Project learnings
Outcomes
Success metrics,
Project learnings
*All high-fidelity screens and process details shown on this page were slices of the project I personally was a part of/did. The project shown is framed from my perspective of work - other product aspects & processes exist.*
PROBLEM
PROBLEM
Resource bottlenecks are hindering development plans for rural communities within The Commonwealth.
Resource bottlenecks are hindering development plans for rural communities within The Commonwealth.
The Smart Village Movement (SVM) is an initiative in which trained educators travel into villages to provide its citizens with developmental aid in the verticals of healthcare, household, livelihood, and education.
The Smart Village Movement (SVM) is an initiative in which trained educators travel into villages to provide its citizens with developmental aid in the verticals of healthcare, household, livelihood, and education.
SVM is trying to be implemented across all small states in The Commonwealth, however their current model faces high operational costs and logistical complexities, thus deterring scalability.
SVM is trying to be implemented across all small states in The Commonwealth, however their current model faces high operational costs and logistical complexities, thus deterring scalability.
Constraints:
Constraints:
Limited recruiting resources
Limited recruiting resources
A stringent budget and bureaucratic red tape made recruiting target users almost impossible.
A stringent budget and bureaucratic red tape made recruiting target users almost impossible.
Sole UX team member
Sole UX team member
Because I was the sole UX member on the team, I had to lead research, design, and even some product strategy efforts.
Because I was the sole UX member on the team, I had to lead research, design, and even some product strategy efforts.
LLM still in development
LLM still in development
Emphasis was placed on the dev team to prioritize training the chatbot's underlying LLM.
Emphasis was placed on the dev team to prioritize training the chatbot's underlying LLM.
Goals:
Goals:
Teach smart village practices
Teach smart village practices
A long term vision is that villages can have self-sustained growth; teaching smart village principles is key to achieve this.
A long term vision is that villages can have self-sustained growth; teaching smart village principles is key to achieve this.
Reduce operational costs
Reduce operational costs
The platform would be geared towards reducing the extensive labor and funds associated with current practices.
The platform would be geared towards reducing the extensive labor and funds associated with current practices.
Create a villager-first experience
Create a villager-first experience
We want a high platform adoption rate in villages, so creating a villager-first experience is vital.
We want a high platform adoption rate in villages, so creating a villager-first experience is vital.
SOLUTION
SOLUTION
Solora is an AI chatbot fitted to the villager experience, helping them upskill and achieve upward financial mobility.
Solora is an AI chatbot fitted to the villager experience, helping them upskill and achieve upward financial mobility.
Speech driven interaction modality
Speech driven interaction modality
Painpoint: Low literacy rates in villages serve as a barrier to use most text-first chatbot interfaces.
Painpoint: Low literacy rates in villages serve as a barrier to use most text-first chatbot interfaces.
Solution: Speech input is emphasized and modalities are simplified for improved clarity. Users can engage in natural conversation with Solora as it responds back in text and voice.
Solution: Speech input is emphasized and modalities are simplified for improved clarity. Users can engage in natural conversation with Solora as it responds back in text and voice.
Anthropomorphized chat interface
Anthropomorphized chat interface
Painpoint: Narrow technology familiarity in village settings can lead to a lack of trust in new tools and innovations.
Painpoint: Narrow technology familiarity in village settings can lead to a lack of trust in new tools and innovations.
Solution: Solora is a friendly, smiling face that invites villagers into the LLM experience. Solora makes the platform feel more approachable and creates an emotional connection that reassures and comforts villagers.
Solution: Solora is a friendly, smiling face that invites villagers into the LLM experience. Solora makes the platform feel more approachable and creates an emotional connection that reassures and comforts villagers.
User context learned during onboarding
User context learned during onboarding
Painpoint: Early chat interactions can be daunting for new LLM users when responses don’t account for personal background.
Painpoint: Early chat interactions can be daunting for new LLM users when responses don’t account for personal background.
Solution: A succinct, simple onboarding learns basic user demographics such to better communicate initial responses. Users can seamlessly begin conversing and learning from Solora.
Solution: A succinct, simple onboarding learns basic user demographics such to better communicate initial responses. Users can seamlessly begin conversing and learning from Solora.
RESEARCH
Low digital literacy in villages requires innovative technology to be designed for simplicity and familiarity.
Low digital literacy in villages requires innovative technology to be designed for simplicity and familiarity.
To start the research phase, I reviewed Smart Village Movement literature and HCI studies to understand the impact of technology on rural communities and effective design for those with low digital literacy.
To start the research phase, I reviewed Smart Village Movement literature and HCI studies to understand the impact of technology on rural communities and effective design for those with low digital literacy.
I also conducted six qualitative interviews with Smart Village workers and individuals familiar with village life to understand villagers' technological adoption and general village life pain points.
I also conducted six qualitative interviews with Smart Village workers and individuals familiar with village life to understand villagers' technological adoption and general village life pain points.
Key insights:
Literacy barriers stall new tech. adoption
Literacy barriers stall new tech. adoption
“If there is a new technology tool that requires a lot of mental effort, people from my village are a lot less likely to go down that route”
“If there is a new technology tool that requires a lot of mental effort, people from my village are a lot less likely to go down that route”
Speech based interfaces can bridge gaps in literacy
Speech based interfaces can bridge gaps in literacy
“Speaking comes naturally to people and thus studies have leveraged the use of local language in speech interfaces”
“Speaking comes naturally to people and thus studies have leveraged the use of local language in speech interfaces”
Narrow tech. familiarity amongst older villagers
Narrow tech. familiarity amongst older villagers
“Older people would use phones almost only for communication purposes...Whatsapp is heavily relied on for both personal and work contexts”
“Older people would use phones almost only for communication purposes...Whatsapp is heavily relied on for both personal and work contexts”
Dig deeper into methods:
Qualitative research
Qualitative research
White paper research
White paper research
STRATEGIZE
STRATEGIZE
Concentrating the project scope to support people in their financial goals
Concentrating the project scope to support people in their financial goals
Working closely with my PM’s and engineers, we decided to adjust our project strategy based on our constraints and timeline - narrowing down the scope of the A.I. capabilities to first focus on helping villagers in the vertical of financial livelihood.
Working closely with my PM’s and engineers, we decided to adjust our project strategy based on our constraints and timeline - narrowing down the scope of the A.I. capabilities to first focus on helping villagers in the vertical of financial livelihood.
The platform would also be technically reductionist and focus solely on Question-Answer exchange as to allow engineering to focus on properly training the A.I. model and me to focus on designing a villager-centric chatbot experience.
The platform would also be technically reductionist and focus solely on Question-Answer exchange as to allow engineering to focus on properly training the A.I. model and me to focus on designing a villager-centric chatbot experience.
IDEATE
IDEATE
How might we craft an A.I. chatbot experience adapted to the villager perspective?
How might we craft an A.I. chatbot experience adapted to the villager perspective?
Here’s a truncated run-down of one of the many important design decisions I made and a taste of what my process was like for this platform feature:
Here’s a truncated run-down of one of the many important design decisions I made and a taste of what my process was like for this platform feature:
Crafting a broad-access interaction driver
Crafting a broad-access interaction driver
Research insight
Speech based interfaces can bridge gaps in literacy
Research insight
Speech based interfaces can bridge gaps in literacy
Business goal
Create a villager-first experience
Business goal
Create a villager-first experience
Simplistic controls
Simplistic controls
Direct channel to LLM
Direct channel to LLM
Can’t revise query
Can’t revise query
Hold-to-speak is an advanced interaction
Hold-to-speak is an advanced interaction
Input being made is unclear
Concept 1: Traditional voice assistant
Concept 1: Traditional voice assistant
Simplistic controls
More control to user pre-querying
Input being made is clear
Have to listen entire recording to review
Query not editable
Concept 2: Controls to review
Concept 2: Controls to review
Simplistic controls
More control to user pre-querying
Input being made is clear
Editable query
Text can be intimidating
Concept 3: Speech to text hybrid
Concept 3: Speech to text hybrid
FEEDBACK
FEEDBACK
4 user tests and cross-functional feedback
4 user tests and cross-functional feedback
After conducting 4 moderated usability tests and getting feedback from product and engineering team members, I made a series of adjustments to the designs. Out of the several iterations that I made, here’s a high-level overview of one:
After conducting 4 moderated usability tests and getting feedback from product and engineering team members, I made a series of adjustments to the designs. Out of the several iterations that I made, here’s a high-level overview of one:
Iteration 1
Iteration 1
1
PMs: Recording-in-action state doesn't feel differentiated enough
PMs: Recording-in-action state doesn't feel differentiated enough
2
3/4 Users: Icon actions seem a bit ambiguous
3/4 Users: Icon actions seem a bit ambiguous
3
2/4 Users: Buttons don't feel unified
2/4 Users: Buttons don't feel unified
Final Iteration
Final Iteration
1
Recording-in-action state more pronounced & with animation
Recording-in-action state more pronounced & with animation
2
Icons have associated text to provide context for their action
Icons have associated text to provide context for their action
3
Buttons grouped together
Buttons grouped together
Dig deeper into method:
Moderated usability test
Moderated usability test
OUTCOMES
OUTCOMES
Measuring the success of Solora
Measuring the success of Solora
≈10% potential average increase in villager income within first two years
≈10% potential average increase in villager income within first two years
Resolved all major business goals
Resolved all major business goals
Amazing executive stakeholder feedback
Amazing executive stakeholder feedback
Addressed found user pain-points & needs
Addressed found user pain-points & needs
Working on Solora was a rollercoaster of challenges, from engineering setbacks to persistent scope creep, but it brought out our team’s adaptability and resilience.
Working on Solora was a rollercoaster of challenges, from engineering setbacks to persistent scope creep, but it brought out our team’s adaptability and resilience.
With a project this ambitious in innovation, and budget and resource constraints ever-present, the actual development of Solora may take longer than anticipated.
With a project this ambitious in innovation, and budget and resource constraints ever-present, the actual development of Solora may take longer than anticipated.
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
Learnings from this amazing oppurtunity
Learnings from this amazing oppurtunity
Empathizing with some users requires strong cultural sensitivity
Empathizing with some users requires strong cultural sensitivity
Designing an A.I. experience for rural villagers worldwide pushed me to expand my design thinking beyond the familiar, turning my lack of experience in these contexts into an opportunity to grow my empathy limits and create something truly impactful.
Designing an A.I. experience for rural villagers worldwide pushed me to expand my design thinking beyond the familiar, turning my lack of experience in these contexts into an opportunity to grow my empathy limits and create something truly impactful.
Working on innovative projects will entail many pivoted directions
Working on innovative projects will entail many pivoted directions
While at first the unexpected shifts in project strategy were quite disorientating, I soon realized the beauty of working on innovative projects is in the surprises - the twists and turns challenged me think creatively and adapt on the fly.
While at first the unexpected shifts in project strategy were quite disorientating, I soon realized the beauty of working on innovative projects is in the surprises - the twists and turns challenged me think creatively and adapt on the fly.
The case study showcased here represents just a small slice of my comprehensive work.
The case study showcased here represents just a small slice of my comprehensive work.
To get more detailed insights into both the breadth and depth of each stage of my design process, reach out and connect with me!
To get more detailed insights into both the breadth and depth of each stage of my design process, reach out and connect with me!
Thank you for reading! ☀️
Thank you for reading! ☀️
Elton
Elton
Upsolve
Upsolve