Uncle Joe’s Resource App
ROLE: UX Researcher and Designer
CLIENT: Uncle Joe's Peer Counseling and Resource Center
TIME: Sept. 2021 - May 2022
DESIGN TEAM: Allison Fong, Sophie Warsetsky
ENGINEERING TEAM: Ege Cavusoglu, Raj Thanker, Jay Kim
Emily Angstreich Uncle Joe’s Co-Director
Uncle Joe’s
Providing an ear to listen
Uncle Joe’s is a group of highly trained peer counselors that provide WashU students with support and resources for a variety of mental health-related issues.
Uncle Joe’s had an updated internal Resource Book, but failed to share these resources digitally in useful way.
Imagine being in distress and navigating multiple redirected webpages, broken links, and outdated contacts to find mental health resources.
The Problem Space
The Solution
All your resources in one place with easy-to-use filters and consistent information at your fingertips
By replacing the Resource Book with an internal database, any update to a resource is live instantly
No more broken links or winding navigation
The Process
Interviewing the Experts
Talking to Uncle Joe’s to understand the problem space and create shared goals for the project.
Insight #3
Action opportunities are available and integrated
It’s hard to seek out resources, and even harder to overcome the barrier of reaching out
Design Result:
Direct links to call or email organizations and contacts
Direct links to pull up directions to a resource location
Direct links to explore websites
Mapping out Information Architecture
Based on our interviews, this map informed our initial app wireframes.
Insight #1
Highlight most popular and trusted resources
Providing as many resources as possible while not overwhelming users is a tough balance
Design Result:
The app’s homepage will feature the most requested topics and resources
A globe icon will indicate a resource is recommended by Uncle Joe’s
Insight #2
Easy and quick navigation
Getting to what you need as painlessly and quickly as possible matters in moments of possible distress
Design Result:
Resources are filterable by topic and specific features
Resources are visibly tagged by topic
Immediate crisis resources are easily available across the app
Designing from User Research
A huge functionality we had to consider was filtering.
How would users find the resources they need?
We learned users preferred keeping topics and features together in one consistent and to-the-point pop-up filter
Design Decisions:
Visually promoting Immediate Assistance… the shade of red chosen to convey urgency without panic
Differentiating topics from features… with easily digestible buttons and checkboxes
Designing for Consistency
In our iterations, we explored filtering by topics and features with familiar formats like checkbox drop-downs and accordions as well as “journey-like” filtering with more personal language.
Interior Resource Page
Users preferred a simple layout with contact information in one place and colors that encouraged action
“Keep it simple. Who wants to scour the whole page to find a website, phone number, and email in different places?”
Designing for Community Input
Feedback Form
Easily accessible from the homepage, this ensures the app continues to improve and be useful to users
“Uncle Joe’s updates resources every semester, but if a user finds something is outdated and reports it we can fix it right away”
Designing for Accessibility
Crisis Resources
Users preferred the accordion open upon arrival to remove barriers in a time of crisis
“In this kind of situation, every tiny hurdle can feel magnified. That design decision may seem insignificant but really matters.“
The Launch
Working with WashU to Create Adoption
We worked with the Vice Chancellor for Student Support and Well-Being to incorporate the app introduction and download into WashU’s First-Year Orientation (2,000 undergrad students) and Residential Life to incorporate the app into Sophomore Welcome and RA floor meetings (1,800 undergrad students).
Nothing Ever Being “Done”:
I found that over time our ideas become more complicated and the what-ifs of the product become more exciting. Therefore, nothing is ever truly “done“ or perfect. Allowing and encouraging user feedback within the app itself was an essential move to keep iterating and ensure the app is useful to our audience. I’m extremely excited to see how the app will evolve over the years.
The Power of Mission:
With many actors involved, everyone being busy is a harsh reality, but emphasizing the project’s possible impact on WashU was a huge motivator for me and for my teammates to keep working.
Student Project Sustainability:
Unlike academia, college undergrads move fast. People graduate and student positions are replaced on a semester basis. By creating a long-term plan, clear conventions, and building long-lasting dedication we were able to create something tangible and important for the student body.