ROLE & PROJECT DURATION

I am the main designer and researcher on this ongoing project.

TOOLS

Figma, POP!, Invision, Adobe Stock

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Community fridges aim to provide accessible food resources to those in need, relying on community donations. However, several challenges impact their effectiveness:

1. Visibility and Awareness: Many community members are unaware of the existence or locations of community fridges.

2. Management and Maintenance: Community fridges require regular monitoring to ensure food safety and cleanliness. Without proper oversight, they can become neglected or mismanaged.

3. Equitable Access: Certain demographics, such as low-income families or individuals without internet access, may struggle to benefit from community fridges due to barriers like transportation or digital communication.

4. Sustainability: Ensuring a consistent supply of donations and managing food waste are ongoing concerns for community fridges.

5. Trust and Safety: There can be concerns regarding the safety and reliability of donated food, as well as the overall security of the fridge and its contents.

Addressing these challenges is crucial to enhancing the impact and sustainability of community fridges as a resource for food security in neighborhoods. A focused UX case study could explore solutions to these issues through user-centered design principles and community engagement strategies.

SOLUTION

To address the challenges faced by community fridges, the proposed solution focuses on enhancing visibility, accessibility, management efficiency, sustainability, and trust through a user-centered design approach:

Develop a user-friendly mobile app and website to map community fridge locations, provide real-time updates on available items, and facilitate donations and volunteer sign-ups.

• Community Engagement: Implement local outreach campaigns, including social media, flyers, and community events, to raise awareness about community fridges and their benefits.

• Volunteer Management: Create a volunteer management system within the app for scheduling, training, and rewarding volunteers who oversee fridge operations.

• Ensuring Equitable Access: Accessibility Features: Design the digital platform to be accessible to users with disabilities and low-literacy levels, ensuring inclusivity.

• Offline Support: Provide alternative ways to access fridge information for users without smartphones or internet access, such as SMS notifications or hotline services.

• Quality Assurance: Establish guidelines for acceptable donations and implement a rating system for donor reliability.

By prioritizing these solutions in the UX case study, community fridges can become more effective, sustainable, and trusted resources for addressing food insecurity within neighborhoods. The iterative design process will involve continuous user feedback and collaboration with community stakeholders to ensure the solutions meet real-world needs effectively.

PROTOTYPE