CASE STUDY – POLLIT
A change in how we interact with politics
WHAT I DID
Design thinking approach to creating a pivot, creating the UI/UX, and general direction of the mobile application. User research, ideation, competitor research, stakeholder interviews, wireframing, and design implementation.
TIMELINE
JUN – AUG 2019
Brainstorming, valuation, competitor research user research, ideation, Wireframing, design implementation, and user testing.
ORIGINS
Where we started
In 2019 I attended an incubator in San Francisco..
And we soon realized we needed to pivot. After receiving investment for a video game streaming web app we attended an incubator based in SF. We had finished our MVP and began to reach out to potential partners in the space. We quickly found out that our product was not compliant with most government regulations, and our potential partners would not take the risk …
So we soon realized we needed to pivot.
THE CHALLENGE
Searching for a pivot
How can we leverage what we’ve built?
We first identified the main components of our product including features that could be carried forward for the potential pivot.
IDEATION
Brainstorming
After Identifying our key components, we filled out the buckets with topics and themes. Our goal was to find potential combinations in order to formulate a new direction. We tried different combinations to find ideas for the potential pivot. Sometimes they aligned and most times they didn’t.
VALUATE
Valuation Grid
To evaluate our favorite combinations and ideas, we placed them on a valuation grid. This process helped us to identify our best options.
IDEATION
Visualizing the concept
STAKEHOLDERS
Identifying stakeholders
In order to evaluate the idea further, we must first identify the stakeholders of the pivot. For this idea the stakeholders surround the political system.
COMPETITORS
Competitor Analysis
Before diving deeper into developing the idea, we want to make sure there is a market for this type of venture. We also evaluated where we fit when compared to the competition, and to find out what makes us different.
SKETCHES
Ideation
We visualized what we believe is the traditional system for special interests influencing politicians in order to create laws and regulations that directly benefits special interests. With the ‘Dimos’ system we want to try to change where money comes from, flowing from Dimos as an intermediary to voters and supporter, and then to politicians.
Assumptions
We assume the diversifying funds will lead to a more distributed landscape for politicians and causes. We also assume politicians would be more motivated to create laws and regulations that reflect the interests of their supports, not special interests.
Ideation pt. 2
The idea is that this tool would create value for all stakeholders, voters and supporters would be able to take polls and surveys and be rewarded with funds to be given to their favorite politicians / campaigns. Special interests and politicians would sponsor polls/surveys.
Assumptions
Special interests might not be motivated to give funds to voters and supporters that might not go to their candidates. Voters and supporters might not be interested in filling out polls and surveys even if there is money involved. Voters might not want to contribute to campaigns or politicians.
THE CHALLENGE
How might we
validate a tool for political insights, fundraising, and grassroots campaigns?
STAKEHOLDERS
Incentives for stakeholders
We needed to outline what we are offering to stakeholders in order to compose a value proposition and decide on key features.
FEATURES
Product features
Live Polling
Politicians, organizations, and special interests can make polls and surveys to targeted voter segments and individuals.
Fundraising/Funding Allocation
Users can complete polls and surveys to earn funds which can be distributed as they see fit. They can also donate to their favorite causes, and political campaigns.
Subscription Model
Simular to the Patreon model, organizations and politicians can offer their supporters goods, services, and content for exchange for fundraising.
Components
Notifications & CTAs
Gamification
Subscription Models
Polling / Surveys
Payment Gateways
On-Boarding
Settings
PLANNING
Wireframes
Planning the layout of the mobile application included sketching out the flow of the app. By identifying the key features of the mobile application, we knew what parts to design in order to have a basic working prototype
DESIGN
Prototype
Typography
Color Palette
DESIGN
Polling Feature
1.Main Dashboard
This is the main dashboard to navigate to all features in the app. You can select polls to complete, and have a status bar to see gamified updates as you complete polls.
2.Polling Feature
This is the polling feature, people can take these polls, learn more about the topic they are being asked about, and find out who is sponsoring the poll.
DESIGN
Fundraising Feature
1.Overview
This is the organization page, where politicians or other organizations can show how much they’ve raised, who supports them, and provide a brief introduction. The call-to-action sends people to view the subscription tiers.
2.Donate/Subscriptions
Within the donate tab, people can view and select different subscription tiers. Page owners can create donation goals to incentivize people to donate.
3.Platform Info
Politicians can explain their platform and inform potential supporters about what they believe in and what they will fight for in office.