Details
Category
Volunteer
Community
Type
Product Design
Duration
4 Months
Steward is a volunteer-matching service app redefining greatness through service, challenging selfish cultural norms by aligning users’ strengths with meaningful, community-driven action rooted in compassion and faith.
[01]
problem
Volunteer has lost its meaning and motivation.
Volunteering feels transactional for many young people—more resume boost than meaningful service. Current platforms focus on logistics but ignore deeper needs like purpose, connection, and community. There's a gap for a joyful, identity-driven approach that makes volunteering personal and sustainable.
I listened to volunteers share that service often felt like a chore rather than a joy. This shaped my goal: design an experience that restores meaning and human connection.
I listened to volunteers share that service often felt like a chore rather than a joy. This shaped my goal: design an experience that restores meaning and human connection.
[02]
problem-solving
Utilizing Skills and Interests
Steward empowers individuals to leverage their unique skills and interests—guided by their Enneagram type—to serve others meaningfully. By introducing community-driven features and a playful, inviting tone, Steward transforms volunteering from an obligation into something people can enjoy, connect over, and truly care about.
Approach
Make volunteering feel approachable and fun
Encourage social participation and community building
Provide tools to track goals, schedules, and progress
Help users discover volunteer opportunities that align with their values, interests, and strengths
Offer resources to explore the deeper meaning of service
I designed with the belief that every person has unique gifts worth honoring.
I designed with the belief that every person has unique gifts worth honoring.
[03]
research & discovery
Creating a Customer Profile
Early Evangelists Checklist
I made a list of early evangelists characteristics and looked for interview participants who checked off these boxes.
Struggled to find meaningful opportunities aligned with talents and values
Passionate about volunteering/community service
Motivated by personal growth through personality insights
Willing to provide feedback and advocate during development
I conducted 6 interviews with early evangelists and target users then created customer profiles representing different attitudes toward volunteering.
Interview Spreads from Thesis Book
Customer Jobs
Mission-Driver Volunteer
Student Who Finds Volunteer Boring
I reframed pains as unmet needs. For example, a lack of motivation revealed the need for recognition, which directly inspired features around community encouragement and visibility.
I reframed pains as unmet needs. For example, a lack of motivation revealed the need for recognition, which directly inspired features around community encouragement and visibility.
[04]
key findings and insights
Top Pains & Gains
Pains
Volunteering feels intimidating or antisocial when done alone
Busy schedules demand efficient, well-integrated planning tools
Many opportunities feel repetitive or disconnected from personal meaning
Lack of personalization makes opportunities feel irrelevant or boring
Overwhelming information; hard to find what aligns with passions
Gains
Direction and fulfillment from meaningful matches
Time saved by filtering opportunities by interest and schedule
Community building through shared volunteer goals
Increased self-awareness through personality-driven recommendations
[05]
competitive analysis
Filling the Gaps
Existing platforms focus on logistics over meaning, lacking personality-based matching or emotional connection. I took advantage of this opportunity space with Steward's use of Enneagram insights, fostering community, and making volunteering more personal.
[06]
solution features
Features That Make Volunteering Personal
Dashboard
Set goals, track volunteer hours, manage schedules
Volunteer Match
Curate opportunities by Enneagram type, skills, and location
Profile & Community
Build personal profiles, connect with like-minded peers, find friends through shared interests
Resource Center
Access guides, mentorship, and educational content about the meaning of service
I prioritized features that nurture connection (like tailored opportunities and group activities) because research showed people felt most fulfilled when their strengths were seen and shared in community.
I prioritized features that nurture connection (like tailored opportunities and group activities) because research showed people felt most fulfilled when their strengths were seen and shared in community.
[07]
design direction
Approach to Visual Identity
Branding
The visual identity of Steward was intentionally crafted to balance depth with approachability. The branding uses warmth and relatability to speak to a younger audience.
To achieve this, I created a character that feels both cute and expressive, serving as an emotional entry point. This character helps break down any perceived heaviness of the subject matter and signals that service can be joyful, engaging, and even fun. The color palette blends soft neutrals with bold, playful accents—creating contrast that draws attention while still feeling approachable. Typography choices complement this tone, combining clean legibility with a friendly, rounded aesthetic.
Visual Identity Guide
[08]
results
Final Prototype
Landing Page
Dashboard
Volunteer Match
Resource Center
Profile & Community
[09]
reflection
Limitations and Learnings
Challenges
Defining Steward's brand identity was difficult, especially in balancing a playful tone with a serious mission. Selecting the right visuals and colors to resonate with the target audience required careful iteration.
As a new concept—linking Enneagram personality types with volunteer work—there was little to no existing research. I had to study each type, connect traits to relevant activities, and work without solid reference points. Limited time also restricted the depth of research and testing I could conduct. In early conversations with volunteers, I noticed a recurring theme: many wrestled with whether their service was primarily for themselves—such as adjusting to a new city or fulfilling requirements—or for building up community. This exposed a deeper design challenge: how to encourage volunteering that honors the spirit of service, rather than reducing it to a personal transaction.
Future Development
The next phase for Steward would focus on deeper user research, expanded usability testing, and building a true MVP. There’s potential to collaborate with Boston University’s Spark Innovation team to develop the platform into a fully functional app.
On the design side, I’d refine the UI to create smoother interactions and a cleaner aesthetic—possibly simplifying the color palette to one accent color. This would reduce visual clutter and help the content and character design stand out more effectively.
Reflection
Working on Steward inspired me to step outside my comfort zone. At the time, I wasn’t actively volunteering, so I sought out opportunities to connect with the work firsthand. I ended up volunteering at a nearby elementary school, which allowed me to talk directly with volunteers and the people their work impacts. Hearing their stories was inspiring and gave me valuable insights into the heart behind service.
This was also my first UI/UX project where I had complete ownership—from research and branding to design, prototyping, and beyond. The autonomy was exciting, and it reinforced my desire to continue developing Steward in the future with more usability testing, field work, and ongoing conversations with volunteers and communities.
Overall, this was a meaningful experience that challenged my own motivations for volunteering. It pushed me to reflect on the deeper meaning of not just volunteering—but truly giving back to the community and questioning social norms.
Learn more about it in my Steward design project.
How might we design volunteering so it shifts from self-fulfillment to honoring the spirit of service and community?
How might we design volunteering so it shifts from self-fulfillment to honoring the spirit of service and community?
Details
Type
Product Design
Duration
4 Months
Category
Volunteer
Community
Steward is a volunteer-matching service app redefining greatness through service, challenging selfish cultural norms by aligning users’ strengths with meaningful, community-driven action rooted in compassion and faith.
[01]
problem
Volunteer has lost its meaning and motivation.
Volunteering feels transactional for many young people—more resume boost than meaningful service. Current platforms focus on logistics but ignore deeper needs like purpose, connection, and community. There's a gap for a joyful, identity-driven approach that makes volunteering personal and sustainable.
[02]
problem-solving
Utilizing Skills and Interests
Steward empowers individuals to leverage their unique skills and interests—guided by their Enneagram type—to serve others meaningfully. By introducing community-driven features and a playful, inviting tone, Steward transforms volunteering from an obligation into something people can enjoy, connect over, and truly care about.
Approach
Make volunteering feel approachable and fun
Encourage social participation and community building
Provide tools to track goals, schedules, and progress
Help users discover volunteer opportunities that align with their values, interests, and strengths
Offer resources to explore the deeper meaning of service
[03]
research & discovery
Creating a Customer Profile
Early Evangelists Checklist
I made a list of early evangelists characteristics and looked for interview participants who checked off these boxes.
Struggled to find meaningful opportunities aligned with talents and values
Passionate about volunteering/community service
Motivated by personal growth through personality insights
Willing to provide feedback and advocate during development
I conducted 6 interviews with early evangelists and target users then created customer profiles representing different attitudes toward volunteering.
Interview Spreads from Thesis Book
Customer Jobs
Mission-Driver Volunteer
Student Who Finds Volunteer Boring
[04]
key findings and insights
Top Pains & Gains
Pains
Volunteering feels intimidating or antisocial when done alone
Busy schedules demand efficient, well-integrated planning tools
Many opportunities feel repetitive or disconnected from personal meaning
Lack of personalization makes opportunities feel irrelevant or boring
Overwhelming information; hard to find what aligns with passions
Gains
Direction and fulfillment from meaningful matches
Time saved by filtering opportunities by interest and schedule
Community building through shared volunteer goals
Increased self-awareness through personality-driven recommendations
[05]
competitive analysis
Filling the Gaps
Existing platforms focus on logistics over meaning, lacking personality-based matching or emotional connection. I took advantage of this opportunity space with Steward's use of Enneagram insights, fostering community, and making volunteering more personal.
[06]
solution features
Features That Make Volunteering Personal
Dashboard
Set goals, track volunteer hours, manage schedules
Volunteer Match
Curate opportunities by Enneagram type, skills, and location
Profile & Community
Build personal profiles, connect with like-minded peers, find friends through shared interests
Resource Center
Access guides, mentorship, and educational content about the meaning of service
[07]
design direction
Approach to Visual Identity
Branding
The visual identity of Steward was intentionally crafted to balance depth with approachability. The branding uses warmth and relatability to speak to a younger audience.
To achieve this, I created a character that feels both cute and expressive, serving as an emotional entry point. This character helps break down any perceived heaviness of the subject matter and signals that service can be joyful, engaging, and even fun. The color palette blends soft neutrals with bold, playful accents—creating contrast that draws attention while still feeling approachable. Typography choices complement this tone, combining clean legibility with a friendly, rounded aesthetic.
Visual Identity Guide
[08]
results
Final Prototype
Landing Page
Dashboard
Volunteer Match
Resource Center
Profile & Community
[09]
reflection
Limitations and Learnings
Challenges
Defining Steward's brand identity was difficult, especially in balancing a playful tone with a serious mission. Selecting the right visuals and colors to resonate with the target audience required careful iteration.
As a new concept—linking Enneagram personality types with volunteer work—there was little to no existing research. I had to study each type, connect traits to relevant activities, and work without solid reference points. Limited time, due to other projects and my senior thesis exhibition, also restricted the depth of research and testing I could conduct.
Future Development
The next phase for Steward would focus on deeper user research, expanded usability testing, and building a true MVP. There’s potential to collaborate with Boston University’s Spark Innovation team to develop the platform into a fully functional app.
On the design side, I’d refine the UI to create smoother interactions and a cleaner aesthetic—possibly simplifying the color palette to one accent color. This would reduce visual clutter and help the content and character design stand out more effectively.
Reflection
Working on Steward inspired me to step outside my comfort zone. At the time, I wasn’t actively volunteering, so I sought out opportunities to connect with the work firsthand. I ended up volunteering at a nearby elementary school, which allowed me to talk directly with volunteers and the people their work impacts. Hearing their stories was inspiring and gave me valuable insights into the heart behind service.
This was also my first UI/UX project where I had complete ownership—from research and branding to design, prototyping, and beyond. The autonomy was exciting, and it reinforced my desire to continue developing Steward in the future with more usability testing, field work, and ongoing conversations with volunteers and communities.
Overall, this was a meaningful experience that challenged my own motivations for volunteering. It pushed me to reflect on the deeper meaning of not just volunteering—but truly giving back to the community and questioning social norms.
Learn more about it in my Steward design project.
Details
Type
Product Design
Category
Volunteer
Community
Duration
4 Months
Steward is a volunteer-matching service app redefining greatness through service, challenging selfish cultural norms by aligning users’ strengths with meaningful, community-driven action rooted in compassion and faith.
[01]
problem
Volunteer has lost its meaning and motivation.
Volunteering feels transactional for many young people—more resume boost than meaningful service. Current platforms focus on logistics but ignore deeper needs like purpose, connection, and community. There's a gap for a joyful, identity-driven approach that makes volunteering personal and sustainable.
[02]
problem-solving
Utilizing Skills and Interests
Steward empowers individuals to leverage their unique skills and interests—guided by their Enneagram type—to serve others meaningfully. By introducing community-driven features and a playful, inviting tone, Steward transforms volunteering from an obligation into something people can enjoy, connect over, and truly care about.
Approach
Make volunteering feel approachable and fun
Encourage social participation and community building
Provide tools to track goals, schedules, and progress
Help users discover volunteer opportunities that align with their values, interests, and strengths
Offer resources to explore the deeper meaning of service
[03]
research & discovery
Creating a
Customer Profile
Early Evangelists Checklist
I made a list of early evangelists characteristics and looked for interview participants who checked off these boxes.
Struggled to find meaningful opportunities aligned with talents and values
Passionate about volunteering/community service
Motivated by personal growth through personality insights
Willing to provide feedback and advocate during development
I conducted 6 interviews with early evangelists and target users then created customer profiles representing different attitudes toward volunteering.
Interview Spreads
from Thesis Book
Customer Jobs
Mission-Driver Volunteer
Student Who Finds Volunteer Boring
[04]
key findings and insights
Top Pains & Gains
Pains
Volunteering feels intimidating or antisocial when done alone
Busy schedules demand efficient, well-integrated planning tools
Many opportunities feel repetitive or disconnected from personal meaning
Lack of personalization makes opportunities feel irrelevant or boring
Overwhelming information; hard to find what aligns with passions
Gains
Direction and fulfillment from meaningful matches
Time saved by filtering opportunities by interest and schedule
Community building through shared volunteer goals
Increased self-awareness through personality-driven recommendations
[05]
competitive analysis
Filling the Gaps
Existing platforms focus on logistics over meaning, lacking personality-based matching or emotional connection. I took advantage of this opportunity space with Steward's use of Enneagram insights, fostering community, and making volunteering more personal.
[06]
solution features
Features That Make Volunteering Personal
Dashboard
Set goals, track volunteer hours, manage schedules
Volunteer Match
Curate opportunities by Enneagram type, skills, and location
Profile & Community
Build personal profiles, connect with like-minded peers, find friends through shared interests
Resource Center
Access guides, mentorship, and educational content about the meaning of service
[07]
design direction
Approach to
Visual Identity
Branding
The visual identity of Steward was intentionally crafted to balance depth with approachability. The branding uses warmth and relatability to speak to a younger audience.
To achieve this, I created a character that feels both cute and expressive, serving as an emotional entry point. This character helps break down any perceived heaviness of the subject matter and signals that service can be joyful, engaging, and even fun. The color palette blends soft neutrals with bold, playful accents—creating contrast that draws attention while still feeling approachable. Typography choices complement this tone, combining clean legibility with a friendly, rounded aesthetic.
Visual Identity Guide
[08]
results
Final Prototype
Landing Page
Dashboard
Volunteer Match
Resource Center
Profile & Community
[09]
reflection
Limitations and Learnings
Challenges
Defining Steward's brand identity was difficult, especially in balancing a playful tone with a serious mission. Selecting the right visuals and colors to resonate with the target audience required careful iteration.
As a new concept—linking Enneagram personality types with volunteer work—there was little to no existing research. I had to study each type, connect traits to relevant activities, and work without solid reference points. Limited time, due to other projects and my senior thesis exhibition, also restricted the depth of research and testing I could conduct.
Future Development
The next phase for Steward would focus on deeper user research, expanded usability testing, and building a true MVP. There’s potential to collaborate with Boston University’s Spark Innovation team to develop the platform into a fully functional app.
On the design side, I’d refine the UI to create smoother interactions and a cleaner aesthetic—possibly simplifying the color palette to one accent color. This would reduce visual clutter and help the content and character design stand out more effectively.
Reflection
Working on Steward inspired me to step outside my comfort zone. At the time, I wasn’t actively volunteering, so I sought out opportunities to connect with the work firsthand. I ended up volunteering at a nearby elementary school, which allowed me to talk directly with volunteers and the people their work impacts. Hearing their stories was inspiring and gave me valuable insights into the heart behind service.
This was also my first UI/UX project where I had complete ownership—from research and branding to design, prototyping, and beyond. The autonomy was exciting, and it reinforced my desire to continue developing Steward in the future with more usability testing, field work, and ongoing conversations with volunteers and communities.
Overall, this was a meaningful experience that challenged my own motivations for volunteering. It pushed me to reflect on the deeper meaning of not just volunteering—but truly giving back to the community and questioning social norms.
Learn more about it in my Steward design project.