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Synergy Alliance

A mobile app concept designed to help people discover local community programs, services, and events in one accessible place.

Industry
Community Services / Nonprofit
Role
UX Researcher / UI Designer
Timeline
September – October 2021
Type
Mobile App Concept

The short version

Problem
Community resources were spread across disconnected channels, making it harder for people to find relevant support when they needed it.
My Role
I conducted early research, organized findings, developed user flows, and designed mobile app screens.
What I Designed
A mobile resource hub with program discovery, event browsing, saved items, contact options, and donation/support pathways.
Outcome
A high-fidelity mobile concept that translated broad community needs into a more organized, navigable service experience.
Colorful signpost showing fragmented ways people discover community resources, including flyers, social posts, word of mouth, websites, phone calls, and community referrals.
Problem

Community support existed, but finding the right resource was fragmented.

People often learn about community programs through flyers, social posts, referrals, websites, or word-of-mouth. That creates friction for anyone trying to quickly understand what help is available, who it is for, and how to take the next step.

Synergy Alliance was designed around a simple question: how might a mobile app make community resources easier to discover, compare, and act on?

YMCA logo YMCA Mobile
YMCA Mobile feature cards showing Exercise and Wellness, Goal Tracking, Open Browsing, and Group Support.
Nextdoor logo Nextdoor App
Nextdoor feature cards showing Local Chat, Shared Needs, Login Required, and Local Picks.
Research

Wellness apps gave users structure. Community apps gave users connection. Synergy Alliance needed both.

I looked at YMCA Mobile and Nextdoor because they represented two useful models: structured wellness participation and local community communication. The comparison helped clarify what Synergy Alliance needed to balance — program discovery, trust, goal context, and community support.

Research lenses

  • How does each platform approach wellness?
  • Are goals specific or general?
  • Can users get value before creating an account?
  • What kinds of community support are available?
  • How intuitive is the navigation and interface?

YMCA Mobile

  • Focused on exercise and wellness.
  • Lets users browse before signing up.
  • Supports goal tracking.
  • Encourages participation through trainers and group settings.

Nextdoor

  • Focused on local communication.
  • Requires an account to interact.
  • Supports community conversation around shared needs.
  • Helps people discover local information, updates, and recommendations.

Opportunity

  • Synergy Alliance could combine structured wellness/program support with local community discovery and communication.

SYNTHESIS

People needed to know what applied to them, who to trust, and what action to take before committing.

Checklist document with magnifying glass

Am I eligible?

Information scent

Mixed shapes being sorted into organized groups

How is this organized?

Sensemaking

Shield with heart symbol

Can I trust this?

Trust signals

Circular feedback loop leading to a target

Did this create impact?

Feedback loops

Large button with cursor interaction

What's next?

CTA clarity

Document with bookmark marker

Can I revisit this?

Cognitive offloading

Person walking up a low ramp toward a flag

Can I start easily?

Progressive engagement

Mobile phone connected to a community building

Online or offline?

Omnichannel access

A resource list was not enough. The experience needed to reduce uncertainty at each decision point.

Concept Proposal

A mobile-first resource hub that turns scattered community support into clear pathways for discovery, evaluation, and action.

Final Screens · Grouped by user goal
Discover programs and goals

The opening screens introduce Synergy Alliance, featured goals, program categories, and quick pathways into the organization’s work.

Understand a program

Program screens help users understand what the initiative supports, how contributions connect to outcomes, and why the program matters.

Explore health campaigns

Campaign screens break a broad Health & Wellness goal into specific initiatives, helping users compare needs and decide where they may want to contribute.

Outcomes / Reflection

This project helped me understand how service access depends on information architecture, not just visual design.

Community products need clear pathways

A resource app has to do more than display information. It needs to help people understand what is available, why it matters, and what action to take.

Early concepts still need honest scope

Synergy Alliance was an early design concept, not a launched product. The next step would be validating the flow with community members, service providers, and people actively seeking support.