Problem

Volunteering should be simple and rewarding, but most systems make it time-consuming and repetitive. Volunteers often have to fill out the same information over and over for each organization, leading to fatigue and drop-off—especially for beginners. More experienced volunteers face challenges in managing multiple commitments and tracking their involvement across different causes. Organizations also struggle to discover and manage potential candidates efficiently, often relying on outdated forms and communication methods. This disjointed experience creates barriers on both sides and limits the full potential of community engagement.

Approach

To design a solution that truly served both volunteers and organizations, I followed a user-centered design process grounded in research and iteration.

I began with user interviews to understand the experiences, frustrations, and goals of individuals with varying levels of volunteering experience. These conversations uncovered key pain points—such as repetitive applications and unclear communication—that informed the problem space. I synthesized findings into three distinct personas representing beginner, intermediate, and seasoned volunteers, ensuring that design decisions were inclusive and empathetic to diverse needs.

From there, I developed user flows and low-fidelity wireframes to map the core journeys of creating a volunteer profile and discovering opportunities. These were tested in moderated usability sessions, where I observed behavior, collected feedback, and identified areas for improvement. Based on insights, I iterated on the design to improve clarity, reduce friction, and streamline navigation.

Throughout the process, I prioritized accessibility, emotional tone, and ease of use, ensuring that the platform felt approachable to new users while still powerful enough for experienced volunteers. This human-centered approach helped shape Helping Hands into a concept that addresses real needs and delivers a more unified, thoughtful experience for all users.

Solution

Helping Hands addresses this problem by introducing a universal volunteer profile—one that users can create once and share with multiple organizations. The platform allows volunteers to build a personalized resume, showcase their skills, availability, and experience, and browse curated opportunities based on their preferences. Organizations can access a secure database to view profiles and connect with matching volunteers, reducing recruitment time and improving alignment. Additional features like real-time notifications, smart filters, and saved opportunity comparisons help make the process smoother and more transparent. Overall, the solution aims to remove friction and foster more meaningful, efficient connections between people and causes.

Outcome

Although Helping Hands is currently a concept, usability testing and research produced strong validation for its design and purpose:

• 100% of users were able to complete their volunteer profile without needing assistance.
• Users completed the full onboarding flow 40% faster than expected.
• 15 out of 20 testers found the universal profile concept significantly more convenient than traditional application methods.
• 12 out of 20 testers said they would be more likely to volunteer if a platform like this existed.
• All users appreciated being able to manage opportunities and availability in one centralized space.