
Chango
Civic engagement web app
Brand DesignProduct DesignUIUXFront-endBackend
My role
- Information architecture
- UX flows
- Wireframes
- Low to High Fidelity prototypes
- Visual design
- Development (Backend and Frontend)
- DevOps
- User research
Overview
Civic engagement progressive web app (PWA). Personal project, designed and developed as a proof of concept. Geographic Information System (GIS) with social features intended to make civic engagement fun.
Challenge
The idea of using a social-enhanced GIS as a civic engagement tool had been in my mind for a couple of years. In 2018 I finally had a few months to work on it. I challenged myself to design, code, deploy, and launch Chango in only a couple of months.
Solution
Chango: (chahng-goh) MASCULINE NOUN 1. (primate) (Mexico) a. monkey
Branding
The brand was created initially with the goal of making it friendly, playful, almost toy-like. I created a color scheme inspired by Mexican architect Luis Barragan use of color.
Splash screen
UX / UI / Prototyping
I then sketched initial wireframes and started working on the UX and UI design. I created an initial prototype using Adobe XD.
Prototype
Development
For the tech stack, I worked with Meteor as it allowed Front End and Back End to use the same language (JavaScript), and provided easy to use tools for handling DevOps (builds, deployments, etc). I used Google Maps to show a map with the location of posts in it.
Result
- Launched in under three months, from branding to final deployment
- Allowed me to learn about devops, databases, and other backend technology
- Served as a white-label product for similar projects using social media and geolocation capabilities (developed LaPazQuerida's site as a white-label product)
- This initial version of Chango allowed us to test with real users and better understand their motivations