Bitae Tech: Android App

Phase 1 Case Study

(As per the NDA, several of the documents are password protected)

Summary:

Bitae Tech are developing a mobile app intended for refugee populations, enabling them to digitally certify their educational and professional credentials through blockchain technology.

My Project Role: Team Builder, Co-Researcher, Co-Designer

Teammates: Eve, Erendira, and Jason

Platform: Android OS

The Problem:

Refugees are often forced to flee their homes and everything familiar to them with little to no record of their identity or other personal data. To say that this complicates their reintegration into society is an understatement.

The Solution:

Bitae Technologies’ Digital Backpack, which harnesses blockchain/Blockcert technology, will effectively enable refugees to carry with them proof of their skills and experiences, and therefore increase their likelihood of self-reliance and a successful reintegration into society.

Animated Storyboard

Watch the story of how Bitae’s app can have a positive impact on users.

Research

In order to begin our research, our team was provided with sizable library of relevant literature on the topics of blockchain, refugees, and educational/workforce initiatives. Some of these included:

• “The JRC Science for Policy Report: Blockchain in Education” (Alexander Grech, Anthony F. Camilleri © European Union, 2017)

• “Engaging with Employers in the Hiring of Refugees” (The UN Refugee Agency, © OECD/UNHCR, 2019)

• “Open Badges for Lifelong Learning” (© The Mozilla Foundation and Peer 2 Peer University,

  in collaboration with The MacArthur Foundation 2012)

• “Mapping, Refugee Skills and Employability” (© Talent Beyond Boundaries, 2017)

Also, we were provided with transcripts and recordings of nine interviews with members of refugee populations, initially conductied by Bitae stakeholders.

Competitive/Comparative Feature Analysis

After careful consideration of Bitae’s proposed platform, we identified 15 other organizations doing work relevant to the advancement of refugee populations, the promotion of digital credentials, and professional networking. In order to explore the possibilities for Bitae, we examined features specifically relating to security, education, personal support, and technology.

Competitive Landscape (Petal Diagram)

Given the range of technology, features, and goals of this platform, a data visualization method known as a petal diagram was helping in get a sense of which companies or organizations are already meeting certain aspects with success. This way, we would be all the more safeguarded against the pitfall of “reinventing the wheel.”

User Interviews

My team conducted five user interviews, each with primary users, all of whom have had to flee their war-torn or oppressive home countries, either as refugees or asylum seekers: Eyad from Syria, Abdalla from Egypt, Nhu and Quang from Vietnam, and Joyce from China. Their stories had remarkable similarities despite involving four different home countries and spanning very different periods of time.

Some common patterns emerged regarding challenges in the following areas:

• Finding Employment

• Continuing Education

• Protecting Personal Credentials

• Overcoming Persecution

• Overcoming Language Barriers

• Enduring Difficult Bureaucratic Processes

Affinity Mapping

In order to synthesize the data gathered from our user interviews and initial research, we conducted three sessions of affinity mapping. Through this process, we were able to further identify patterns and insights regarding Bitae’s user base, developing a clearer sense of their goals, motivations, and challenges, from which we were able to develop a persona and problem statement, as shown in the following sections.

The following information was synthesized into three separate affinity maps:

• Notes from the initial stakeholder meeting

• Five refugees and asylees were interviewed by the design team

• Transcripts from interviews conducted on nine refugees living in Lebanon by Bitae’s Co-founders

• Transcripts from a focus group with nine refugee participants also facilitated by a co-founder

Insights and Patterns

According to out findings users among the refugee populations are motivated by the following considerations:

• Better access to education and employment

• A higher standard of living

• Quicker integration into their host societies

• The contribution of their knowledge and skills

• Economic contribution

• Ultimately, dignity and respect

Problem Statement

Refugees are forced to flee from their home and everything familiar to them. They have little or no personal data records with them which will complicate their reintegration into her host nation.

How might we enable this vulnerable population to be self-reliant by providing them with a platform to carry their achievements, in a secure way and therefore increase their likelihood of successfully integrating into their new society?

Persona

User Journey

The diagram below follows Aya’s experiences as a refugee and some of the main challenges she faces, illustrating the likelihood of increased difficulties in the absence of the Bitae app.

The journey begins with Aya’s high school graduation which takes place at a time before the conflict forces her family to escape. It continues to follow her through transitional phases, including life in the refugee camp, participation in educational initiatives, and eventually leaving the camp where Aya will have to reintegrate into society. With an emphasis on Aya’s emotional state, each phase brings a new set of challenges which help to shed light on her goals and motivations as the develop and unfold.

Impact Map

The challenges encountered and addressed were largely with respect to the inclusion of burgeoning technology. There were assumptions that needed to be made on the back-end functionality.

In order to clearly communicate our many assumptions and strategize regarding Bitae’s overall business objectives, we produced an impact map indicating all relevant touch-points on the business and user ends, making better roadmap decisions.

Design Studio

Mid-Fidelity Wireframes


Usability testing

We conducted two rounds of usability testing, consisting of five tests each with a total of 10 participants. For the first round, we tested our medium fidelity prototype, enlisting General Assembly students as our participants. After incorporated their feedback, we moved forward with our second iteration, now a high fidelity prototype, also creating a style-guide, ensuring consistency and continuity. And taking care to follow material design standards for AndroidOS.

We began our second round of testing with five participants, consisting of two from our primary user base (a Venezuelan refugee and a Chinese asylee), another two from our secondary user base (an SAT/ACT instructor and an Adobe Photoshop instructor), and another General Assembly student. We then incorporated the additional feedback into our high fidelity prototype, for a third iteration.

• Task 1: Inviting an organization to the app and requesting a badge

• Task 2: Request a badge from an organization in-app

• Task 3: Send previously collected badges

• Task 4: Update profile with skills

Hi-Fidelity Clickable Prototype

“Love the animation. Felt that it got me ready for the app and helped me understand the backpack concept.”

Defining Success

Usability participants stated the app was of value, accessible, useful, credible and appreciated its clean design.

App Map

User Flows

Annotated Hi-Fidelity Wireframes

Final Thoughts

It was a great opportunity to partner with Bitae in this first phase of their design. Our team collectively shared in Bitae Tech’s vision which made it easy to go above and beyond the stakeholders’ expectations. I believe in the positive impact the digital backpack will offer refugees and displaced individuals. Bitae’s cofounders appreciated our work and dedication to their mission so much they hired us to complete Phase 2, design a desktop portal for secondary users.

Continue to Phase 2 - The Bitae Portal

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