Unite with Pride
This was a Snap Academy project organized by Next Shift Learning and hosted by Snap Inc.
The feature is designed to empower LGBTQ+ users by connecting them to community resources that allow them to safely express their identity.
Next Shift Learning
Snap Design Academy
Year
Summer 2023
Timeline
2 Weeks
Team Inclusive Identify
Kris Bumford
Nicole Mourad
Daniel Hernandez
Katrina Tiqui
Oswaldo Olson
Andi Guerrero
Bryan Ventura
Role
Graphic Designer
UX/UI Designer
Product Designer
Visual Designer
Prototyper
Research
Illustrator
Unite with Pride
A unique Snapchat feature designed to
empower LGBTQ+ users by connecting
them to community resources that allow
them to safely express their identity.
High Fidelity Prototype w/ Bitmoji Fashion and Sticker Pack
The Brief
We were asked to identify a prevalent issue within the LGBTQ+ community, using thorough research and interviews, and then design a feature for Snapchat that addresses these issues, utilizing all available tabs for a comprehensive solution.
Problem
LGBTQ+ individuals, especially the youth, are having a hard time finding community resources in less liberal environments and expressing their identities safely.
Solution
A feature that allows its users to add their identity, connect with relevant resources, and join community pages tailored to their chosen identity.
What is the Snap Academy?
The Snap Academies, an eight-week program hosted by Snap Inc., offers hands-on experience specifically tailored for community college students. It focuses on developing practical skills in four distinct areas: design, engineering, storytelling, and AR, all under the guidance of Snap Inc. professionals through workshops, mentorship, and interactive sessions. The program culminates in a two-week sprint or final showcase, enabling students to apply their acquired skills in real-world project scenarios. This blend of education and industry experience equips students with relevant, marketable skills in the design field. During the final showcase, students from all academies were divided into various groups, each addressing different social issues. I was a member of the Inclusive Identity team, dedicated to LGBTQ+ issues. Our team consisted of seven individuals from the design, engineering, and storytelling academies, with each member fulfilling the role of their respective academies; I was part of the design academy.
Snap Design Academy Cohort 2023
Research
Interview
Derrick Reyes CEO and Co-Founder of Queerly Health
We interviewed Derrick from QueerlyHealth, a platform leveraging digital health to bridge the gap between the LGBTQ community and safe, comprehensive, culturally competent health and wellness providers. During our interview, we discovered that his platform has been affected by COVID-19 and the recent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation emerging from many states, primarily conservative ones. He expressed that many LGBTQ+ individuals didn't feel safe visiting their community locations or openly discussing their identity and associated needs. The pandemic exacerbated these challenges, intensifying barriers to healthcare and increasing the risks of social isolation, mental health issues, and inadequate care due to discrimination. The current political climate has also impacted him and his platform. He had to pause QueerlyHealth operations due to risks against his clients and the broader LGBTQ+ community.
We conducted interviews with two individuals, Emily and Sofia, who preferred to remain anonymous.
Emily, a trans woman who recently moved from Los Angeles to Georgia, shared her challenges in being open about her trans identity in her new environment. However, she found a sense of community online and successfully used Meetup, a social media platform, for both virtual and in-person activities.
Sofia, a Black woman and an ally, discussed her difficulties in finding healthcare professionals and therapists who share her lived experiences and can relate to her specific needs.
Emily
Sofia
Ideation
Brainwriting
Brainwriting session with our cheer captian Nicole Mourad
After the interviews, everyone on the inclusive identity team engaged in brainwriting, aiming to generate as many ideas as possible. This approach enabled each team member to contribute their ideas independently, resulting in a diverse collection of concepts. Our goal was to foster creativity, inclusivity, and collaboration, ensuring a broad range of perspectives and solutions were considered before progressing to the next stage.
After concluding the session, we grouped similar ideas and collectively determined that the best solution would be to create a feature. This feature would provide individuals in the LGBTQ+ community with access to resources shared by those with similar experiences, and the ability to connect with others in their community.
Persona
The storytelling team created the persona of Sam to aid in the design process and develop marketing assets for the final showcase.
Sam is a recently transitioned woman who has just moved to college and is unfamiliar with her new surroundings. She is seeking local resources but feels uncomfortable venturing out due to the political climate in her new area.
This persona proved very helpful, ensuring consistency in our discussions and serving as an effective communication tool when addressing our core demographic. Additionally, Sam's persona was invaluable in resolving conflicts, as we would refer to what would be best for her.
Persona by Daniel Hernandez and Katrina Tiqui
Concept Sketch & Low Fidelity Prototype
In developing our feature, we aimed to build upon an existing aspect of Snapchat, ensuring ease of implementation and familiarity for current users. On Snapchat's profile page, users can display their Zodiac Sign, and clicking on this badge redirects them to more information about themselves and daily horoscopes.
With our concept we’re introducing an "Add Identity" button, allowing users to select their chosen identity. This addition provides an identity badge and access to a community page, where users can connect for support and friendship, and discover nearby resources such as community centers, clinics, and LGBTQ+ centers.
Our development process began with a quick sketch, followed by a low-fidelity, fully clickable wireframe. This step was crucial for my fellow designer, Nicole, and me, as it facilitated early collaboration with the engineering team. It allowed them to understand the flow of the screens, commence coding, and identify necessary APIs for the resources page.
Concept Sketch by Kris Bumford
Unite with Pride wireframe by Kris Bumford and Nicole Mourad
Illustration
Illustrations by Kris Bumford
We conducted an in-house survey and found that 54% of Snap Academy scholars who use Snapchat feel comfortable expressing their identity online. This indicated a need to expand the ways users can express themselves. Additionally, there was a clear demand for a reliable, privacy-focused platform catering to the LGBTQ+ community.
To facilitate expression, we decided to create a Trans Bitmoji fashion line for Sam, our persona, and a sticker pack. These tools enable users to communicate within the app and, if they choose, outside it as well.
Getting started with the concept of the sticker pack was difficult but I took inspiration from one of my dearest friends, who is trans, and the ideas started to flow.
I used the trans flag colors in the design to foster a sense of familiarity and inclusivity but also to make it a symbol of support and recognition. When it comes to the font choices, I picked Cooper Std, with its heavy, rounded serifs making it accessible to read, but also for its historical connection to the 1970s, especially with its iconic album covers like David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust." Complementing this is Adobe Caslon Pro, bold italic, for its classic and versatile applications. This combination of culturally significant colors and font choices makes the design visually striking and deeply meaningful.
In the Bitmoji fashion, I applied the same logic of using the trans flag colors, making it instantly recognizable and a symbol of support. To expand on the idea of support, I initially added Snapchat's logo to show their support for the community, but I also explored the idea of using a heart in Snapchat's signature yellow. Ultimately, I chose the yellow heart because, in the world of emojis, it symbolizes joy, happiness, and friendship. This seemed more in line with Snap's values of being a friend to all users and not viewing the trans community as a branding opportunity.
High Fidelity Prototype
When you enter the profile page you will see below the user name a set of badges. You can add college, zodiac, and now with our feature gender identity. When you click the “Add Gender Identity” button on the next page you can select your chosen identities.
Once you have picked your identities you are taken to the onboarding. Where you are greeted and informed to check back to the profile page for more information. As well as the option to make your identity visible to friends or choose specific friends.
When you swipe left from the community page you’re taken to the information page of your specific community. Getting information about the culture, history, and influential people. Also, a part of the community page is the Bitmoji fashion and sticker pack that is specifically catered to your identity.
When you click the identity badge you’re taken to the community page. Where you have the resources specific to you along with the sticker pack and Bitmoji fashion. We added an extra layer of security, with “Ghost Mode”. Giving you the option to go invisible on the page. Protecting you from potential people acting in bad faith.
The final part of the feature focuses on resources. Here, you can view businesses, centers, and clinics that cater to your needs, with the closest ones listed at the top. Businesses with Snapchat accounts can register and maintain their information. Clicking on a business expands the card, providing more details about themselves.
The last option on the business cards is the ability to chat directly with the business and find their location relative to you. Another feature of the business card is “Setting Reminder”. This sends you a notification when the business hosts a meetup, allowing you to meet individuals in your area.
Prototype by Kris Bumford and Nicole Mourad
Reflection
Team Inclusive Identity: First Day
Team Inclusive Identity: Final Showcase
Top image from left: Katina Tiqui, Oswaldo Olson, Bryan Ventura, Daniel Hernandez, Kris Bumford, and Nicole Mourad.
Not in the pictures: Andi Guerrero :(
Working on a cross-functional team was a real joy. Initially, the idea of a two-week sprint was intimidating, but gaining perspectives from non-designers significantly aided the development of our feature. Reflecting on the experience, I believe the "Unite With Pride" feature is a major step in empowering the LGBTQ+ community. My team and I designed it to ensure safety, inclusivity, and accessibility.
While I'm proud of our achievements, there's always room for growth. Future improvements could include
Expanding the feature to broader communities, such as different ethnicities, allies, and parents.
Regularly updating resource lists can enhance user engagement and maintain relevance.
Inclusive Identity
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Unite with Pride
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Inclusive Identity 〰️ Unite with Pride 〰️
Thank you
for sticking with me
~~
Thank you for sticking with me ~~