Ourability Connect Dashboard Plataforma de Xarxes Professionals by Zilin Zhou

Ourability Connect Dashboard Plataforma de Xarxes Professionals by Zilin Zhou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 A' Design Award de Bronze in Disseny d'Interfície, Interacció i Experiència d'Usuari Competition Category.

BronzeInterfície· 2024

Ourability Connect Dashboard Plataforma de Xarxes Professionals

by Zilin Zhou

Client: OurAbility Inc

A' Design Award de Bronze Winner in Interfície Category

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Verified Award Winner
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Colors

The Design

About Ourability Connect Dashboard Plataforma de Xarxes Professionals

La cerca de feina és més difícil que mai, especialment per a les persones amb discapacitat. Les ofertes laborals poden no ser accessibles per a aquest col·lectiu, cosa que dificulta encara més trobar oportunitats d'ocupació. Ability Connect Dashboard capacita tant les persones amb discapacitat que busquen feina com els ocupadors mitjançant una plataforma de cerca i connexió laboral impulsada per IA. Ofereix funcionalitats d'accessibilitat avançades que connecten els candidats amb ocupadors potencials i permeten a les empreses descobrir talent únic. El seu enfocament en el disseny inclusiu i accessible i en la tecnologia d'IA promou la igualtat d'oportunitats.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Bronze

Ourability Connect Dashboard Plataforma de Xarxes Professionals és un guanyador del guardó A' Design Award de Bronze, un reconeixement altament prestigiós concedit a dissenys sobresortints que es distingeixen per la creativitat, l'enginy i l'astúcia. Els guanyadors de Bronze són artefactes ampliament hàbils i sorprenentment creatius que autentiquen la vasta experiència, la imaginació i el recurs dels seus dissenyadors. Es preveu que Ourability Connect Dashboard Plataforma de Xarxes Professionals sigui un objecte molt apreciat, admirat i estimat, notablement professional i innovador. Aquest disseny guanyador del guardó A' Design Award de Bronze incorpora les millors pràctiques de l'art, la ciència, el disseny i la tecnologia i és excel·lent per la seva atenció al detall. Ourability Connect Dashboard Plataforma de Xarxes Professionals satisfà esplèndidament les necessitats, toca els desitjos, encisa els sentiments i crida la curiositat.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: In this project, Zilin designed the Our Ability Connect dashboard system, including the dashboard interface, new user flows, content strategy, etc. He spent time doing research and understanding the overall user experience. His goal for this project was to rethink the user’s need and to redesign the overall user experience to help Our Ability users to create the most functional and accessible dashboard system to empower their employees.
Dimensions & Packaging: This product is a web application
Tags: Dashboard, Accessible Technology, Job Dashboard, Accessibility, Inclusive Design,
Production Technology: This project was approached in three stages to create a dashboard system that meets the needs of users with disabilities. The first stage involved researching and understanding accessibility design using various user research methodologies, such as card sorting, user interviews, and competitive analysis. These methodologies provided valuable insights and a clear direction for product strategies and design.

In the second stage, the research findings were compiled and translated into design ideas using tools such as affinity diagrams and mind maps. This stage allowed for the creation of a more cohesive and effective dashboard design.

Finally, the third stage involved delivering a user-friendly and intuitive dashboard that went through an iterative research and development process. Adobe Xd was used for designing and prototyping, and the engineering team coded the final product through React Js. Overall, this approach ensured that accessibility was prioritized at every stage of the design process, resulting in a dashboard system that meets the needs of all users.
Design Challenge: During this project, I encountered three primary challenges:

Prioritizing Accessibility in Design: The main goal was to ensure accessibility in every aspect of the dashboard design, which can be challenging but essential for empowering every user. As a designer, I believe in contributing to creating more accessible design solutions.

Rethinking User Experience: After a thorough analysis of the current Our Ability Connect dashboard system, it was clear that the system lacked consistency and utility. I redesigned the entire system to ensure a more coherent user experience, creating a new web architecture and visual language that prioritized the most crucial features.

Limited Time and Resources: Originally intended as a team project, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our work. Despite limited resources and a short timeline, I took on the responsibility of delivering the final product on time, working additional hours each week to ensure its success.
Research: This research investigated usability problems faced by OurAbility dashboard users with disabilities. User research methods, including interviews, card sorting, and competitive analysis, were used to analyze the current system and identify good and bad experiences. Additional insight was gained through a cognitive walkthrough and interviews with users, highlighting the importance of accessibility features. Based on the findings, designer was advised to follow accessibility guidelines and obtain more input from disability users. The research also focused on designing accessible features, such as color, using a color review tool. The dashboard color had significant problems, with a low contrast ratio and poor text accessibility. To resolve this issue, a primary color that met accessibility standards and fit the modern system design was found. An Affinity diagram and mind map were created to deliver a user-friendly dashboard validated through iterative research and development. This research contributes to the development of accessible digital systems.
Inspiration: Nowadays, approximately one-fifth of the global population experiences difficulties in accessing the same services and products as people without disabilities. With the goal of designing an accessible and inclusive product that empowers users with disabilities in their employment, I embarked on this project with a simple belief. My research delves into studying different types of accessibility design, understanding current usability issues within existing systems, and redesign
Project Duration: The project started in November 2020 in Syracuse NY and finished in August 2020 in Syracuse NY. The Phase 1 development work started Sep 2020, final MVP product launched in 2022
Operation Flow: OurAbility Dashboard is a professionally designed web application that enables individuals with disabilities to establish essential career connections. Moreover, this system empowers employers to connect with potential employees with disabilities by searching, connecting directly with them within the platform, and posting job opportunities to attract top candidates for their open positions.
Image Credits: Image #1: Designer Zilin Zhou, OurAbility Connect Dashboard, 2023. Image #2: Designer Zilin Zhou, OurAbility Connect Dashboard, 2023. Image #3: Designer Zilin Zhou, OurAbility Connect Dashboard, 2023. Image #4: Designer Zilin Zhou, OurAbility Connect Dashboard, 2023. Image #5: Designer Zilin Zhou, OurAbility Connect Dashboard, 2023.