Zilin Zhou ᱨᱮᱱᱟᱜ Ourability Connect Dashboard ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱱᱮᱴᱣᱟᱨᱠᱤᱝ ᱢᱚᱸᱪ

Zilin Zhou ᱨᱮᱱᱟᱜ Ourability Connect Dashboard ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱱᱮᱴᱣᱟᱨᱠᱤᱝ ᱢᱚᱸᱪ ᱫᱚ ᱤᱱᱴᱟᱨᱯᱷᱮᱥ, ᱤᱱᱴᱟᱨᱮᱠᱥᱚᱱ ᱟᱨ ᱵᱮᱵᱦᱟᱨᱤᱭᱟᱹ ᱟᱱᱩᱵᱷᱟᱵ ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱ ᱯᱨᱚᱛᱤᱡᱚᱜᱤᱛᱟ ᱵᱷᱟᱜ ᱨᱮ 2024 A' Design Award ᱠᱟᱥᱟ ᱯᱩᱨᱚᱥᱠᱟᱨ ᱨᱮᱱᱟᱜ ᱟᱹᱰᱤ ᱢᱟᱱ ᱟᱠᱟᱱ ᱡᱤᱛᱠᱟᱨ ᱠᱟᱱᱟ᱾

ᱠᱟᱥᱟᱤᱱᱴᱟᱨᱯᱷᱮᱥ· 2024

Ourability Connect Dashboard ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱱᱮᱴᱣᱟᱨᱠᱤᱝ ᱢᱚᱸᱪ

Zilin Zhou ᱞᱮᱠᱟᱛᱮ

ᱜᱟᱦᱟᱠ: OurAbility Inc

ᱤᱱᱴᱟᱨᱯᱷᱮᱥ ᱵᱷᱟᱜ ᱨᱮ A' Design Award ᱠᱟᱥᱟ ᱯᱩᱨᱚᱥᱠᱟᱨ ᱡᱤᱛᱠᱟᱨ

38,835

ᱡᱟᱸᱪ ᱟᱠᱟᱱ ᱮᱣᱟᱨᱰ ᱡᱤᱛᱠᱟᱨ

#151726 ᱞᱟᱜᱤᱫ ᱮᱣᱟᱨᱰ ᱦᱟᱞᱚᱛ ᱡᱟᱸᱪ

ᱥᱟᱭᱤᱴ ᱧᱮᱞ ᱢᱮ A' Design Award ᱨᱮ ᱧᱮᱞ ᱢᱮ ᱯᱨᱮᱥ ᱨᱤᱞᱤᱡ ᱯᱩᱨᱥᱠᱟᱨ ᱵᱮᱡ

ᱨᱚᱝ

ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱ

Ourability Connect Dashboard ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱱᱮᱴᱣᱟᱨᱠᱤᱝ ᱢᱚᱸᱪ ᱵᱟᱵᱚᱛ ᱛᱮ

ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱯᱟᱱᱛᱮ ᱫᱚ ᱱᱤᱛᱚᱜ ᱟᱹᱰᱤ ᱵᱟᱹᱲᱛᱤ ᱨᱮᱜᱮ ᱫᱟᱨᱟᱢ ᱜᱮᱭᱟ, ᱵᱟᱹᱲᱛᱤ ᱠᱟᱛᱮ ᱚᱠᱚᱭ ᱠᱚ ᱚᱯᱟᱝ ᱢᱮᱱᱟᱜ ᱠᱚᱣᱟ᱾ ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱪᱤᱨᱜᱟᱹᱞ ᱠᱚ ᱫᱚ ᱚᱯᱟᱝ ᱦᱚᱲ ᱠᱚ ᱞᱟᱹᱜᱤᱫ ᱯᱟᱲᱦᱟᱣᱜ ᱥᱟᱱᱟᱢ ᱵᱟᱭ ᱛᱟᱦᱮᱸᱱᱟ, ᱡᱟᱦᱟᱸ ᱠᱷᱟᱹᱛᱤᱨ ᱩᱱᱠᱩ ᱞᱟᱹᱜᱤᱫ ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱥᱩᱵᱤᱫᱷᱟ ᱯᱟᱱᱛᱮ ᱦᱚᱸ ᱟᱹᱰᱤ ᱨᱮᱜᱮ ᱨᱟᱹᱥᱠᱟᱹ ᱜᱮᱭᱟ᱾ Ability Connect Dashboard ᱫᱚ ᱚᱯᱟᱝ ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱯᱟᱱᱛᱮᱭᱟᱹ ᱟᱨ ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤᱭᱟᱹ ᱠᱚ ᱮᱭᱟᱭ-ᱪᱟᱹᱞᱩ ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱯᱟᱱᱛᱮ ᱟᱨ ᱡᱚᱯᱚᱲᱟᱣ ᱢᱚᱸᱪ ᱛᱮ ᱥᱚᱠᱛᱤ ᱮᱢᱟᱜ ᱠᱚᱣᱟ᱾ ᱱᱚᱶᱟ ᱫᱚ ᱩᱥᱩᱞ ᱥᱟᱱᱟᱢ ᱠᱩ ᱞᱟᱹᱜᱤᱫ ᱥᱩᱵᱤᱫᱷᱟ ᱠᱚ ᱮᱢᱟ, ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱯᱟᱱᱛᱮᱭᱟᱹ ᱠᱚ ᱥᱚᱢᱵᱷᱟᱵᱤᱛ ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤᱭᱟᱹ ᱠᱚ ᱥᱟᱶ ᱡᱚᱯᱚᱲᱟᱣᱟ ᱟᱨ ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤᱭᱟᱹ ᱠᱚ ᱦᱚᱸ ᱟᱯᱱᱟᱨ ᱫᱟᱠᱷᱚᱞ ᱠᱚ ᱧᱟᱢ ᱫᱟᱲᱮᱭᱟᱜ-ᱟ᱾ ᱱᱚᱶᱟ ᱨᱮᱱᱟᱜ ᱫᱷᱮᱭᱟᱱ ᱫᱚ ᱥᱟᱢᱮᱞ ᱟᱨ ᱥᱟᱱᱟᱢ ᱠᱩ ᱞᱟᱹᱜᱤᱫ ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱ, ᱟᱨ ᱮᱭᱟᱭ ᱴᱮᱠᱱᱚᱞᱚᱡᱤ ᱨᱮ, ᱥᱚᱢᱟᱱ ᱫᱟᱣ ᱵᱟᱲᱦᱟᱣ ᱨᱮ ᱢᱮᱱᱟᱜ-ᱟ᱾

ᱢᱟᱱᱟᱱ

A' Design Award ᱠᱟᱥᱟ ᱯᱩᱨᱚᱥᱠᱟᱨ ᱵᱟᱵᱚᱛ ᱛᱮ

Ourability Connect Dashboard ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱱᱮᱴᱣᱟᱨᱠᱤᱝ ᱢᱚᱸᱪ ᱫᱚ A' Design Award ᱠᱟᱥᱟ ᱯᱩᱨᱚᱥᱠᱟᱨ ᱧᱟᱢ ᱟᱠᱟᱱᱟ, ᱱᱚᱶᱟ ᱫᱚ ᱱᱟᱣᱟ ᱵᱷᱟᱵᱱᱟ ᱛᱮ ᱵᱷᱟᱞᱟᱭ ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱ ᱠᱚ ᱞᱟᱹᱜᱤᱫ ᱮᱢ ᱟᱠᱟᱱ ᱥᱚᱢᱟᱱ ᱠᱟᱱᱟ᱾ ᱱᱚᱶᱟ ᱠᱚ ᱫᱚ ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱᱟᱨ ᱠᱚ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱵᱷᱟᱵᱱᱟ ᱟᱨ ᱵᱷᱟᱞᱟᱭ ᱠᱟᱢᱤ ᱡᱷᱟᱞᱠᱟᱣ ᱠᱚ᱾ Ourability Connect Dashboard ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱱᱮᱴᱣᱟᱨᱠᱤᱝ ᱢᱚᱸᱪ ᱫᱚ ᱠᱚᱞᱟ, ᱣᱤᱜᱭᱟᱱ, ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱ ᱟᱨ ᱴᱮᱠᱱᱚᱞᱚᱡᱤ ᱨᱮᱭᱟᱜ ᱥᱤᱢᱟ ᱵᱟᱲᱦᱟᱣ ᱟᱨ ᱫᱩᱱᱤᱭᱟ ᱵᱷᱟᱞᱟᱭ ᱞᱟᱹᱜᱤᱫ ᱜᱚᱲᱚ ᱮᱢ ᱠᱟᱱᱟ᱾

ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱ ᱯᱤᱪᱷᱟ ᱨᱮ

ᱯᱨᱮᱥ ᱠᱤᱴ

ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱤᱱᱟᱨ ᱧᱮᱞ ᱠᱷᱚᱱ ᱠᱨᱮᱰᱤᱴ, ᱴᱤᱢ ᱥᱫᱚᱥᱭ ᱟᱨ ᱴᱮᱠᱱᱤᱠᱮᱞ ᱵᱤᱵᱚᱨᱚᱬ ᱮᱢ ᱟᱠᱟᱱᱟ᱾

ᱟᱞᱜᱟ ᱜᱩᱱ ᱠᱚ: 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.
ᱢᱟᱯ ᱟᱨ ᱯᱮᱠᱮᱡᱤᱝ: This product is a web application
ᱴᱮᱜ ᱠᱚ: Dashboard, Accessible Technology, Job Dashboard, Accessibility, Inclusive Design,
ᱛᱮᱭᱟᱨ ᱛᱮᱠᱱᱚᱞᱚᱡᱤ: 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.
ᱰᱤᱡᱟᱭᱱ ᱪᱮᱞᱮᱧ: 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.
ᱜᱚᱵᱮᱥᱚᱱᱟ: 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.
ᱯᱨᱮᱨᱚᱱᱟ: 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
ᱯᱨᱚᱡᱮᱠᱴ ᱥᱚᱢᱚᱭ: 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
ᱠᱟᱹᱢᱤ ᱦᱚᱨ: 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.
ᱪᱤᱛᱟᱹᱨ ᱥᱟᱹᱦᱟ: 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.