Back to Home

#Doxa

#SocietalMovement

#Mobiledesign

#Figma

A new way to think about accessibility

To drive a shift in how disabilities are perceived and promoting inclusivity, while fostering the understanding that every individual, regardless of ability, is equally unique and valuable.

Problem to Solve

For people who understand what it's like to be different, businesses often fail to consider the necessary modifications needed. In order to help society shift their perspective and promote balance within our operating environment something has to change to create more inclusivity.
Given these concerns, the question raised was:

How can we create more opportunities for individuals with disabilities to feel confidently included and empowered and promote the understanding that we are all uniquely equal?

The spark of the research

The lack of up-to-date data contributes to the invisibility of people with disabilities. For example, the most recent census from Brazil's national statistics institute (IBGE) was conducted in 2010, which poses significant challenges for planning and implementing development policies that could improve the lives of people with disabilities.

Another important point is the broader understanding of accessibility. In Brazil, accessibility efforts are often centered on physical and architectural aspects. However, true accessibility requires addressing multiple dimensions to create an inclusive environment that fully supports people with disabilities.

This is where Doxa comes in…

Doxa is a platform that offers detailed information and user reviews on the level of accessibility various establishments provide. A tool for people who seek to explore the world despite their own unique differences.

Doxa is an evaluation service for people with disabilities that allows them to give their opinions in order to inform/alert other users about their perception of the accessibility, communication, and presentation of a service.

The intuitive of this product is to be the mediator between users and establishments with the objective of giving disabled people the ability to reclaim their independence and rights.

Watch the video to get a better idea behind the need for Doxa.

Objectives

Diversity

The unique qualities and characteristics that each person possesses are what make us beautiful individuals with distinct attributes.

Diversity

The unique qualities and characteristics that each person possesses are what make us beautiful individuals with distinct attributes.

Diversity

The unique qualities and characteristics that each person possesses are what make us beautiful individuals with distinct attributes.

Equity

It is essential to have mutual respect for differences and to recognize that accepting and embracing diversity can help boost self-esteem and foster empathy towards those who are different from us.

Equity

It is essential to have mutual respect for differences and to recognize that accepting and embracing diversity can help boost self-esteem and foster empathy towards those who are different from us.

Equity

It is essential to have mutual respect for differences and to recognize that accepting and embracing diversity can help boost self-esteem and foster empathy towards those who are different from us.

Representatives

Although we all have our unique differences, we are equal and deserving of mutual respect. By acknowledging and embracing diversity, we can create a more inclusive and compassionate society.

Representatives

Although we all have our unique differences, we are equal and deserving of mutual respect. By acknowledging and embracing diversity, we can create a more inclusive and compassionate society.

Representatives

Although we all have our unique differences, we are equal and deserving of mutual respect. By acknowledging and embracing diversity, we can create a more inclusive and compassionate society.

Transformation

We can broaden our perspective by breaking cultural patterns and overcoming attitudinal barriers.

Transformation

We can broaden our perspective by breaking cultural patterns and overcoming attitudinal barriers.

Transformation

We can broaden our perspective by breaking cultural patterns and overcoming attitudinal barriers.

Discovery Process & User Interviews

With this being one of my first independent projects I started with online research which gave me compassion for this people group. I started off with an idea of what I wanted to create for them but thanks to the design process, I didn't end there.

I was able to make connections with a brail school, disabled volleyball club, and deaf group that graciously allowed me to join in on their projects and immerse myself in their world.

This was an eye-opening experience for me for so many reasons but primarily it taught me something about design - you never know what your user really needs until you get on their level and walk a mile in their shoes.

After many open conversations with future users I heard many things they were hoping for but one thing was clear… They all wanted to reclaim their independence and rights. One of the main things standing in their way was how little establishments considered this people group.

User Journey/Flow Mapping

At this stage I created a mind map where I traced out the ideas on how to help these users reclaim their rights. There were many ideas present but what seemed most aligned with the users desires was a platform that would empower them to use their own voices to make the environments around them more accessible.

I then started flow mapping what this platform would look like and how it's features would function. This was a fun part of the process as I got to utilize the help of the users, implementing their ideas to make the ultimate platform for them.

Some of the ideas implemented

Customizable

Using filters, we provided a customizable experience for our users to search through establishments that cater to their specific deficiencies and compare the levels of accessibility each establishment provides.

Explore

This feature gave ideas and options to users who don't know exactly what they're looking for. Thereby rewarding accessible establishments with advertisement and giving users an experience of trying new places.

Establishment Incentives badges

Using badges we created a desire in businesses to work towards a more accessible environment. These badges are distributed and updated monthly incentivizing establishments to continue with progress and keep an accessible mindset.

User empowerment

By allowing users to leave their own reviews we were able to give a voice to the voiceless and empower this people group to give their opinion and make a real difference.

Rankings

A level system that helps users easily determine the accessibility of an establishment. These rankings were based off of real and reliable user reviews.

Mobile application concept following WCAG 2.1 requirements

Impact & Insights

All the effort and study of scenarios resulted in a transformation for everyone involved, providing me with a unique learning experience by immersing myself in the process and lives of disabled people.

I also had the opportunity to present my ideas to experienced designers, thanks to Alexandre Barros Neves, a Product Designer from Electrolux Group. This experience offered me valuable feedback and highlighted the impact and quality of my concept. Additionally, I successfully completed my undergraduate course and graduated as a Product Designer. This project marked the first time I truly had the opportunity to work independently and follow a design process from start to finish. It profoundly impacted me as a designer and changed how I view my role.

Throughout this process, I learned many valuable lessons. The most significant takeaway was the importance of understanding the potential users' perspectives and creating solutions that truly meet their needs, not just what we think they need. This experience gave me sensitivity to the unseen and a passion for bringing meaning to the intangible.