Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY)
Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY)
Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY)
Overview
Overview
Overview
I worked in a cross-functional team to conduct app-wide audits and design new features for Fresh Lifelines for Youth’s (FLY) coaching and legal education app.
I worked in a cross-functional team to conduct app-wide audits and design new features for Fresh Lifelines for Youth’s (FLY) coaching and legal education app.
Timeline:
May 2026 - Aug 2026
Timeline:
May 2026 - Aug 2026
Role:
Product Designer
Role:
Product Designer
Team:
1 Product Manager
1 Design Manager
1 Technical Manager
3 Designers
6 Developers
3 Stakeholders
Team:
1 Product Manager
1 Design Manager
1 Technical Manager
3 Designers
6 Developers
3 Stakeholders
Skills:
Design Systems
Accessible Design
Trauma-Informed Design
Audience:
Youth impacted by the justice system
Skills:
Design Systems
Accessible Design
Trauma-Informed Design
Skills:
Design Systems
Accessible Design
Trauma-Informed Design
Audience:
Youth impacted by the justice system
Audience:
Youth impacted by the justice system
Our Starting Point
Our Starting Point
Auditing
Auditing
Quick Guides
Quick Guides
Chat Flagging
Chat Flagging
Dev Team Assistance
Dev Team Assistance
Reflection
Reflection
OUR STARTING POINT
OUR STARTING POINT
The previous designers already delivered a prototype fulfilling FLY’s original goal… so what role do we have?
The previous designers already delivered a prototype fulfilling FLY’s original goal… so what role do we have?
The previous designers already delivered a prototype fulfilling FLY’s original goal… so what role do we have?
The purpose of this app is to provide quicker communication opportunities between Youth and their Coaches, and move paper-based resources to digital for easier access. While there were a couple of additional features to build out, the given designs already established a solid foundation–so we approached this project with the goal of refinement.
The purpose of this app is to provide quicker communication opportunities between Youth and their Coaches, and move paper-based resources to digital for easier access. While there were a couple of additional features to build out, the given designs already established a solid foundation–so we approached this project with the goal of refinement.
AUDITING
AUDITING
Uncovering design system inconsistencies and features substandard to WCAG 2.2
Uncovering design system inconsistencies and features substandard to WCAG 2.2
Uncovering design system inconsistencies and features substandard to WCAG 2.2
When conducting app-wide audits, we noticed inconsistent uses of UI elements, features failing to meet WCAG 2.2 contrast and touch target standards, and localized style guides only accessible by previous designers. This created the opportunity to build and apply a shared design system library, using Figma’s Simple Design System, that ensures consistency and fluid user flows, meets accessibility standards, and is available to all future FLY designers and developers with documentation on how/when to use certain elements.
When conducting app-wide audits, we noticed inconsistent uses of UI elements, features failing to meet WCAG 2.2 contrast and touch target standards, and localized style guides only accessible by previous designers. This created the opportunity to build and apply a shared design system library, using Figma’s Simple Design System, that ensures consistency and fluid user flows, meets accessibility standards, and is available to all future FLY designers and developers with documentation on how/when to use certain elements.
QUICK GUIDES
QUICK GUIDES
Designing at-the-ready, scannable guides for Youth to reference during high-stress scenarios
Designing at-the-ready, scannable guides for Youth to reference during high-stress scenarios
Designing at-the-ready, scannable guides for Youth to reference during high-stress scenarios
While the original designs provided in-depth legal education material for Youth to review, our client wanted an additional feature that delivers real-time support on-the-go. So we designed scannable screens with key information for various high stakes scenarios, like Police Encounters, accessible right from the home page. Here, the most actionable items lie at the top with color coded icons depicting “Dos and Don’ts;” supporting information are held within dropdowns to reduce additional cognitive overload.
While the original designs provided in-depth legal education material for Youth to review, our client wanted an additional feature that delivers real-time support on-the-go. So we designed scannable screens with key information for various high stakes scenarios, like Police Encounters, accessible right from the home page. Here, the most actionable items lie at the top with color coded icons depicting “Dos and Don’ts;” supporting information are held within dropdowns to reduce additional cognitive overload.
CHAT FLAGGING
CHAT FLAGGING
Maintaining a safe and positive digital environment between Youth and Coaches
Maintaining a safe and positive digital environment between Youth and Coaches
Maintaining a safe and positive digital environment between Youth and Coaches
While having open chat rooms allow Youth and Coaches to communicate quicker, it prompts the risk of inappropriate language use.
While having open chat rooms allow Youth and Coaches to communicate quicker, it prompts the risk of inappropriate language use.
When a Youth sends a message with inappropriate language, Coaches can choose to either log the instance into the Youth’s history report, escalate to the higher-ups, or dismiss entirely. We provided these options considering each instance is a case-by-case scenario and shouldn’t be restricted to one action. This is for the sake of establishing positive relationships and habits between both parties, ensuring a safe digital space for all.
When a Youth sends a message with inappropriate language, Coaches can choose to either log the instance into the Youth’s history report, escalate to the higher-ups, or dismiss entirely. We provided these options considering each instance is a case-by-case scenario and shouldn’t be restricted to one action. This is for the sake of establishing positive relationships and habits between both parties, ensuring a safe digital space for all.
If a Coach decides to flag an instance, Youth are notified to maintain transparency; this is key to building healthy relationships and for the Youth’s own accountability.
If a Coach decides to flag an instance, Youth are notified to maintain transparency; this is key to building healthy relationships and for the Youth’s own accountability.
DEV TEAM ASSISTANCE
DEV TEAM ASSISTANCE
To ensure the product is ready to ship, developers built out the original designs but needed some UI updates
To ensure the product is ready to ship, developers built out the original designs but needed some UI updates
To ensure the product is ready to ship, developers built out the original designs but needed some UI updates
Midway through the project, designers transitioned into a support role for developers, in addition to designing new features, as this was more feasible than working side-by-side. We helped update smaller elements like email verification onboarding screens, preparing a new design system for future teams, and ensuring all screens are shipping-ready for future developers to build out.
Midway through the project, designers transitioned into a support role for developers, in addition to designing new features, as this was more feasible than working side-by-side. We helped update smaller elements like email verification onboarding screens, preparing a new design system for future teams, and ensuring all screens are shipping-ready for future developers to build out.
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
I’m used to designing from the bottom-up, but here I had the opportunity to design top-down
I’m used to designing from the bottom-up, but here I had the opportunity to design top-down
I’m used to designing from the bottom-up, but here I had the opportunity to design top-down
I was worried there wouldn’t be much I could bring to the table given nearly all designs were flushed out–though I was quickly proven wrong. Upon conducting various audits, the team and I noticed many gaps that could be filled. These were areas I lacked expertise in, but were definitely things I wanted to learn like accessibility and trauma-informed design. So while it was a rocky start, I’m proud of how the rest unfolded, how much I learned, and the work I contributed to FLY’s mission.
I was worried there wouldn’t be much I could bring to the table given nearly all designs were flushed out–though I was quickly proven wrong. Upon conducting various audits, the team and I noticed many gaps that could be filled. These were areas I lacked expertise in, but were definitely things I wanted to learn like accessibility and trauma-informed design. So while it was a rocky start, I’m proud of how the rest unfolded, how much I learned, and the work I contributed to FLY’s mission.
“The undergrad designers and designers we partnered with brought not only the technical skills we needed, but curiosity, creativity, humility, and a genuine commitment to understanding our young people and our work.”
Kassa Belay (Vice President of Programs and Impact, Fresh Lifelines for Youth)
“The undergrad designers and designers we partnered with brought not only the technical skills we needed, but curiosity, creativity, humility, and a genuine commitment to understanding our young people and our work.”
Kassa Belay (Vice President of Programs and Impact, Fresh Lifelines for Youth)
Thank you to FLY and Develop for Good for partnering and allowing us to contribute to the amazing work you both do!
Thank you to FLY and Develop for Good for partnering and allowing us to contribute to the amazing work you both do!
more works !
more works !
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involveMINT Chat-Coordination
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