Flash
People connector and event finder for the Deaf community
Overview
Meet Flash
Flash is a social app with a unique focus on the Deaf community. Flash offers Deaf individuals around the country a way to find local events near them, stay involved in community news, and connect with other Deaf individuals.
Context
Filling the social gap
90% of Deaf individuals are born to hearing families. As a result, they may or may not have access to language or community. And unless in a larger city, it is challenging to find local events or create Deaf friendship which causes loneliness, isolation and lack of human connection.
Solution
Final product
Flash is a mobile app that gives the Deaf community one clear place to connect: find local events, follow Deaf creators and businesses, and book interpreting services without juggling multiple apps. The flow takes just a few simple steps, from creating a profile to RSVPing or booking an appointment. Every screen is built around clarity and strong color contrast so it stays easy to scan, tap and understand.
Solution
Compiled local events onto a home feed for instant viewing and easy access to RSVP events or see what’s happening in your set area.
Solution
Create a social media feed to showcase and partner with deaf businesses, and see primarily deaf media and content.
Process
Cultivating the app experience
As I created the interface, I started with an information architecture overview of the app flow to understand the pages to prioritize and additional key features. Then prototyped the UI to stimulate the user experience throughout the app.
Within Flash, I decided to include an appointments page. This reduces the hassle of going to multiple apps. Instead, there is one all-inclusive app to book appointments and request interpreting services in a few simple steps.
Imagining Flash
The essence of Flash is friendly, and calm while maintaining a bright and diverse feel. Flash’s logo has 2 hands to represent American Sign Language (ASL), and represent community. Flash was also named to emulate its efficient purpose and with ASL signing in mind: it is quick and easy to fingerspell and easy to develop into a hand sign (a unique sign representing something without fingerspelling).
When curating the style, I wanted to consider Deaf/hard of hearing users with other disabilities and ensure the app was accessible. I utilized the WebAIM Color Contrast checker to check accessibility. The colors and UI create a refreshing, quick feel with clarity as a key focus.
Outcome
Impact & outreach
Flash is made based on complaints heard from many Deaf individuals and common themes in childhood: loneliness, lack of Deaf representation or friends, lack of access to education or language. Flash is made to ease the loneliness and lack of access to language, community, and services, for all ages.
Solution
- events in real time
- RSVP or browse events within a set perimeter
Solution
- content from deaf creators and businesses
- reduce pain point of requesting interpreters for appointments → all in one place