In the United States, two thirds of people released from prison will eventually return to prison. Vantage had clear mission - to help people receive fair treatment while in the correctional system, and to get life changing treatment. I joined the company because I knew it would mean I could have a positive impact on people's lives.
For almost 20 years, Vantage had been working with state officials, parole officers, and imprisoned individuals to provide better technology that led to more fair and equitable treatment. It was well understood before I joined that once a person leaves a correctional facility, there is still a lot work that person is required to do. They have frequent parole check-ins, mandatory random drug-tests, they have to attend counceling, take courses, and more.
All of this rehabilitative work is important, but it's hard for individuals to accomplish when so frequently they don't have a car, they may not have a license, and they're trying to find work. As you can imagine, it can be very hard to find work that is flexible enough to accommodate the requirements of their rehabilitation.
The first time I asked someone about these challenges, they said:
"It's hard enough going to prison for drugs, but then, they take away your legs after. You can't even get around to all the meetings they make you go to."
There was a clear opportunity to make the experience better. The leadership team knew that over 98% of individuals acquired a smart phone within 7 days of being released. The team envisioned a web & mobile app that could allow people to schedule parole check-ins, find nearby drug-testing centers, access emotional distress hotlines, complete progress assessments, and take rehabilitative training - all from any internet connected device.
As the only designer at the company, it was on my shoulders to connect with PMs and stakeholders, and to lead the UX process for this new application.
I worked collaboratively with stakeholders to understand all of the functional requirements that would go into the initial MVP of this product. I developed a style guide with colors, layouts, and iconography that I designed to convey a sense of progress, learning, and optimism for the users. I led usability testing on numerous concepts for key areas of the application such as taking assessments, and completing rehabilitative courses.
At the time of the project, one of the aspects I was most proud of was the Duolingo "inspired" training page which I used to help users quickly consume tons of information in simple and non-overwhelming way. It shows the user what they've completed and provides a sense of progress. It shows which course have been started, which ones are unlocked, and what's ahead.
What I'm most proud of today is how I expanded the design team to include so many more people than just myself. I shared my understanding of UX principles and process with everyone I could. I held design brainstorms and critiques with as many stakeholders as possible. Even though I was the only one with the Designer title, I made sure my design team was highly inclusive and that everyone felt welcomed.
Together, we developed an application within 6 months that was used daily by over 50,000 people to make their rehabilitative treatment more accessible and achievable. From the hundreds of thousands of people who have since received rehabilitation from the app, I believe this is the most impactful and meaningful project I've ever had the privilege to be a part of.
