The first transition tracking app of its kind
The TRACE app
The design for TRACE was selected to be featured in The Best Simple App Designs by DesignRush, a platform known for promoting great app designs.
The Challenge
Create a product that improves the lives of Transgender and non-binary individuals through better supporting their experience of transition.
With Trans activist Aydian Dowling, and developer Taylor Greene, we began an exploration into the solution for this idea.
Why its worth solving:
The trans & non-binary communities are underserved
There are nearly 2.25 million transgender and non-binary individuals in the US alone and yet currently the app markets do not offer much to this community beyond dating apps.
Online communities are not safe for LGBTQ+
71% of the community claim online is the safest place, but 41% report being cyberbullied.
Tracking transition currently requires many apps
Tracking milestones and progress in your transition is important but can be difficult as there is no app that currently supports the full vision (photos, voice, hormones, anniversaries, etc).
Access to support can be lifesaving
42% of trans youth consider suicide, but their risk goes down by 60% if they have at least one supportive adult.
First idea:
Our hypothesized solution would be to create a transition recording app.
Discover/Define
Survey/interviews
Aydian and I reached out to the community through interviews and surveys to find out if an app solution was the right approach.
Sample user interview notes on photo tracking feature
Feature prioritization list for photo tracking component
Overall findings:
An app solution is highly desired
100% of our surveyed community thought an app solution would improve their individual experience.
Tracking looks different for everyone
An app solution must cover a huge range of individual experiences. For example, HRT (hormone replacement therapy) can come in the form of a shot, a pill, a patch, or even gel and the frequencies for these hormones might be a week, two weeks, a month, or something else. We needed to ensure the app could accommodate flexibility.
Photo tracking is a top desired feature
During surveys, we found that photo tracking would be important for the app to include. We conducted interviews to better understand what successful photo tracking looked like. Taking user notes we were able to identify common blockers to success, the most desired features within photo tracking, as well as identify the user’s core motivations for using this type of tracking.
Allies crave direction
We discovered there is a real gap of healthy support between an ally and their transitioning loved one. Many are unsure how to show up for those in transition. They want to be supportive but often lack the means to keep their actions helpful. This is where we realized creating a tracking app alone would not be enough to serve the community. That allies, and their experiences needed to have a place here as well.
Need for Resources
Social media is flooded with misinformation regarding transitions. The users we surveyed are hungry for spaces they can trust, learn and lean on during this important time in their life. Allies also confirmed a need for direction and information that is accurate.
Research conclusion:
After reaching out to over 100 individuals tracking transitions, we knew an app solution was the right approach, but now we also knew that incorporating allies would be just as important in creating an impactful and meaningful space.
Based on our findings, we were able to ideate features and eventually prioritize and define the ones we felt would make the best MVP for our BETA launch.
Design
Now that we had a solid approach to our challenge, design began and included:
User flow of full product
Sketches of each feature and the screens for the UI
Wireframing out each screen and the anticipated components within Sketch and Figma
Low-fidelity prototypes clickable through Figma and Invision
Refine
In the refinement stage, we continued to improve the design until the most usable MVP was created.
High fidelity prototype with branding and UI components fully designed
Accessibility review
Usability testing included reviewing recorded sessions to identify user pain points
Ideation improving upon the design to resolve user issues followed by follow up user sessions to ensure the design improvements were resolved
Asset creation for development
Sketch of photo tracking component
Low fidelity prototype of photo tracking component created in Figma
Updated low fidelity prototype
Usability task results for photo tracking component
User flow usability pain points
High fidelity prototype created in Figma
BETA Launch
In Feb 2022 we launched our MVP for BETA testing. With over 2,300 people on our sign-up list at the time, in hours we had nearly 200 users testing the app and providing feedback. Our goal is to continue to add features and make improvements to the launch or public version of the app in June 2022.
Personal Growth
Being a co-founder of the TRACE app has allowed me the opportunity to wear many hats covering skills across everything from illustration and branding to project management and recruiting. Working on this project with this team and using my talent to serve and improve experiences for this under-served community has meant everything to me and keeps me inspired daily.
Results
First of its kind
There are no other apps geared toward helping individuals to track their full vision of transition while also providing a safe community space. TRACE is the first and ONLY product working toward this vision.
Accepted into gBETA
In September 2021, the TRACE team was accepted into the Beloit gBETA program where we participated in the accelerator. To watch our business pitch click here.
Raising capital
Our team is working to raise enough funds to ensure the growth of TRACE over the next year. With more than one investor committed we are on track to reach our goal of 500k.