Compass Project

Co-designing a digital kiosk for Savannah’s unhoused neighbors

DATE

Mar 16, 2025

ROLES

UX Researcher, Visual Designer, Co-Design Facilitator

TIMELINE

10 week course

CLIENT

Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless (CSAH)

CLIENT

The Compass Project is a community-driven initiative aimed at improving access to resources for individuals experiencing homelessness in Savannah, Georgia. Through co-design workshops, our Savannah College of Art and Design team partnered with the Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless and people experiencing homelessness to design a digital kiosk prototype focused on trust, clarity, and accessibility.

Problem Statement

How might we co-design a digital tool that helps unhoused individuals find community resources quickly and easily, even under stress?

Savannah’s unhoused population often relies on outdated or fragmented printed lists to find food, shelter, and services. Many individuals lack consistent access to phones or the internet, and they experience a high cognitive load when navigating complex interfaces.

USER NEEDS

Centralized, fast, and reliable access to critical services they can trust.

Research goals

  • Understand barriers to accessing community resources

  • Identify preferences for kiosk content, structure, and tone

  • Co-create a usable and trustworthy interface with end users

Workshop 1: Mapping Resources

Participants created a community mural, filled out resource journals, and sorted puzzle pieces to categorize services by urgency and importance. The session introduced participants to the design process early and centered their lived experience in defining key needs.

Workshop 2: Interface Design

Using iPads and a Figma design kit, participants built wireframes for the kiosk interface based on real-life scenarios. They also explored visual preferences around color, icons, and layout to help shape the kiosk’s look and feel.

Workshop 3: User Testing & Refinement

Participants tested the prototype on iPads and a kiosk screen, walking through service-finding tasks and sharing feedback on layout and usability. Their input guided final adjustments to improve clarity and access.

Workshop 1: Insights

  • Word of mouth is the primary way people find services.

  • Clear service eligibility is crucial to avoid wasted trips.

  • Long-term needs, such as housing and employment, are just as important as short-term support.

  • All resources have some sense of urgency.

Workshop 2: Insights

  • Familiar layouts and search functions improve usability.

  • High contrast and bold elements support accessibility.

Workshop 3: Insights

  • High-contrast visuals are vital for outdoor visibility.

  • Large text and icons aid users with low vision or literacy.

  • Participants wanted more long-term resource info.

Wireframes

A fully tested, co-designed prototype kiosk interface was presented to CSAH and local stakeholders, now pending funding to be placed around the city.

This project taught me how vital it is to center user voice throughout the process. Working with our community partners changed how I think about power, trust, and usability.

This project was made possible through the collaboration and trust of community members, SCAD SERVE, and the Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless.

Thank you to Carlin, James, Octavian, Pamela, Anthony, Ade, Sarah, and Audrey, whose insights shaped every part of this work.

To our faculty advisor, Shannon Iacino, and to Jennifer Dulong, Stacey Murray, and Wanda Wesley for their continued partnership.

The student team consisted of Juliana Gonzales, Nyja Holland, Fozzie Kretschmer, Olivia Mullins, Rachel Prado, Dylan Randall-Newberg, Javier Sauce-Díaz, Nency Vaghani, and Pingyao Wan.