Mehul Shah
I am a communicator and UX designer passionate about harnessing technology to craft meaningful experiences and tell compelling stories. I seek to design solutions that not only solve problems but elevate interactions.
I am a communicator and UX designer passionate about harnessing technology to craft meaningful experiences and tell compelling stories. I seek to design solutions that not only solve problems but elevate interactions.
AssimilaUK improves the social integration of migrant workers in the UK by fostering meaningful, community-driven interactions and providing a source of ‘journey-based’ support.
Migrant workers, defined as people who move overseas for work, form 5% of the global population and close to 20% in the UK – with many in the critical sectors. However, several face challenges, be it discrimination or social isolation.
UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 10 underpins the direction of this project, in enabling Asian migrant workers to engage within society more positively.
An iterative process was employed to support a more human-centred approach, emphasising the interconnections between different methodologies for a more optimal outcome.
The project underwent two major pivots that significantly shaped the solution. During which six parties were engaged in the primary research phase, four users in the brainstorming phase, and another four during prototyping.
A holistic approach was conducted to solicit perspectives of users and a non-user for insights into migrant workers behaviours, experiences and opportunities.
Methods include:
– Six contextual semi-structured interviews with users including one with council staff
– Card sorting to understand users priorities in key services and service features
– ‘Hate Letter’ to analyse user frustrations and in turn areas of improvement
– Secondary research (including online ethnography) to understand sentiments, trends and pain points.
Two distilled key insights pursued were bringing people in similar situations together and the need for a seamless and integrated service to support migrant workers.
As a service AssimilaUK provisions a complete and accessible journey for users, fosters synergy for businesses organisations, and supports the wellbeing of the community.
The app curates the experience through personalisation, leveraging AI and geolocation technologies.
Key Feature 1: Events
Users can select suggested events through various categories. They can also book tickets, free or paid, directly through the app via a third-party payment module.
Key Feature 2: Connect
AssimilaUK’s unique selling point. Instead of matching based on similar interests, you first choose from a list of Challenges, each varying in difficulty and points. Then you will be matched with other like-minded parties with whom you can take things forward.
Key Feature 3: Guide
The Guide function helps users prepare for their arrival and better understand local culture, etiquette, and government services. If one needs further clarification, they can connect with a seasoned migrant worker or a volunteer.
As a UX Designer I believe in practising empathy, maintaining communication and staying curious – through this project and as a career blueprint.
My professional goal is to pursue service design and steward leadership, inspiring others to design with purpose and empathy, and creating positive community experiences.
Singapore Public Sector (Communications, Product Marketing, UX Design)