SOLACE
An encrypted communication tool for journalists in the field that prioritizes speed and conciseness.
Clear, Concise & Safe Communication In Hectic Environments
During the 2020 Minneapolis riots and the unrest that followed, thousands of journalists across the country were thrust into the world of conflict journalism for the first time.
Communication was ad-hoc, messy, and had varying levels of security. During some of the most hectic moments, critical information would be lost among the various applications, and working journalist groups would struggle to interpret information on the fly.
Solace is a phone-based application that seeks to make team communication more concise & relevant in the field. Meanwhile, making sure that teams of journalists make it home on any given night.
Methods + Programs Used
InVision
Sketch
Contextual Inquiry
User Research
Interactive Prototype
Interviewing Journalists About Their Communication Styles On The Ground
This project had a particular interest to me, I was a freelance photojournalist during much of the 2020 unrest, working with multiple organizations as wells as submitting to newswires. I had not only my own unique situation but also had a wealth of colleagues to research and test with.
This project started off uniquely as I had a clear set of goals, but they were also my own, so I needed to be wary of my own biases. To navigate these, I tried to keep my sourcing of research participants diverse, from the traditional credentialed full-time professional journalist to the where the lines blur with activist-photographers.
Determining Which Features Mattered The Most
During the research phase of this project, a surprising issue emerged, there was not a deficit of feature ideas, but rather an incredible bounty. This research needed to be synthesized at the end of the day, and critical features needed to be selected to prioritize.
Three pillars of the app were established, the prioritization of information, unified encryption, and speed of communication. Features that fell under these categories were prioritized first.
Testing Usability With Expert Users & Specialists
After key features were selected the first iteration of the prototype was created using Sketch wireframes and InVision. This prototype was presented to two journalists and two expert designers who ran through scenarios with the prototype in front of them. The end result was a visual overhaul of the prototype into its current state.
Finalizing an Interactive Prototype
After usability testing & consultation with both journalists and expert designers, a final prototype was developed. Using data from the testing sessions, a visual overhaul became the priority, specifically, using a map as the focal point of the visual overhaul. On this map, users could better utilize certain systems to communicate and stay safe.
Presenting the Final Product
Version Two of the prototype was presented alongside a presentation to an audience of cohortmates and other Prime Academy attendees. In this presentation, the problem, the prototype, and a SWOT analysis summary are covered to see where this app can find a place to succeed in the future. A likely plan is a possible integration into an existing encrypted messaging application as a “teams” function.
A tool for the evolving and increasingly dangerous field of journalism
Private, concise, and fast communication has now become more important than ever. It is required to shine a light on the truth.