About

02

Uplift

Community

Justice

Reentry

Class

Interaction Design II

Duration

8 weeks

Typefaces

Montag, Acumin Pro, Whyte

Deliverables

Logo, App

Problem

For many individuals reentering society after incarceration, rebuilding social connections, finding support, and staying on track can be overwhelming and isolating.Existing social apps and support services are often fragmented, impersonal, or difficult to navigate, leaving justice-impacted individuals without the structured, compassionate support they need to succeed.

Solution

Uplift provides a supportive, human-centered platform that pairs justice-impacted individuals with peer mentors, social groups, and structured progress tracking. It not only fosters connection among those in similar situations, but also offers essential guidance and support to help users thrive.

Understanding The Needs of Justice Impacted People

Interviews revealed that justice-impacted individuals face deep challenges when reentering society, particularly around rebuilding meaningful relationships and creating daily structure. These insights shaped Uplift’s mission to provide social and emotional support through mentorship and community, while offering practical tools that help users stay focused, organized, and empowered in their journey forward.

At the time, I didn’t really have a support system. My family connections grew later, but in the beginning, it felt like I was alone.
Cutting ties with friends was one of the hardest parts, but I knew I couldn’t go back to those relationships. It’s hard finding new people who understand.
It caused a lot of anxiety and panic attacks. I often feel judged and don’t really have anyone to turn to.
Routine is very important. I mostly use my calendar now, but I really need a well-structured plan to keep on track.

Crafting Personas

Drawing from user interviews, 2 personas were created to represent the key challenges and motivations of justice-impacted individuals. These personas reflect users who are seeking new social connections, struggling to build daily structure, and facing emotional hurdles such as anxiety and isolation.

Structuring the Experience

After defining the user's needs, I started mapping the app, making sure the most important social features were intuitive and easy to navigate. This helped shape the ultimate structure of the wireframes, keeping the user interface minimal while still offering users quick access to important features. This layout gives users a clear path to connect with others, stay on top of tasks, and feel supported throughout their journey — all without overwhelming them.

Key Takeaway from Creating Uplift

After defining the user's needs, I started mapping the app, making sure the most important social features were intuitive and easy to navigate. This helped shape the ultimate structure of the wireframes, keeping the user interface minimal while still offering users quick access to important features. This layout gives users a clear path to connect with others, stay on top of tasks, and feel supported throughout their journey — all without overwhelming them.

More Projects

03

Converge

04

Soluna

Let's Talk!

graemeestanton@gmail.com