Ally
Ally
Ally
The Canadian immigration process can be complex and difficult to navigate, leaving many international students and workers feeling uncertain both during their studies and after graduation. Ally was created to support and empower the international community by providing clear, accessible information that helps individuals confidently navigate the immigration process and work towards securing stable status in Canada.
The Canadian immigration process can be complex and difficult to navigate, leaving many international students and workers feeling uncertain both during their studies and after graduation. Ally was created to support and empower the international community by providing clear, accessible information that helps individuals confidently navigate the immigration process and work towards securing stable status in Canada.
Project Year: 2019
Role: UI/UX, App Design, Motion Graphics
Status: Complete
Tools used: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Figma
Project Year: 2019
Role: UI/UX, App Design, Motion Graphics
Status: Complete
Tools used: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Figma
Project Year: 2019
Role: UI/UX, App Design, Motion Graphics
Status: Complete
Tools used: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Figma
The Problem
The Problem
The Problem
International students and immigrants often face lengthy and complicated documentation processes, which have become even more challenging due to the impact of COVID-19. As a result, many applicants feel confused and may end up wasting time and resources on unreliable solutions, especially those found online from unqualified sources.
The app's design should prioritize user-friendliness, especially for non-native English speakers, who make up its primary audience. To ensure accessibility, the language used has to be kept simple and approachable.
Additionally, the app should be clear and concise, helping users navigate the immigration process without feeling overwhelmed, especially for those who are new to their journey in Canada.
With this vision in mind, I moved on to the first design step—selecting a color palette and fonts. I chose purple to symbolize ambition and white for clarity. For the display font, I selected Arial Rounded MT Bold, as its rounded style conveys friendliness and approachability. For body text, I used SF Pro Light, a default Apple font, to ensure users experience a familiar and seamless interface
International students and immigrants often face lengthy and complicated documentation processes, which have become even more challenging due to the impact of COVID-19. As a result, many applicants feel confused and may end up wasting time and resources on unreliable solutions, especially those found online from unqualified sources.
The app's design should prioritize user-friendliness, especially for non-native English speakers, who make up its primary audience. To ensure accessibility, the language used has to be kept simple and approachable.
Additionally, the app should be clear and concise, helping users navigate the immigration process without feeling overwhelmed, especially for those who are new to their journey in Canada.
With this vision in mind, I moved on to the first design step—selecting a color palette and fonts. I chose purple to symbolize ambition and white for clarity. For the display font, I selected Arial Rounded MT Bold, as its rounded style conveys friendliness and approachability. For body text, I used SF Pro Light, a default Apple font, to ensure users experience a familiar and seamless interface
The Process
The Process
The Process
I began the project by researching existing immigration apps to identify gaps in how they addressed users' needs for a simple, effective solution. While many apps are useful, I found that their user interfaces were often too complicated, making navigation challenging.
I then created a user persona based on someone struggling to navigate the Canadian immigration system. From there, I mapped out their journey, showing how they discover Ally, how the app helps them, and how they successfully complete their immigration paperwork. This process also allowed me to identify potential issues or inconsistencies in the app’s navigation. Finally, I designed the app flow and developed low-fidelity screens to bring the concept to life.
I began the project by researching existing immigration apps to identify gaps in how they addressed users' needs for a simple, effective solution. While many apps are useful, I found that their user interfaces were often too complicated, making navigation challenging.
I then created a user persona based on someone struggling to navigate the Canadian immigration system. From there, I mapped out their journey, showing how they discover Ally, how the app helps them, and how they successfully complete their immigration paperwork. This process also allowed me to identify potential issues or inconsistencies in the app’s navigation. Finally, I designed the app flow and developed low-fidelity screens to bring the concept to life.
The Result
The Result
The Result
The final result is the Ally app, which features four key components that work together seamlessly to offer users a simple, intuitive navigation experience. These features guide users to the right resources and information, helping them successfully navigate various immigration processes.
The final result is the Ally app, which features four key components that work together seamlessly to offer users a simple, intuitive navigation experience. These features guide users to the right resources and information, helping them successfully navigate various immigration processes.
Onboarding
Onboarding
Onboarding
Users begin by completing the app's onboarding process, where they provide details about their education, field of study, work status, and student status. This information helps determine their eligibility within Canada's point-based immigration system. After creating an account, users log in to the main page, which is personalized based on the details they provided during onboarding. The main page features a variety of blogs covering immigration topics, along with expert tips and insights from the international community to support users through their journey.
Users begin by completing the app's onboarding process, where they provide details about their education, field of study, work status, and student status. This information helps determine their eligibility within Canada's point-based immigration system. After creating an account, users log in to the main page, which is personalized based on the details they provided during onboarding. The main page features a variety of blogs covering immigration topics, along with expert tips and insights from the international community to support users through their journey.
Messaging Feature
Messaging Feature
Messaging Feature
The Messaging and Appointments features work together to offer users a convenient way to connect with immigration experts. Users can communicate with experts online and schedule in-person appointments, providing greater flexibility and efficiency. This approach not only gives users multiple options for expert advice but also helps reduce the overwhelming demand for in-person consultations, allowing for more streamlined communication.
The Messaging and Appointments features work together to offer users a convenient way to connect with immigration experts. Users can communicate with experts online and schedule in-person appointments, providing greater flexibility and efficiency. This approach not only gives users multiple options for expert advice but also helps reduce the overwhelming demand for in-person consultations, allowing for more streamlined communication.
Navigation Feature
Navigation Feature
Navigation Feature
The Navigation feature prompts users to specify their immigration issue. Based on this information, the app then directs users to relevant offices offering consultations, providing details on the location, directions, and distance, tailored to their preferred mode of transportation.
The Navigation feature prompts users to specify their immigration issue. Based on this information, the app then directs users to relevant offices offering consultations, providing details on the location, directions, and distance, tailored to their preferred mode of transportation.
Document Check
Document Check
Document Check
The Document Check feature is the core of Ally, providing users with the essential resources and guidance needed to complete their immigration process. Similar to the Navigation feature, the app first asks users to identify their immigration issue. Based on this, Ally presents an overview of the process, including its difficulty, a summary from reliable sources like the IRCC website, along with associated fees and estimated processing times. Users can then proceed through the necessary steps, filling out required documents along the way. Once all information is provided, users can mark the task as complete and submit their documents for Ally to verify eligibility. The final application package can be emailed to users for submission to the IRCC, as the official application must be completed on their website.
The Document Check feature is the core of Ally, providing users with the essential resources and guidance needed to complete their immigration process. Similar to the Navigation feature, the app first asks users to identify their immigration issue. Based on this, Ally presents an overview of the process, including its difficulty, a summary from reliable sources like the IRCC website, along with associated fees and estimated processing times. Users can then proceed through the necessary steps, filling out required documents along the way. Once all information is provided, users can mark the task as complete and submit their documents for Ally to verify eligibility. The final application package can be emailed to users for submission to the IRCC, as the official application must be completed on their website.
