CerAid
CreAid is a fictional matching platform that connects non-profit organizations with creative designers to drive social change through good design.
Role
UX Research | UI Design
Tools
Figma | FigJam | Notion | Illustrator
Problem Statement
Over 600,000 non-profit associations in Germany often rely on outdated communication channels, have low digital visibility, and limited budgets for professional design.
At the same time, there are thousands of designers willing to contribute their skills voluntarily, but they lack a central platform to find such opportunities.
This potential for collaboration often remains untapped.
UX Research
The UX research strategy combined secondary research with primary data collection through qualitative user interviews and a quantitative online survey to gain a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the needs, challenges, and expectations of our target groups.
Designers Focus
Understanding what motivates designers to become socially engaged—with the goal of developing a user-centered matching experience.
Non-profits Focus
Understanding the challenges non-profit organizations face in design and communication—particularly with regard to resource shortages, digital visibility, and targeting audiences.
Secondary Research
Before we started working on our own solutions, it was crucial to understand what offerings already existed—and why they might not work.
Market and competitor analysis
Primary Research
Based on our observations, we wanted to validate our findings in practice—we had one week to do so.
4 in-depth interviews
40 online survey participants
The Key pain points
Designers don’t know where to look for projects that need design support.
Designers are more willing to collaborate on charitable projects when structured briefings enable them to quickly understand what is expected and the project is clearly defined.
Social organizations often lack the budget and access to professional design, even though they urgently need it to be more visible, effective, and communicative.
Social organizations are more willing to seek design assistance when access to professional designers is easy and free of charge.
Target Audience & Persona
Lisa Lorenz
Wants to use design to make a real impact, seeks clearly structured projects, feedback, and personal appreciation.
Solution Approach
-
Matching based on interests & topics
(e.g., inclusion, environmental protection) - Filterable project overview
-
Gamification elements
(engagement levels, badges) -
Community features
(forums, groups, reviews) -
Accessibility-focused design
(high contrast, large touch areas, scalable text)
Lo-Fi Wireframe
Based on the insights gained from the user journey map, we created low-fidelity wireframes to outline the basic structure and key interactions of the user interface. These initial designs allow us to test user flows and make adjustments quickly.
Design Principles
Human-Centered:
focus on people & relationships
Accessibility:
easy to use for everyone
Community & Engagement:
foster exchange and collaboration
UI Foundation
warm & cool color palette, friendly illustrations, clear icons, Inclusive Sans typeface
Prototyp
The prototype shows the click path of our user persona Lisa!
Conclusion and outlook
Many associations are looking for more than just creative output—they want genuine understanding and partnership-based cooperation. At the same time, designers want to use their skills in a meaningful way.
We hope that our vision will create a platform that facilitates exchange, strengthens trust, and makes collaboration intuitive—both functionally and emotionally.
It should provide space for genuine dialogue, mutual support, and joint action—accessible, barrier-free, and with a clear focus on community spirit.