Increase volunteer applications by 25% and reduce manual scheduling time by 40% for a nonprofit with a scheduling web app
Bread & Roses is a community-focused non-profit that coordinates over 50,000 volunteers to fight food insecurity through programs like food outreach and emergency pantries. In the fall of 2024, my team helped Bread & Roses build a scheduling web app to solve a critical operational challenge: their manual scheduling process was time-consuming for staff and cumbersome for new volunteers, which slows down the organizational efficiency.
As the solo designer, I led the project through an end-to-end UX process, collaborating closely with the project manager, tech lead, and a team of 10 engineers. Using agile practices - sprint planning, workshops, and weekly standups - I delivered 7+ major product flows on time, resulting in a fully shipped 0-1 product in May 2025.
Date
Sep 2024 - May 2025
Role
Lead UI/UX Designer
Skills
Interaction Design, Visual Design, UX Research, Problem Solving
Team
1 Project Manager, 1 Tech Lead, 10 Developers, 1 UI/UX Designer (me)
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
TL;DR
The project at a glance
⎯⎯⎯
The Problem
THE CURRENT BACK-AND-FORTH COORDINATION IS TIME-CONSUMING AND INEFFICIENT
Bread & Roses admin currently manually schedules volunteer slots through a form on the website and in-person talks. Additionally, it’s challenging to mass communicate with all their volunteers in a timely manner in case of schedule/shift changes or announcements.
The Solution
A NEW WAY TO MANAGE VOLUNTEER SIGNUPS
A centralized system that facilitates the time slot scheduling process for both volunteers and admins, as well as allowing admins to mass communicate with volunteers on any schedule changes.
Building a robust design system
I developed a 0–1 design system using the components I created. Since the non-profit already had a branding guideline, my focus was on expanding it into a more robust and scalable system that ensured consistent visuals across all screens.
Full showcase is underway ૮₍˃̵֊ ˂̵ ₎ა For now, enjoy some matcha/ try the site yourself/ read the kind testimonials below:)
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
Testimonials
The successful outcomes of the project
⎯⎯⎯
Press Release
I was honored to be featured by Tufts on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn for this year-long project that supports real community needs! This experience has definitely deepened my passion for designing for social impact, something close to my heart as a UX designer.
Read more about our work and my contribution in this article link!
Positive Feedback
“We worked directly with three students, An, Johnny, and Won, and they were absolutely incredible. We came in with a general idea of what we wanted, but they really guided us through the entire project. They helped shape the vision by offering insight into what would be most accessible and user-friendly, and they were incredibly thorough, thoughtful, and professional every step of the way. It truly felt like a collaborative partnership, and they made the whole process feel smooth and exciting.”
Development & Communications Manager
“We were so impressed by the work the team did. It honestly wowed us that they’re able to take on such a meaningful and impactful project, all while being full-time students. The amount of time, passion, and skill they dedicated to helping our organization is really inspiring. It speaks volumes about their character and commitment to making a difference. We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with them!”
Development & Communications Manager