Interactive Search for Tiiwa

Challenge:

Create a search application that encourages users to explore the Tiiwa directory of active African startups.

Tiiwa is a Canadian organization focused on the development of Africa by enabling African startups and initiatives. I worked as the lead product designer on the Tiiwa Discover initiative, creating a new way for patrons to find and support the numerous African startups within the available directory.

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The Tiiwa Discover initiative intended to increasingly engage the existing Tiiwa Toronto community to regularly explore the known startups/initiatives and to build the directory through submissions. Tiiwa Discover should be a prominent way to access grassroots companies and initiatives in the continent.

Design Iterations:

Combine exploratory and explicit search journeys

It became apparent through business meeting etc, that it was important to have both explicit and explortory search expereinces supported in the application.

• Explicit search would facilitate the use case of user that is looking distinct results
• Exploratory search would facilitate the requirement for users to discover and learn about the large amount of economic activity happening on the continent.
  

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The Tiiwa Discover initiative intended to increasingly engage the existing Tiiwa Toronto community to regularly explore the known startups/initiatives and to build the directory through submissions. Tiiwa Discover should be a prominent way to access grassroots companies and initiatives in the continent.

Outcomes:

A Delightful and Interactive Map

Through several interactions, the team settled on the linked design. Feedback on the final design was the success in creating an exciting search that was exciting and well designed to keep user's attention.