Haven Free Clinic

Designing an intra-departmental navigation system for volunteer logistics

In 2019-20, we worked with HAVEN Free Clinic to design a potential intra-departmental navigation system in physical and digital form, such that volunteers every Saturday would have an easier time locating directors and finding their way around. Through the interview and immerse process, we found that there was inefficiency in the way departments talked to each other. Often, people turn to the Executive Director to ask where people are or who they should talk to, but we feel there might be another way to make these interactions more efficient. Some of the frictions include: lack of facial/name recognition among and within departments, especially volunteer to director, and people generally not knowing where other people/departments are located in the clinic. During the ideating phase, we brainstormed different methods that various other businesses/clinics use to better identify locations and staff members, including color-coded shirts, signage, and different organizational systems. Ultimately, we ended up prototyping a map overlaid with a face chart, both in physical form to hang and easily update each week with the directors present that day, as well as virtually in both web and mobile form for volunteers to easily access and check during clinic. We loved getting the chance to visit clinic several times, attend volunteer training, and volunteer town hall. It was incredible being able to see the inner workings of clinic, talking extensively with volunteers and directors, and seeing just how much of an impact this group of people had on the community.