Politify
The IdeaMakers challenge
In March 2024, I participated in the prestigious Idea Makers Challenge, a competition designed specifically for Information Science and Technology students. The challenge focused on developing innovative applications or websites grounded in compelling business ideas. During this competition, I conceptualized and developed Politify with my team member Avery Dayal, a pioneering political match-making app idea.
Politify aims to bridge the gap for voters who are uncertain about which candidates or policies align with their values. By leveraging a user-friendly interface and comprehensive educational resources, Politify helps individuals make informed decisions and engage more meaningfully with the political process.
The project presented here was done in under two weeks, going as far as some low-fi mock ups. Some of the key features Avery Dayal, my partner, and I came up with were Detailed Profiles, User Preferences, Transparency Measures, Voter information, Educational Games**, Notifications**, and Research Tools**. (** to be implmented after launch).
“In today's political climate, voters often find it challenging to stay informed about politicians.
Traditional sources of political information can be overwhelming, biased, or difficult to navigate, leading to voter passiveness, misinformation, and a lack of engagement in the democratic process.
Our app aims to address these challenges by creating a platform that serves as a "political matchmaker," facilitating informed connections between voters and political entities. We empower voters to make educated decisions about whom and what they support.”
-Karina Field, 2024 IdeaMakers challenge
In the development of Politify, my teammate and I rigorously applied the design thinking process to craft a compelling and user-centric political match-making app. Our approach included the creation of detailed personas and use stories, comprehensive research, and the integration of relevant statistics. We meticulously designed a prototype using Figma in a short amount of time, with the goal of securing funding to launch our startup.
While we did not win the monetary prize, our dedication and innovative approach were recognized with the prestigious Dave Hall Award for Innovation and Collaboration. This accolade highlights our commitment to creative problem-solving and effective teamwork throughout the project.
