Papaya
Project Type
Web
Deliverables
Web Design, UI Design, Brand Design
Role
UX Lead, Project Lead, Designer
Did you know 3 in 10 youth don't seek treatment after receiving an STI diagnosis?
INTRODUCTION
Papaya is an online magazine designed to offering fresh, youth-driven editorial content on topics like sexual wellness, relationships, identity, and community.
The Problem
In the midst of rebuilding my organization's website (LetsStopAIDS.org), we wanted to find a way to better retain users, long term.
That's when we decided to build an online magazine where users could come back to read articles that benefit them, while also learning more about the programmes, and events that are happening at LetsStopAIDS.
Objective
Create an online platform that gives the opportunity to dip into niche communities, while also addressing the barriers young people face when having to address their practical sexual health and wellness needs.
RESEARCH & EXPLORATION
COMPETITOR ANALYSIS
Key Competitor Research Questions
How is the usability and overall experience of competitor sites? What specific features stand out, and how can Papaya learn from these features?
How is the branding and visual identity of existing online magazines in this space and what feels fresh or outdated?
What kind or style of content is inadequately covered by existing online magazines?
Competitive Analysis
Feature Prioritization
After conducting our competitive analysis, we gathered some key features found from our competitors and ones we gathered were missing.
These features were brought to users to understand those that were of most impact to them.
We then created a Impact-Effort Matrix to gather what building blocks were required to launch Papaya.
IDEATE
Establishing & Brainstorming Content
Through a focus group we asked users what kind of articles they would want to see if they were to go platform that talks about sexual wellness, relationships, and more.
After collecting these responses, we conducted a card sorting activity where we asked the team to work together to create categories, and group them together.
Low-Fi Designs
Mock-ups & Iterations
Mock-Ups
We began with an initial series of low-fidelity mockups to explore the structure of the article repository and define the core components of individual articles. This phase helped us clarify what elements were essential to both discovery and readability.
Many of these early concepts were informed by existing article platforms such as Medium and Substack, allowing us to identify familiar patterns and understand which design elements effectively support content consumption.
After testing and launching early versions, we identified opportunities to refine the UI and content hierarchy, leading to further iterations that improved clarity, usability, and visual flow.
Highlighting Iterations
Simplifying the user interface through the use of icons as the filter system
Editing visual hierarchy to help scannability
Sharing with readers the length of the article
Branding & Final Designs
Visual Identity & Final Designs
