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Connecting Malaysians Through Sign Language
Connecting Malaysians Through Sign Language
Overview
Overview
Imagine a world where everyone can connect, share stories, and laugh together, regardless of how they hear. That's the vision behind Kiu, a mobile app designed to bridge the gap between the Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH) community and their hearing friends and family in Malaysia. 🇲🇾
Imagine a world where everyone can connect, share stories, and laugh together, regardless of how they hear. That's the vision behind Kiu, a mobile app designed to bridge the gap between the Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH) community and their hearing friends and family in Malaysia. 🇲🇾
Imagine a world where everyone can connect, share stories, and laugh together, regardless of how they hear. That's the vision behind Kiu, a mobile app designed to bridge the gap between the Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH) community and their hearing friends and family in Malaysia. 🇲🇾
My contribution
My contribution
User research
Wireframes & Prototypes
Content Writing
User research
Wireframes & Prototypes
Content Writing
Client
Personal Project
Personal Project
Year
Year
2019
2019
Process
Process
The Challenge
Here's the thing: many young deaf folks miss out on learning Malaysian Sign Language (MSL). Traditional classes can be expensive and inconvenient, making it tough to pick up the language and connect with their loved ones on a deeper level.
Solution
Kiu swoops in to change the game! This fun and user-friendly app makes learning MSL accessible for everyone. Forget sifting through endless websites or shelling out for pricey classes. Kiu brings MSL right to your fingertips, making it easy for families and friends to learn at their own pace.
Impact & Importance
But Kiu's impact goes way beyond convenience. Sign language isn't just about communication; it's about culture and identity. By normalizing MSL, Kiu fosters a more inclusive society where everyone feels valued and understood. This, as Malaysia's Health ex-Minister Stephen Wong Tien Fatt says, leads to a more "caring" nation.
Here's the real kicker: studies show a huge gap between special needs students and inclusive education programs. Kiu aims to bridge this gap by empowering families and friends to become active participants in their deaf loved one's language journey.
Kiu is more than just an app; it's a bridge to a world of connection, understanding, and a whole lot of fun.
The Challenge
Here's the thing: many young deaf folks miss out on learning Malaysian Sign Language (MSL). Traditional classes can be expensive and inconvenient, making it tough to pick up the language and connect with their loved ones on a deeper level.
Solution
Kiu swoops in to change the game! This fun and user-friendly app makes learning MSL accessible for everyone. Forget sifting through endless websites or shelling out for pricey classes. Kiu brings MSL right to your fingertips, making it easy for families and friends to learn at their own pace.
Impact & Importance
But Kiu's impact goes way beyond convenience. Sign language isn't just about communication; it's about culture and identity. By normalizing MSL, Kiu fosters a more inclusive society where everyone feels valued and understood. This, as Malaysia's Health ex-Minister Stephen Wong Tien Fatt says, leads to a more "caring" nation.
Here's the real kicker: studies show a huge gap between special needs students and inclusive education programs. Kiu aims to bridge this gap by empowering families and friends to become active participants in their deaf loved one's language journey.
Kiu is more than just an app; it's a bridge to a world of connection, understanding, and a whole lot of fun.
The Challenge
Here's the thing: many young deaf folks miss out on learning Malaysian Sign Language (MSL). Traditional classes can be expensive and inconvenient, making it tough to pick up the language and connect with their loved ones on a deeper level.
Solution
Kiu swoops in to change the game! This fun and user-friendly app makes learning MSL accessible for everyone. Forget sifting through endless websites or shelling out for pricey classes. Kiu brings MSL right to your fingertips, making it easy for families and friends to learn at their own pace.
Impact & Importance
But Kiu's impact goes way beyond convenience. Sign language isn't just about communication; it's about culture and identity. By normalizing MSL, Kiu fosters a more inclusive society where everyone feels valued and understood. This, as Malaysia's Health ex-Minister Stephen Wong Tien Fatt says, leads to a more "caring" nation.
Here's the real kicker: studies show a huge gap between special needs students and inclusive education programs. Kiu aims to bridge this gap by empowering families and friends to become active participants in their deaf loved one's language journey.
Kiu is more than just an app; it's a bridge to a world of connection, understanding, and a whole lot of fun.
Outcome
Outcome
Building a Foundation for Inclusivity
Kiu hasn't gone through formal user testing yet (cue the "future plans" wink!) and it wasn't possible at this stage. However, the design process focused on creating a user-centered experience. Here's how Kiu could make a difference:
Research: I delved into existing resources for learning MSL, common pain points faced by deaf/hard-of-hearing individuals and their families, and best practices in mobile language learning applications.
Accessibility Principles: Kiu prioritizes accessibility, employing clear visuals, intuitive gestures, and the potential for multiple language options to cater to a diverse audience.
Positive Reinforcement: The app emphasizes a fun and engaging approach, aiming to keep users motivated through gamification elements, clear progress tracking, and a visually appealing interface.
Fostering Connections: Kiu goes beyond just teaching signs. The app aims to bridge the gap between deaf and hearing communities by encouraging family and friends to participate in the learning journey.
While user testing will be crucial in future iterations, this initial design lays a strong foundation for Kiu to become a valuable tool for promoting inclusivity and MSL learning.
Increased Awareness & Potential Partnership
Kiu successfully generated buzz within the MSL educators. The project even caught the eye of the #SIGNON teacher, who expressed interest in collaborating on further development or integrating Kiu's features into their existing resources.
Potential Impact of Kiu
While user testing wasn't conducted in this iteration, the design principles and focus on user needs lay a strong foundation. Kiu can serve as a valuable prototype for further development and future user research to refine the experience even further.
Building a Foundation for Inclusivity
Kiu hasn't gone through formal user testing yet (cue the "future plans" wink!) and it wasn't possible at this stage. However, the design process focused on creating a user-centered experience. Here's how Kiu could make a difference:
Research: I delved into existing resources for learning MSL, common pain points faced by deaf/hard-of-hearing individuals and their families, and best practices in mobile language learning applications.
Accessibility Principles: Kiu prioritizes accessibility, employing clear visuals, intuitive gestures, and the potential for multiple language options to cater to a diverse audience.
Positive Reinforcement: The app emphasizes a fun and engaging approach, aiming to keep users motivated through gamification elements, clear progress tracking, and a visually appealing interface.
Fostering Connections: Kiu goes beyond just teaching signs. The app aims to bridge the gap between deaf and hearing communities by encouraging family and friends to participate in the learning journey.
While user testing will be crucial in future iterations, this initial design lays a strong foundation for Kiu to become a valuable tool for promoting inclusivity and MSL learning.
Increased Awareness & Potential Partnership
Kiu successfully generated buzz within the MSL educators. The project even caught the eye of the #SIGNON teacher, who expressed interest in collaborating on further development or integrating Kiu's features into their existing resources.
Potential Impact of Kiu
While user testing wasn't conducted in this iteration, the design principles and focus on user needs lay a strong foundation. Kiu can serve as a valuable prototype for further development and future user research to refine the experience even further.
Building a Foundation for Inclusivity
Kiu hasn't gone through formal user testing yet (cue the "future plans" wink!) and it wasn't possible at this stage. However, the design process focused on creating a user-centered experience. Here's how Kiu could make a difference:
Research: I delved into existing resources for learning MSL, common pain points faced by deaf/hard-of-hearing individuals and their families, and best practices in mobile language learning applications.
Accessibility Principles: Kiu prioritizes accessibility, employing clear visuals, intuitive gestures, and the potential for multiple language options to cater to a diverse audience.
Positive Reinforcement: The app emphasizes a fun and engaging approach, aiming to keep users motivated through gamification elements, clear progress tracking, and a visually appealing interface.
Fostering Connections: Kiu goes beyond just teaching signs. The app aims to bridge the gap between deaf and hearing communities by encouraging family and friends to participate in the learning journey.
While user testing will be crucial in future iterations, this initial design lays a strong foundation for Kiu to become a valuable tool for promoting inclusivity and MSL learning.
Increased Awareness & Potential Partnership
Kiu successfully generated buzz within the MSL educators. The project even caught the eye of the #SIGNON teacher, who expressed interest in collaborating on further development or integrating Kiu's features into their existing resources.
Potential Impact of Kiu
While user testing wasn't conducted in this iteration, the design principles and focus on user needs lay a strong foundation. Kiu can serve as a valuable prototype for further development and future user research to refine the experience even further.
© Edd Zain 2024
© Edd Zain 2024
© Edd Zain 2024
