GENDERVERSE
A platform that makes gender equality everyone's conversation — designed for the unconverted, not just the already-aware.
Role
UX Researcher & Designer
Type
Academic + Self-initiated
Platform
Responsive Web · Mobile
Methods
Interviews · Affinity Mapping · NASA TLX
How might we create a digital sanctuary where gender-diverse communities can share insights without the noise of algorithmic bias?
No platform existed specifically for people with limited exposure to the topic. Most platforms speak to the already converted. Genderverse was designed for everyone else.
Despite growing global momentum around gender equality, a significant portion of the population remains disengaged — not out of hostility, but out of unfamiliarity.
How do you welcome someone into a complex conversation without overwhelming them — or talking down to them? That constraint shaped every decision.
The Problem Space — *Pillars of Friction*
Who are we building for?
Anya (They/Them)
Student, 22 — First exposure to gender discourse
"I want to understand but I'm scared of asking the wrong question."
Need: Clear entry points, no jargon, no judgement in the interface language.
Marcus (He/Him)
HR professional — Aware but unsure how to act
"I see it in my workplace every day but I don't know how to bring it up."
Need: Actionable guidance, workplace-specific content, clear 'what to do next.'
Rosamir (Plural)
Community organiser — Deeply engaged
"I need a space that gets it — not one that's constantly explaining it to beginners at my expense."
Need: Advanced content, mentorship capabilities, community leadership tools.
| Time | Action | Emotion | Friction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0:00 | Opens app | Curious | None |
| 0:30 | Sees onboarding | Interested | Slight overwhelm |
| 2:00 | Picks interests | Engaged | None |
| 4:00 | Reads first post | Learning | None |
| 8:00 | Wants to reply | Hesitant | Fear of judgement |
| 12:00 | Reads others' replies | Reassured | None |
| 15:00 | Posts first comment | Empowered | None |
Synthesising the chaos.
Preferred video and interactive content over text-heavy formats
Observations synthesised via affinity map
Core insight clusters identified
Research modes — interviews + survey
'I know it's a problem but don't know what to do.' 'Feels political — intimidating to engage with.'
'Video > articles.' 'Gamification works if respectful.' 'Streaks motivate use.'
'Fear of saying the wrong thing publicly.' 'Anonymous modes important for sensitive topics.'
'Mentorship high value.' 'Want local connection.' 'Collaborative > passive.'
'Language settings critical.' 'Avoid binary assumptions in copy.'
The architecture of care.
GENDERVERSE
├── Onboarding ── Splash · Sign Up · Interests
├── Home ── Feed · Events · Recommended
├── Community ── Forum · Projects · Mentorship
├── Learn ── Library · Workshops · Impact Tracker
└── Profile ── Badges · History · PreferencesGolden path · How a new user finds their first conversation:
Splash → Sign Up → Pick Interests → Personalised Feed → Browse Thread → First Post → 🏆 First Badge
High-fidelity artifacts.
Research: Identity-first entry. No assumptions made about who's arriving.
Research: Stories before statistics. Restraint, not intensity.
Research: Self-selecting entry points: story-first, data-first, action-first.
Research: Gamification used to reward engagement, not extract it.
Research: Pronouns and identity prominent — never an afterthought toggle.
Research: Accessibility is the floor, not the ceiling.
Validating impact.
of users rated frustration at 1/10 — the lowest possible score
| Dimension | Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Demand | Low | Content is complex — the interface is not |
| Physical Demand | Very Low | Comfortable, effortless navigation |
| Temporal Demand | Low–Mod | No time pressure, full user control |
| Performance | High | All critical tasks completed |
| Effort | Low–Mod | Natural, not laboured |
| Frustration | Very Low | Users almost never got stuck |
"It finally feels like a space that was built with people like me in mind, not just for me as an afterthought."
"I've never used an app on a sensitive topic and felt genuinely safe. This is what that feels like."
"The language is so careful. I kept waiting for it to slip up. It didn't."
What this project *actually taught me.*
Nothing is neutral
When users span the full spectrum of gender identity, every word, shape, colour, and ordering of options is a design decision. There is no neutral default.
Inclusion ≠ accessibility settings
It's about every decision — the words you use, the shapes in your logo, the order of options in a dropdown. Accessibility is the floor, not the ceiling.
Design for the uninitiated
The hardest user to design for is the person who wants to engage but doesn't know how. They're not hostile. They're just unused.
Safety is a feature
62.5% frustration at 1/10 proves it: when emotional safety is designed into the interface, users stop fighting the platform and start engaging.
"Genderverse pushed me into design territory I hadn't explored before — where the content itself carries emotional weight. Nothing is neutral when the stakes actually matter."