Democracy Accelerator
A secure platform connecting legal nonprofits and advocacy groups to streamline coordination, resource sharing, and strategy.
Date: 2025
My Role: Service Design, System Design, User Research, User Experience, Systems Design, Product Design, Creative Direction
Challenge
Legal and civic organizations were working toward similar goals but in disconnected silos. Isolated and uncoordinated efforts slowed progress and limited collective impact. Without stronger connections, groups risked wasting resources, duplicating work, and missing opportunities to scale. Smaller organizations struggled to connect, share tools, and grow without a trusted network.
Poor communication led to unnecessary meetings and loss of time. A heavy reliance on litigation limited the broader potential of movement building. Endless searching across websites and documents drained energy that could be redirected toward meaningful progress. The ecosystem lacked a clear way to see who was doing what and how to work together effectively.
Approach
I focused on designing a system that reduces fragmentation and supports clear coordination across the ecosystem. My process centered on understanding how organizations share information, form partnerships, and respond to rapid changes. I mapped workflows, identified bottlenecks, and created structures that make collaboration natural rather than forced. The goal was to support all types of organizations, including smaller or under resourced groups, by giving them the clarity, visibility, and connection points needed to participate fully. Through journey mapping, ecosystem analysis, and user interviews, I translated complex needs into simple pathways for sharing, discovering, collaborating, and planning. The approach emphasized transparency, ease of use, and cross sector alignment so organizations could shift from reactive isolated work to coordinated long term impact.
Solution
User Research Insights
I designed a unified system that brings programs, resources, partners, and needs into one environment. User interviews and profile creations showed a strong need for a single place to see the landscape, avoid duplicated work, and engage with aligned organizations more easily.
Platform Design
The system simplifies sharing, discovery, and coordination across sectors through structured posting, filtering, and search. Curated folders allow organizations to build libraries of groups, resources, and events for their own research and planning. Relationship mapping and intuitive navigation help users find complementary partners and understand how efforts connect. The platform supports both rapid response and longer term collaboration.
Beta Measurement
In beta we will measure reductions in duplicated work, increases in visibility, and the strength of new cross sector connections/projects. Metrics include shared resources created, partner connections made, use of curated folders, and the speed and clarity of coordination during urgent moments. Engagement patterns and navigation behavior will inform further refinement.
impact: In progress
• Improving clarity across the legal and civic ecosystem by giving organizations a shared view of programs, resources, and ongoing efforts
• Reducing fragmentation by centralizing information that was previously scattered across emails, documents, and individual networks
• Increasing visibility so organizations can quickly understand who is doing what and identify opportunities for collaboration
• Helping smaller groups gain exposure and access to partners they could not previously reach
• Providing larger organizations with more efficient pathways for information sharing and coordinated action
• Shifting the ecosystem from reactive and isolated work toward proactive strategies and long term alignment
• The system is currently in development and you can view a live prototype using the button below.
