CATEGORY:
Web Application
CLIENT:
Kita (part of Hatch)
YEAR:
2025
DURATION:
2 weeks
about.
Kita Space was designed for Kita, a non-profit organization in Singapore that empowers under-resourced youths through digital and design programmes. The goal was to build a centralized digital platform where Kita youths could connect, learn, and foster a sense of belonging. It aimed to facilitate peer-to-peer connection, provide updates on upcoming events, and create a safe space for community engagement.
My role focused on leading user research, co-creating key platform features such as Buddy Up, and driving usability testing to ensure the platform met the real needs of its users.
challenge.
Kita launched in January 2025 as a focused initiative targeting at-risk youths within Hatch, a social enterprise committed to making digital programs accessible for all.
Our initial brief was to design a centralized communication platform for events and updates. While Kita had strong in-person programs, there was no digital touchpoint for youths to stay connected beyond events. Through interviews with 5 members, including alumni and staff, we uncovered three key insights that shaped our direction:
Guidance gap: Youths wanted relatable mentorship, particularly from alumni who had experienced similar programs and challenges.
"Knowing someone having the same programme/pathway or same interest would help me get connected."
Communication fragmentation: Event information was inconsistently shared across platforms, leading to missed opportunities and low participation rates.
"I only find out about the events when I'm randomly scrolling through Instagram stories and come across Hatch or Kita's posts."
Low-pressure engagement: Youths preferred casual, non-intimidating ways to connect rather than formal networking approaches.
"Unless there's a reason for me to reach out, I wouldn't naturally connect with someone - it's just not in my nature."
solution.
Based on these insights, we designed our first prototype with the following core features:
Buddy Up
A matchmaking feature that connects youths with alumni who share similar interests and backgrounds.
Community Forum
A moderated space for discussions, peer support, and sharing of ideas or encouragement.
Event Updates
A centralized space to browse, register, and discuss events which addresses the most pressing communication gap.
result.
80% of alumni expressed interest in using the platform for buddy matching, events registration, and sharing words of encouragement.
I want to connect with fellow designers and understand their approach, especially in relation to my career.
Finding people with similar interests would definitely help me start a conversation.
Due to resource constraints, the client could not proceed with full implementation. However, they are keen on rolling out the Event Updates feature first, as it directly addressed their most urgent need.
The process sparked internal conversations about how to better engage youths digitally and informed their future strategies.
takeaways.
We discovered that the most effective approach often involves optimizing existing tools and workflows rather than building from scratch. Early stakeholder alignment became crucial when working within resource constraints, ensuring all parties remained focused on shared objectives.
This experience reinforced my user-centered design philosophy: identifying the intersection between genuine user needs and technical feasibility, while ensuring every design decision serves a clear purpose.
testimonial.
What I appreciate about this space is that it's focused on growth and development. It feels less judgmental, a place where people can grow, especially when they might feel stuck or unsure in their regular circles.
Farah
Kita Alumni
