Youth Social Advocacy Team (YSAT), a Ugandan NGO, needed an educational activity that could improve refugee computer literacy using Galaxy S21 phones provided by Samsung.
The refugee would drum and sing in their free time, yet lacked access to resources that would help them compose music.
My Contributions
I wanted to create a tool that lets refugee youth make music without language barriers, which led me to propose a simple, universal synthesizer concept. I guided the early ideation and developed the core interaction system using color and number codes. I also designed the iconography and helped shape the overall user flow to keep the experience intuitive and playful for first-time users.
How might we create an engaging activity that empowers refugees with the knowledge and tools to create music digitally?
Concept
Color & Number Coded notes
To overcome language barriers and create an intuitive learning path, we explored interfaces that rely on colors, numbers, and simple visual cues instead of text-heavy menus.
Practice Pieces
Color & Number Coded notes
To overcome language barriers and create an intuitive learning path, we explored interfaces that rely on colors, numbers, and simple visual cues instead of text-heavy menus.
Teaching Session
Teaching Guide
We held an online teaching session with students at YSAT, introducing simple activities and step-by-step tutorials to help them explore and use the Mini Synth. This allowed us to test the interface in real time and observe how quickly first-time users could create music.
The web app and related teaching material were well-received during our first group session. Refugees were excited about the app and enjoyed sharing their creations with the group.
Reflecting on the project, Patrick Lumumba, our YSAT instructor, commented: "You guys never make assumptions. You always ask questions. I like this collaboration, this togetherness."
If you like what you see and want to work together, get in touch!
