Veteran Sisters
Veteran Sisters
Connecting military sexual trauma survivors to volunteer staff in an internal database
Connecting military sexual trauma survivors to volunteer staff in an internal database
ROLE
ROLE
Product Designer
Product Designer
TIMEFRAME
TIMEFRAME
December - June 2025
December - June 2025
TOOLS
TOOLS
Figma, Figjam
Figma, Figjam
Back
Back
Edit program
Edit program
Change role
Change role
Assigned Veterans
Assigned Veterans
Advocacy
Advocacy
Thoa Nguyen
Thoa Nguyen
tkn003@ucsd.edu
tkn003@ucsd.edu
Thoa Nguyen
Thoa Nguyen
tkn003@ucsd.edu
tkn003@ucsd.edu
Thoa Nguyen
Thoa Nguyen
tkn003@ucsd.edu
tkn003@ucsd.edu
Thoa Nguyen
Thoa Nguyen
tkn003@ucsd.edu
tkn003@ucsd.edu
Thoa Nguyen
Thoa Nguyen
tkn003@ucsd.edu
tkn003@ucsd.edu
Assign Akira
Assign Akira
Volunteer
Volunteer
to ...
to ...
Advocacy
Advocacy
Choose a veteran
Choose a veteran
Cancel
Cancel
Save
Save
Aaron Liu
0 volunteers
Aaron Liu
0 volunteers
Brandon Jackson
3 volunteers
Brandon Jackson
3 volunteers
Jason Lee
3 volunteers
Jason Lee
3 volunteers
Justin Smith
2 volunteers
Justin Smith
2 volunteers
Katie Wong
1 volunteer
Katie Wong
1 volunteer
Melissa Chen
1 volunteer
Melissa Chen
1 volunteer
Melissa Chen
2 volunteers
Melissa Chen
2 volunteers
CONTEXT
CONTEXT
Veteran Sisters is a San Diego-based nonprofit supporting women veterans who are sexual assault trauma survivors. They help members navigate legal processes and provide wellness support, serving over 1,000 veterans.
Veteran Sisters is a San Diego-based nonprofit supporting women veterans who are sexual assault trauma survivors. They help members navigate legal processes and provide wellness support, serving over 1,000 veterans.
PROBLEM
PROBLEM
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The current process creates significant barriers for military sexual trauma survivors seeking urgent help. Each delay caused by fragmented systems means a veteran has to wait longer for critical support during an already challenging time. These technical obstacles prevent Veteran Sisters from fully focusing on what matters most - supporting survivors through their healing journey.
Our solution is an internal database management system designed for veterans and their support network. It pairs veterans with volunteers who can provide direct feedback on documents and guide them through legal processes.
The current process creates significant barriers for military sexual trauma survivors seeking urgent help. Each delay caused by fragmented systems means a veteran has to wait longer for critical support during an already challenging time. These technical obstacles prevent Veteran Sisters from fully focusing on what matters most - supporting survivors through their healing journey.
Our solution is an internal database management system designed for veterans and their support network. It pairs veterans with volunteers who can provide direct feedback on documents and guide them through legal processes.
OBJECTIVE
OBJECTIVE
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
To design and build a role-based, secure portal for women veterans, military sexual trauma (MST) survivors, volunteers, staff, and donors. The portal will streamline access to peer support, claims guidance, document storage, and internal communication. The goal is to create a trusted platform that enhances engagement, reduces manual processes, and provides operational visibility.
To design and build a role-based, secure portal for women veterans, military sexual trauma (MST) survivors, volunteers, staff, and donors. The portal will streamline access to peer support, claims guidance, document storage, and internal communication. The goal is to create a trusted platform that enhances engagement, reduces manual processes, and provides operational visibility.
MINIMUM VIABLE FEATURES
MINIMUM VIABLE FEATURES
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Role-Based Interface & Governance
Role-Based Interface & Governance
Personalized dashboard that displays relevant information, tools, and permissions based on each user’s role (Member, Volunteer, Staff, Admin, Donor/Sponsor).
Personalized dashboard that displays relevant information, tools, and permissions based on each user’s role (Member, Volunteer, Staff, Admin, Donor/Sponsor).
Document Storage
Document Storage
Allows users to upload, access, and organize relevant documents, such as VA claims, personal records, and support notes.
Allows users to upload, access, and organize relevant documents, such as VA claims, personal records, and support notes.
USER BASE
USER BASE
RESEARCH
RESEARCH
Veteran
Veteran
I need to be able to upload documents for my volunteers to see
I need to be able to upload documents for my volunteers to see
Volunteer
Volunteer
I need access to documents and the profiles of my assigned veterans
I need access to documents and the profiles of my assigned veterans
Staff
Staff
I need access to everything within the program
I need access to everything within the program
Admin (yourself)
Admin (yourself)
I need access to everything within the app and program
I need access to everything within the app and program
Enter Types of User and their Needs
Enter Types of User and their Needs
Members
Members
Upload and manage documents (e.g., VA claims, personal notes), connect with Battle Buddies and Advocates for peer support, and trust that their needs are taken seriously.
Upload and manage documents (e.g., VA claims, personal notes), connect with Battle Buddies and Advocates for peer support, and trust that their needs are taken seriously.
Volunteer
Volunteer
Track and document their support interactions with members through adding and editing notes.
Track and document their support interactions with members through adding and editing notes.
Staff Admin
Staff Admin
Oversee both Battle Buddy and VA Advocate programs, manage volunteer assignments, and maintain accurate documentation of support interactions.
Oversee both Battle Buddy and VA Advocate programs, manage volunteer assignments, and maintain accurate documentation of support interactions.
Admin
Admin
Full control over all user data, permissions, and records across the platform, ensuring proper governance and record management.
Full control over all user data, permissions, and records across the platform, ensuring proper governance and record management.
USER FLOWS
USER FLOWS
RESEARCH
RESEARCH
Created complex user flows for every type of user since Staff and Veterans would see different screens. Privacy is a major concern for this project so it was important to list out the flows to see what roles could view certain information. With so many stakeholders, it helped to visualize everyones needs.
Created complex user flows for every type of user since Staff and Veterans would see different screens. Privacy is a major concern for this project so it was important to list out the flows to see what roles could view certain information. With so many stakeholders, it helped to visualize everyones needs.
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
RESEARCH
RESEARCH
This project has a few core features such as database upload, storage, document annotation, and admin controls. I referenced products with strong user experience and design such as Google Drive and Dropbox since these are familiar tools for the admin.
This project has a few core features such as database upload, storage, document annotation, and admin controls. I referenced products with strong user experience and design such as Google Drive and Dropbox since these are familiar tools for the admin.
DESIGN GOALS
DESIGN GOALS
RESEARCH
RESEARCH
Get the job done for all roles
Get the job done for all roles
Designs should communicate each users’ tasks at the moment they sign up. Think about what each user really needs.
Designs should communicate each users’ tasks at the moment they sign up. Think about what each user really needs.
Simple
Simple
Design language should be reused whenever possible for consistency. Each role should have a tailored, decluttered interface that includes only relevant features and information.
Design language should be reused whenever possible for consistency. Each role should have a tailored, decluttered interface that includes only relevant features and information.
Inoffensive and unassuming
Inoffensive and unassuming
We’re designing around a sensitive topic, and we should make sure your language and tone reflects that.
We’re designing around a sensitive topic, and we should make sure your language and tone reflects that.
Trustworthy
Trustworthy
Each role should clearly see what they can access and control, building user trust through clarity and visibility.
Each role should clearly see what they can access and control, building user trust through clarity and visibility.
DESIGN PROCESS
DESIGN PROCESS
DESIGN
DESIGN
We worked in agile and presented iterations to the client on a weekly basis. Working in agile allowed for development to start while we were still designing.
We worked in agile and presented iterations to the client on a weekly basis. Working in agile allowed for development to start while we were still designing.
Onboard client
Onboard client
Understand user needs
Understand user needs
Design
Design
Present to client
Present to client
Hand off to developers
Hand off to developers
DESIGN SYSTEM
DESIGN SYSTEM
DESIGN
DESIGN
I added components to ensure that all of the pages were consistent. Larger components were made to make a/b testing run smoother.
I added components to ensure that all of the pages were consistent. Larger components were made to make a/b testing run smoother.
TESTING
TESTING
DESIGN
DESIGN
Conducted A/B and usability tests to the client, users, and also fellow designers to understand what feels most intuitive to use. This was very helpful in finalizing designs
Conducted A/B and usability tests to the client, users, and also fellow designers to understand what feels most intuitive to use. This was very helpful in finalizing designs
FINAL
FINAL
DESIGN
DESIGN
The client was very pleased with our end product. A development team is finishing up the final details and this will be a shipped internal database that will help veterans.
> Designed clean, role-based dashboards for Veterans, Volunteers, Staff, and Admins.
> Simplified document upload and viewing for ease of use across devices.
> Clear separation of public vs private notes helped build user trust.
The client was very pleased with our end product. A development team is finishing up the final details and this will be a shipped internal database that will help veterans.
> Designed clean, role-based dashboards for Veterans, Volunteers, Staff, and Admins.
> Simplified document upload and viewing for ease of use across devices.
> Clear separation of public vs private notes helped build user trust.
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
2025
2025
This was one of my first large scale shipped project, planning and proper documentation made it very easy to stay on track especially when there were so many screens and flows. I learned some how it is important to consider edge cases and include toast since users will not always behave how you initially expect.
This was one of my first large scale shipped project, planning and proper documentation made it very easy to stay on track especially when there were so many screens and flows. I learned some how it is important to consider edge cases and include toast since users will not always behave how you initially expect.