ChalkTalk
Bringing life back to G Street with ChalkTalk: a public chalkboard designed to inspire connection and community.
Role
Product Designer & Researcher
Presented at Davis City Hall
Solution Preview
Context
The Challenge
Our team, Joy for G Street, used the five stages of design thinking: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test to uncover real user needs and create a human-centered experience that makes G Street an engaging, active community space post redevelopment.
G-Streets Current State
Following redevelopment, the space attracted visitors, yet few stayed, highlighting its underutilization.
Research
Gathering Insights Through Interviews
Understanding the community’s experience was essential. We conducted 7 interviews with 10 participants, including students, business owners, and city officials, to capture a range of perspectives on the new development.
I led three 30–60 minute interviews and supported two more, uncovering insights on user backgrounds, perceptions of Downtown Davis, the redevelopment, and community values.
Key Interview Insights
"Downtown has changed from a hub of unique local businesses to an area mostly focused on students and coffee shops."
"The redevelopment feels out of place in Davis, too modern and minimalistic, and hasn’t revived the town’s local character or sense of community."
"Community events that local businesses once hosted have vanished as rising rents push out small shops."
"Downtown has become dominated by corporate and chain establishments, and it’s lost much of its local character."
Identifying User Needs
Our interviews revealed a lack of shared spaces, leaving Downtown Davis fragmented into three groups: families, seniors, and students with little sense of community.
Bridge the intergenerational gap between residents of Davis; specifically seniors, students, and families.
Ideation
How Might We:
Create an interactive experience that encourages connection among diverse community groups in Downtown Davis?
Rapid Fire Brainstorming
Our team held two 10-minute brainstorming sessions to address the user need we discovered: bridging the intergenerational gap among Davis residents. While some ideas were unconventional, the exercise helped us enter a creative flow
Sketches
Faced with challenges in defining a solution, we each developed detailed concepts over the weekend to present and refine together.
Solution
Our vision for ChalkTalk includes community prompts, shutters for protection, and inclusive chalk-height bars to ensure accessibility for all.
Takeaways
Personal Reflection
While not strictly a UX design project, this experience strengthened my Human-Centered Design skills. I conducted in-depth interviews, guided conversations organically, and uncovered user needs without a set prompt. Our team embraced research, navigated challenges in ideation, and iterated relentlessly. It became one of my favorite projects for the connections I built with users and the insights I gained about my college town, with presenting at City Hall being a highlight I’m especially proud of.