TDA Connect
A private, low-bandwidth community platform designed for connection, safety, and support
Built for graduates of The Dream Academy (TDA), LGBTQ+ refugees rebuilding their lives in less developed regions around the world. This platform was designed to help alumni stay connected to peers, mentors, and essential resources in a way that prioritizes safety, accessibility, and trust.
Client: Safe Place International
My Role: Co-Lead Product Designer, shaping overall experience strategy and guiding key design decisions.
The Challenge
Many TDA graduates live in regions with limited internet access, shared devices, and real safety risks tied to identity and visibility. Through early discovery conversations and platform audits, it became clear that existing tools like WhatsApp and social media lacked the privacy controls, reliability, and clarity needed to support this community.
TDA needed a solution that could:
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Protect user identity and privacy
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Function reliably in low-bandwidth environments
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Support users with varying levels of digital literacy
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Foster community without compromising safety
The challenge was not only technical, but contextual -designing a platform that works within real-world constraints while still enabling meaningful connection.
The Solution
TDA Connect was designed as a lightweight, mobile-friendly platform that supports ongoing community connection without compromising safety or access.
The solution focused on reducing friction and reinforcing trust, guided by principles of clarity, discretion, and accessibility. Each core feature was intentionally shaped to meet users where they are technically, emotionally, and contextually.
Key features included:
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Simple, guided onboarding to build trust from the start
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A clean, intuitive feed for sharing updates and resources
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Private group spaces that support safer, smaller-scale interaction
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UI patterns optimized for low bandwidth and shared device access
Platform Strategy
From the start, the platform strategy was shaped by user insights, organizational goals, and ongoing collaboration with product and development teams. Early research and feedback helped identify where friction, risk and confusion existed which informed a strategy centered on clarity and trust rather than feature-heavy complexity.
The experience was intentionally designed to:
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Prioritize privacy and discretion
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Reduce friction for users with low bandwidth or shared devices
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Support meaningful connection without unnecessary exposure
Design decisions were continually evaluated and refined to ensure they aligned with both user realities and technical feasibility.
Design Approach
Design and communication worked hand in hand. Beyond usability, the platform needed to feel supportive and trustworthy, especially for users navigating vulnerability and identity-related risk.
The design approach focused on:
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Calm, restrained visuals that minimize distraction and cognitive load
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Clear hierarchy and familiar interaction patterns to support confidence
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Thoughtful content structure and microcopy that guides without overwhelming
This balance reinforced trust while keeping the experience lightweight, adaptable, and easy to maintain as the platform evolved.
Final Design
The final design brings the strategy to life through a clean, minimal interface optimized for mobile and low-bandwidth access. Screens were intentionally lightweight and familiar, reducing cognitive load while allowing users with varying levels of digital literacy to engage comfortably across different contexts and devices.
Onboarding Flow
A warm, guided introduction that establishes expectations, reinforces privacy, and helps users understand how to engage safely.
Community Feed
A straightforward, scrollable feed for posts, updates, and resources designed to be readable even on unstable connections.
Group Spaces
Private areas where smaller communities can connect, ask questions, and share experiences in a more controlled and secure environment.
User Profile & Settings
Simple controls that allow users to manage visibility, language preferences, and device considerations with confidence.
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Impact & Outcomes
Through an eight week engagement, the team delivered a cohesive platform concept designed to support safe, accessible, and meaningful connection among LGBTQ+ refugee graduates rebuilding their lives in low resource regions.
By grounding design decisions in bandwidth limitations, privacy concerns, and varying levels of digital literacy, the experience prioritized trust, clarity, and technical feasibility. Early validation refined feature scope to ensure the solution remained sustainable and aligned with the organization’s operational capacity.
Strategic collaboration across research, design, and development established a scalable foundation that balances safety with connection. The resulting framework positions The Dream Academy to expand its alumni support network through a thoughtful digital ecosystem built for long term impact.