The University of Cincinnati’s Design for America (DFA) chapter uses fast-paced, human-centered Design Sprints to create social impact in our communities. This semester, we partnered with Africa Fire Mission (AFM), a nonprofit supporting firefighters in developing African communities, to develop engaging communication materials and strategies that strengthen their recruitment efforts.
Collaborators: Ben Cullens, Luke Rammel, and Lily Watson.
Immerse
We began by immersing ourselves in AFM to build a primary research/interview guide with the questions brought up during our secondary research.
Primary Research
We had the opportunity to interview AFM leadership and firefighters involved with AFM to gain valuable insight on how AFM supports firefighters through community connection and engagement.
Reframe
Creating "How Might We" statements to narrow down our idea as specifically as we can to focus on a feasible problem space before ideation begins
Concept Development
Final Prototype
"Hotline" is a pen pal system built into AFM's registration site, pairing AFM volunteers with local firefighters to share stories and build connections before the mission begins, fostering understanding, readiness, and trust.
