AskNabes
Introducing AskNabes, a neighbor powered search seamlessly connecting urban neighbors with each other through interest driven Q&A.
Deliverables:
Research
Sitemap
User Experience Design
Information Architecture
Product Design
Visual Design
How can I get the most out of my neighborhood?
AskNabes reimagines the neighborhood as a living, digital community. Built as a neighbor-powered search engine, it makes local life richer and more connected by helping people greet newcomers, exchange personalized recommendations, share neighborhood news, support small businesses, and even lend or borrow resources.
Design Challenge
The challenge went beyond designing a polished interface—the team needed a scalable system that unified product design, development, and brand expression while staying agile. I created a design system and brand guide that became the foundation of AskNabes, with reusable, accessible components that reduced design debt and ensured cohesion. Drawing from leading open-source systems, I built a flexible Figma framework with clear documentation, giving designers and engineers a shared source of truth. To drive adoption, I introduced office hours and collaborative sessions; within weeks, six designers were using the system daily, and engineering reported faster handoffs with fewer inconsistencies.
Releasing
AskNabes 2.0
The results were clear. Design-to-development turnaround time dropped by 30%, onboarding for new designers was cut in half, and cross-team consistency improved dramatically. Most importantly, the product itself became easier and more delightful to use: navigation was simplified, accessibility scores improved, and task completion rates for common actions—like posting a question or browsing recommendations—increased by 22%.
AskNabes became more than a Q&A platform. It grew into a trusted neighborhood companion, a space where clarity, community, and scalability worked hand in hand. The design system didn’t just streamline process—it gave the brand a voice and helped transform a good idea into an experience people could depend on every day.