GSMA mAgri

Service Design for a mobile Agriculture Service leading to application design in Sri Lanka

Between December 2014 and December 2016, I spearheaded one of the most innovative and transformative projects in the Sri Lankan agricultural sector. Targeting paddy farmers initially, we successfully reached over 200,000 individuals, making it one of the most prolific mobile agricultural products in the region. This project was crafted in close collaboration with GSMA, and the insights from our work further contributed to the creation of the [mAgri Design Toolkit] https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/agritech/magri-design-toolkit-2/

Roles & Achievements: User-Centered Design: My role was pivotal in gathering user requirements specifications, building detailed personas, constructing storyboards, and laying out flowcharts and design specifications. By understanding the needs and aspirations of our end-users, we could create a product that was truly resonant. Suggested Image: A collage of different persona sketches and storyboards.

Research & Testing:** Planning and orchestrating both qualitative and quantitative research were central to our success. This involved observational studies, in-context ethnography, and countless customer interviews. Our approach allowed us to produce effective low-to-medium fidelity prototypes to constantly test and iterate our product and service ideas. *Suggested Image: A behind-the-scenes snapshot from one of the field research sessions.*

Project Management & Collaboration: I led the entire design process, ensuring smooth decision-making, timely issue resolution, and optimal resource allocation. My initiative to introduce tools like Confluence and JIRA greatly enhanced our team's collaborative design efforts.

Marketing & Outreach: Supporting the marketing team, I was deeply involved in strategizing and executing various marketing activities, ensuring our product reached and impacted the intended audience.

Utilizing participatory and iterative design techniques, I steered the team towards developing intuitive user interfaces, call flows, and an overarching information architecture that resonated with our users.

By harmonizing technology with the needs of paddy farmers, we not only bridged a digital gap but also fostered an environment for growth, learning, and prosperity in the Sri Lankan agricultural community.