2021-2024
Summary
Intsaba Village, an Andrews University Enactus project in partnership with Saving Orphans Through Healthcare & Outreach (SOHO), intended to establish a secondary income stream for the Intsaba Farm initiative. As executive project lead, I managed the web development and branding teams respectively from the analysis stage to presentation and handover, collaborating with stakeholders to refine vision and overseeing day-to-day tasks. Now renamed Lentsaba Farm, the project remains sustainable in supporting the farm’s continued funding in eSwatini (formerly Swaziland).
Course: INFS447 - Project Management
A team of 15 students were connected to the non-profit Saving Orphans Through Healthcare and Outreach (SOHO) to develop the Virtual Artisan Market (VAM). This digital platform was created to provide small entrepreneurs, women empowerment projects, refugees, and talented artisans with a global marketplace to showcase their creations. The project was inspired by resilient women and girls in Eswatini who, despite surviving abuse and trafficking, produced remarkable artwork.
Our given mission to assist in this fantastic initiative was to develop a user-friendly app prototype designed to facilitate access to critical resources, information, and training for poultry farmers, especially women. As the project lead, I coordinated our team's efforts, ensuring that the app prototype aligned with the goals of SELEVER and met the needs of the target community. Our work aimed to strengthen the economic role of women in the poultry value chain while contributing to the overall success of the SELEVER project.
This approach ensured that the app prototype effectively supported Tanager's broader goals of fostering economic empowerment, health education, and sustainable agricultural practices in the region.
The Initial Challenge
Semester: Fall 2021
Analysis
Design
Our task was to create a prototype app that could provide easily accessible information on poultry farming, avian illness prevention, vaccination schedules, and financial education, while also being culturally sensitive and user-friendly for people with varying levels of digital literacy. The app needed to support SELEVER’s mission of empowering women by providing tools for financial decision-making and promoting better health and nutrition through sustainable farming practices. We focused on designing a solution that could scale with the project’s growth, ensuring that it would be adaptable to future updates and expansion of services.
To align with the SELEVER project’s goals, we focused on a simple, intuitive app design that would be easy for users to navigate, even with limited technological experience. The color scheme reflected the project’s commitment to sustainability and empowerment, using earthy tones that are visually connected to the agricultural environment. We employed iconography that was easy to understand, such as images of poultry, health-related symbols, and financial icons, ensuring that users could quickly identify key features.
For the final, an interactive prototype was presented to a council of peers and professors of the School of Business. Sample photos can be viewed in the slideshow.
Roles: Lead project manager, logo designer
App Implementation
Team size: 15 students + 2 professors
Project Overview
SEED Project Launch
Fall 2018
SEED4Hope Rebrand
Spring 2019
“Rise2020” Awareness Campaign
Spring 2019
“Katchibe” Branch Initiative Launch
Fall 2019
Rise2020
Katchibe
Firenock’s eCommerce website was built on an outdated Flash platform, and by 2016, it needed a transition to a more modern solution. After evaluating several options, I led the selection of Squarespace for its user-friendly interface and modern templates, which aligned with Firenock’s “cutting-edge technology” brand. Throughout the transition, I coordinated with cross-functional teams—design, marketing, and IT—to ensure smooth execution.
During the 2018 migration, I managed tasks such as populating inventory, editing product descriptions, and capturing product photography. I also maintained clear communication with stakeholders to ensure their feedback was incorporated and all steps were properly documented and understood.
As Firenock’s product catalog grew, Squarespace could no longer support the expanding needs. In early 2019 and late 2020, I led the migration to BigCommerce, which provided advanced features like multi-layered product filtering, enhanced inventory management, and third-party integrations.
In addition to tasks similar to those performed during the Squarespace migration, I took the lead in integrating a custom backend database and interactive product selectors on the frontend. These systems allow customers to easily find the exact Firenock products that match their bow and arrow specifications. Since then, I’ve continued to manage product updates and seasonal webpage changes to keep the site current and aligned with customer needs.
Roles: lead project manager,
In
Notable Design Improvements
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The Firenock Annual Catalog was originally organized by product release date. To enhance navigation and help readers better understand Firenock’s offerings, products were reorganized into categories like “Components” and “Preparation Tools.” Each category now includes captivating unit introductions and detailed summaries to guide customers through the catalog.
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Firenock’s commitment to research and development drives its use of scientific terminology. The new “Science of Archery” section explains complex concepts in simple terms for the target audience. For instance, "AeroHistory" provides a clear overview of the evolution of arrow manufacturing processes and technology.
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Firenock offers multiple variations of similar products, such as over 30 different arrow inserts in various materials, sizes, and patented technologies. To help customers better understand each product’s unique features and benefits, detailed overviews now allow them to view products at nearly real size. These overviews also clearly show how different systems interact—highlighting both compatibilities and incompatibilities—making it easier for customers to choose the right product for their needs.
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The catalog retains its classic cover design, while fonts and styles have been streamlined with updated guidelines for sizing and placement. New iconography and product "anatomy" diagrams improve product clarity, enhancing reader comprehension and accessibility.
Mission Trips
Team size: 6-8 students + 3 professors
Final Thoughts
In recognition of its innovative impact, VAM was awarded the “Most Innovative Project” at the 4th Annual Celebration of Community Engagement in October 2023. Though under a different name, the Intsaba/Lentsaba Village project continues to thrive, offering a platform where each piece of artwork tells the story of resilience and triumph, overcoming challenges to create sustainable change.
