Solarverse

The Dutch embassy wanted to work with the Nigerian government to grow solar energy and reliance on it across the country. The Nigeria Solar Marketplace was meant to be a strong player in that: a free repository where anyone could find and connect with solar players, from installers, assemblers and financiers to NGOs and government bodies.The Dutch embassy wanted to work with the Nigerian government to grow solar energy and reliance on it across the country. The Nigeria Solar Marketplace was meant to be a strong player in that: a free repository where anyone could find and connect with solar players, from installers, assemblers and financiers to NGOs and government bodies.

Telesoftas, the product consultant and development partner, came to me with interviews they had already run. I added my own user research, market research and a lot of stakeholder sessions.Telesoftas, the product consultant and development partner, came to me with interviews they had already run. I added my own user research, market research and a lot of stakeholder sessions.

Two needs kept coming up. Installers struggled to find suppliers and financiers they could trust, and consultants advising NGOs couldn’t get reliable, up-to-date information on solar products and the market. Both pointed to the same gap: the players existed, but there was nowhere credible to find them.Two needs kept coming up. Installers struggled to find suppliers and financiers they could trust, and consultants advising NGOs couldn’t get reliable, up-to-date information on solar products and the market. Both pointed to the same gap: the players existed, but there was nowhere credible to find them.

Telesoftas were already signing or talking with solar partners such as Uwana Energy and Sun-fi. So the website had a job beyond explaining the product: make it seamless for these businesses to onboard, and sell the marketplace well enough that the B2B side could follow up once a business converted.Telesoftas were already signing or talking with solar partners such as Uwana Energy and Sun-fi. So the website had a job beyond explaining the product: make it seamless for these businesses to onboard, and sell the marketplace well enough that the B2B side could follow up once a business converted.

I was the only designer on a team of a PM, two backend engineers and two front-end engineers, one of them an intern. I designed the website and web app, and chose the colours and typography because the brand designer hadn’t joined yet.I was the only designer on a team of a PM, two backend engineers and two front-end engineers, one of them an intern. I designed the website and web app, and chose the colours and typography because the brand designer hadn’t joined yet.

Rather than making calls alone, I demoed work regularly so the team could give feedback and shape decisions with me.Rather than making calls alone, I demoed work regularly so the team could give feedback and shape decisions with me.

The marketplace had no profit model at first, and the embassy wanted it to be a free public resource. So anyone can browse the directory and see where the nearest installer is, without an account.The marketplace had no profit model at first, and the embassy wanted it to be a free public resource. So anyone can browse the directory and see where the nearest installer is, without an account.

• Creating an account unlocks what you need to make contact: a business’s phone number, email, social links and business history.
• That kept the marketplace open, while giving people a clear reason to sign up.

Once the directory was open, the question became how the marketplace could sustain itself. The answer was a Facilitate connection button next to every solar player’s profile: request a facilitated connection, and the marketplace team brokers the introduction. It was the first business angle the Nigeria Solar Marketplace could charge for.Once the directory was open, the question became how the marketplace could sustain itself. The answer was a Facilitate connection button next to every solar player’s profile: request a facilitated connection, and the marketplace team brokers the introduction. It was the first business angle the Nigeria Solar Marketplace could charge for.

Businesses verify in three steps: organization overview, profile setup and social links. Financiers also state the financing they offer and their preferred investment size, so matches start out relevant.Businesses verify in three steps: organization overview, profile setup and social links. Financiers also state the financing they offer and their preferred investment size, so matches start out relevant.

I hadn’t planned a draft state at first. In a stakeholder meeting I learned that businesses often don’t have all of this information to hand, so I added Save as draft: nobody loses their progress while they gather it.I hadn’t planned a draft state at first. In a stakeholder meeting I learned that businesses often don’t have all of this information to hand, so I added Save as draft: nobody loses their progress while they gather it.

A single long form would have been quicker to build, but it asks for everything in one sitting, which is exactly where a business still gathering its paperwork would give up.A single long form would have been quicker to build, but it asks for everything in one sitting, which is exactly where a business still gathering its paperwork would give up.

• The client moved the delivery date forward, and the timeline was steep from the start.
• To ship faster, the MVP was cut down and much of the design was set aside for quicker solutions.
• The Dutch embassy later pulled out and the project was paused. It has since been picked up again.

Parts of the Settings pages were deprioritized to reduce the MVP, so I didn’t finish them.Parts of the Settings pages were deprioritized to reduce the MVP, so I didn’t finish them.

Under deadline pressure the client set most of my work aside for quicker solutions. I didn’t want it to go to waste, so I stripped out their branding and rebranded the project as Solarverse, keeping the idea and the solution I designed.Under deadline pressure the client set most of my work aside for quicker solutions. I didn’t want it to go to waste, so I stripped out their branding and rebranded the project as Solarverse, keeping the idea and the solution I designed.

The identity is built on the same idea as the product: a mark made from the letter S and stacked solar panels, a calm blue palette, and the line Bright Future Now, meant to feel credible to financiers and approachable to everyone else.The identity is built on the same idea as the product: a mark made from the letter S and stacked solar panels, a calm blue palette, and the line Bright Future Now, meant to feel credible to financiers and approachable to everyone else.

I got a brief and went straight to work. Later I found that some of what I had designed was out of scope, something I could have caught by working in iterations and sharing earlier. Over-communicating beats working in a silo.I got a brief and went straight to work. Later I found that some of what I had designed was out of scope, something I could have caught by working in iterations and sharing earlier. Over-communicating beats working in a silo.