UI Design
From frustration to flow: A smarter way to volunteer online
We redesigned the sign-up form to guide users with clarity and care—reducing drop-offs and making it easier for people to say yes to helping their community.
Summary
A local community organisation that runs weekend food drives and neighborhood clean-ups struggles to get consistent volunteer sign-ups through their website. The “Volunteer Sign-Up” form sees a high drop-off rate midway.
Understanding the problem
User Friction Points
The form asks for unnecessary personal details upfront (e.g., full address, birthdate).
Users must select an activity before seeing what dates are available, which confuses.
There’s no indication of time commitment or what to expect until after submission.
Key takeaways
Key Improvements:
Reordered fields: The form now begins with a list of available activities and time slots. Personal info is collected last.
Progressive disclosure: Information such as “what to expect” and “how long it takes” is revealed contextually as users select a role.
Friendly language: Instead of cold labels like “Submit,” we use “Count Me In!” and clear microcopy like “Takes less than 2 minutes.”
Impact:
Reduced form abandonment.
Increased sign-ups.
Volunteers feel more confident and welcomed during sign-up.
Curious to see more?
Browse all our UX showcases for real-world ideas and solutions.
