Works - IDMC Helix

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre’s (IDMC) Helix platform is a powerful data tool that tracks and analyzes internal displacement caused by conflicts, disasters, and crises worldwide. It aggregates and visualizes complex data sets, providing clear insights into displacement patterns and trends. Helix supports decision-makers and humanitarian organizations with timely, accurate information through interactive dashboards and maps, helping to improve response and coordination efforts at global and local levels.

Design audit & stakeholder analysis

User interviews & usability testing

Co-creation with team & development

Low & high-fidelity mockups

Design & functional specifications

View of a part of the IDMC Helix platform

Data visualizations, showing a map, key figures, and a timeline diagram

The Challenge

The challenge was to deeply understand the nuanced workflows of displacement experts - how they tag and analyze complex data, which sources they rely on, and the types of outcomes and visualizations they require. The platform needed to align closely with their existing processes, making tailored user research essential to capture these specific needs and ensure a seamless, efficient experience.

Experience map, showing the summary of user interviews in several grid layers, including actors involved, experience feedback, and others.

The XD Process

Our process started with a thorough audit of the existing system to identify what worked and what didn’t. We conducted detailed one-on-one and group sessions with displacement experts to understand their workflows and needs. These insights shaped the design, which was continuously validated and refined through user feedback and co-design sessions to ensure it met their requirements.

Extract from an expert audit file, showing screenshots of the previous version of the application and commentary

Image from a Miro online collaboration tool with digital sticky notes

The Outcomes

The developed platform was highly flexible, supporting detailed source tagging, in-depth analysis, and seamless sharing for internal team feedback and validation. Despite its complexity, the tool effectively addressed the challenge of organizing and analyzing vital information on displaced populations, empowering the organization to manage critical data with greater accuracy and collaboration.