Cluster
A platform that turns civic engagement into something people actually come back to
Overview
Cluster is a community platform that connects people to volunteer opportunities and to each other through shared causes. I joined as Lead Product Designer and spent a year owning the product experience from the beta period through the public launch on iOS and Android in January 2021. The app brought together volunteers, nonprofits, brands, and city governments in one place, with an interactive map, social integration, and a gamification system built around consistent participation.
Challenge
The problem was not awareness. Most people already wanted to give back. The problem was friction and motivation: finding the right opportunity, not having anyone to go with, and nothing to pull them back after the first time. The design challenge was to make civic engagement feel less like a directory and more like a community where showing up actually meant something.
Process
Understanding why people don't follow through
I started by mapping where the experience broke down, not at discovery, but after it. Users would find an event and not commit, or show up once and not return. User stories from early beta helped me understand the motivation gap: people needed social proof, lower commitment barriers, and a reason to keep coming back.
Designing for community, not just discovery
The map-based discovery layer let users see volunteer events nearby, but the real design work was making it feel social. I integrated with Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn so users could see what their network was already doing and join in. In-app communication and event co-hosting made participation feel shared, not solitary.
Making engagement stick
The leaderboard, badge system, and award mechanics were not decoration. They were the answer to a simple question: why would someone open this tomorrow? I designed the reward system to recognize consistent behavior over time, not just one-off actions. The habit loop has to be earned, not assumed.
Shipping across platforms without losing quality
I led the end-to-end launch on iOS and Android and built the internal design system that kept the experience consistent across both. The style guide covered components, patterns, and interaction states, which made it easier to ship new features from user stories without the product drifting.
Solution
We launched in January 2021 with partners including VolunteerMatch, the city of San Antonio, and financial firm Aspiration. Nonprofits could host events in-app, manage co-organizers, and track engagement across social channels. The gamification layer drove repeat visits, and the community model helped the platform attract brand and nonprofit partners looking to reach a younger, cause-driven audience.
Impact
Cluster launched on iOS and Android in January 2021, targeting a market of 70 million Gen Z and Millennial volunteers in the US. The product launched during a global pandemic with revenue partnerships already in place, including Aspiration bank and Root Insurance, alongside civic partnerships with VolunteerMatch and the city of San Antonio. The experience was covered in Authority Magazine and local press as a new model for community engagement. It was one of the few consumer social apps to launch with both paying partners and city government relationships from day one.
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