FreeComETT - Transcription Web Application
Team Volunteering Project
Project Duration: May - Present
Role: UX/UI Designer, Research Support
Responsibilities: Research, Wireframing, Prototyping, UI Design
Methodology: Agile/Scrum
Project Overview
FreeComETT is a digital transcription tool developed for FreeUKGenealogy, an organisation dedicated to providing free access to family history records. The platform enables volunteers to transcribe records of births, marriages, and deaths to be uploaded to the charity’s main database. Unlike a traditional website, FreeComETT is being built as a product-first application, with usability, efficiency, and volunteer engagement at its core. Our job was to help redesign the platform, placing empthasis on the users needs and experience to drive a functional and user friendly product.
The Primary Objective
To transform the current, technically functional build into something actually usable and enjoyable for end-users. Up until now, the product had been led entirely by the development team, with no consideration for usability.
Following several Scrum meetings and initial discovery sessions with fellow UX volunteers, the core UX goal was defined:
Make the transcription process (the core function of FreeComETT) as intuitive and user-friendly as possible.
Therefore focussing our design process to:
Streamline the user journey
Minimise friction in interactions
Design with volunteers’ needs and limitations in mind
My Role as a Junior Designer
Joined introductory meetings with developers, designers, and stakeholders
Took part in Agile Scrum ceremonies
Contributed to early product and UX discussions
Collaborated with developers to understand technical goals and constraints
Partnered with senior UX designer to:
Audit site pages (screenshots, content, layout)
Map primary user flows
Analyse navigation and interactions
Helped define the main UX goal: improve transcription usability
Supported creation of sitemap and information architecture
Designed an initial homepage (parallel design process)
Focused on understanding user pain points and needs
Developing an understanding
Team Collaboration & Agile Participation
I joined the FreeComETT team right at the start, during the discovery phase, and took part in early meetings with the developers, designers, and key stakeholders. I quickly got involved in Agile Scrum sessions, which really helped me get to grips with the project’s goals, who we were designing for, and how the team worked together.
One of the most interesting parts early on was learning about the transcription process itself—something completely new to me.
I spent time understanding what it involves, why it’s important, and what motivates volunteers to do this kind of work. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the people behind the platform and really shaped how I approached the user experience. Having this understanding was important for my design process - helping to reinfroce a user centric approach and mindset moving forwards.
I also joined in on early product discussions, shared initial ideas, and asked lots of questions. Working closely with the developers and more experienced team members gave me insight into the technical side of things and helped me understand the bigger picture of where the product is heading.