Digital innovation unleashes positive mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth

The HopeLab team had already begun the hard work of engaging with target users to understand their needs, goals, problems, and priorities. TXI was selected to expand and refine the current concept by providing creativity, curiosity, and digital know-how to evaluate and recommend the most efficient and effective solution options.

The recommended first step focused on manifesting real outcomes while reducing risk through design thinking and agile processes. An integrated, iterative approach predicated on first gaining insight into what influences users’ behavior and then leading a collaborative prioritization effort by continually identifying the most desirable, viable, and sustainable outcomes.

While software played a key role in the solutions identified, TXI approached it holistically to consider people and processes.

Furthermore, HopeLab aspired to co-create the product with young people and those who serve young people. This continuous feedback loop ensured the end-users themselves were defining the product requirements. In the end, and through scientific research, HopeLab’s goal is to make a difference and impact 100,000 queer young people by 2025.

To ensure the digital product met the specific needs of LGBTQ+ youth, we helped HopeLab adopt a data-driven approach. The team recognized the importance of collecting and analyzing relevant data to inform the design and functionality of the platform. Through comprehensive research and engagement with target users, we gathered valuable insights into the preferences, challenges, and aspirations of the LGBTQ+ community.

Additionally, the iterative development process involved tracking users' progress for the study without compromising their privacy. The careful consideration of data privacy was crucial, as it aligned with the goal of creating a supportive and secure environment for LGBTQ+ youth.

By leveraging data throughout the design and development phases, HopeLab and TXI ensured that the resulting digital tool was not only user-centered but also backed by evidence and insights derived from the diverse experiences within the LGBTQ+ community.

TXI designed a high-fidelity prototype that equipped Hopelab with everything they needed to build something internal. The prototype included features like choosing your own adventure path with activities, and multiple engagement points to learn about LGBTQ+ culture with real stories from elders and others like them in the community, passive content to consume, surveys to interact with, and self-paced learning with built-in messaging to guide them through a twenty-eight-day exploratory journey.

Building and funding a custom digital product can be a challenging and uncertain undertaking for any organization. But putting the user first helps ensure products are designed around real needs and requirements, not solely on an organization’s assumptions and aspirations.

Ultimately, it became clear the product’s value was inherently rooted in the curated content owned by HopeLab, so the best path forward was to optimize the accessibility and management of the content experience—not build new functionality from scratch. To that end, TXI recommended a standard turnkey solution capable of meeting HopeLab’s success requirements while saving the organization (and future partners) from maintaining a custom digital platform in perpetuity. TXI’s commitment to understanding and defining the problem space before expanding and launching a product resulted in a client cost savings of nearly $500,000.

This approach to product innovation helps organizations decide whether to build vs. buy software, weighing the advantages of existing solutions over custom ones.

HopeLab’s strategy is to optimize the experience over time—ensuring its users are engaged, supported, and connected. TXI’s partnership will continue to serve as a trusted advisor—challenging assumptions, helping eliminate risk, and serving as a development partner beyond the product’s lifecycle.