A new country.
A clearer first step.

1. Context

MOVAE began as an integrated academic project focused on SDG 4 — Quality Education, specifically the goal of expanding equal access to technical, vocational and higher education.

We started by exploring the difficulties immigrants and refugees face when continuing their education in Brazil. The research revealed needs around arrival, documentation, language and finding work.

The research shifted our focus to a barrier that comes before education: finding information to organize the first steps in a new country.

The project progressed from research to a prototype and an initial usability evaluation.

2. Problem

Rebuilding a life means obtaining documents, finding work, securing housing and learning the language. These needs happen at the same time.

The team identified the central problem as difficulty accessing information about obtaining basic documents in Brazil. The journey linked this stage to anxiety, frustration, disorientation and vulnerability.

“It took 2 years to obtain my Brazilian residence document.”

This account illustrates the complexity of the experience; it does not establish that missing information caused the entire delay.

How can we help newcomers understand their first steps, focusing on information about documentation?

3. Role

MOVAE was developed collaboratively by Raphael Trindade, Jhonatan Dias, Michelle Buso, Pedro Guedes, Jennifer Fidelis and Suzana Cristo.

The work presented spans desk research, interviews, persona and journey development, problem definition, visual identity, prototyping and usability testing. These activities connected the social context to a support platform concept.

Pedro Guedes was one of the project team members. The original presentation does not specify individual responsibilities; the activities and decisions in this case study are credited to the team.

4. Evidence

The investigation combined desk research and interviews to bring the team closer to the audience’s experiences.

The accounts described difficulties obtaining documents and a lack of time to manage the demands of adapting to a new country.

“We do not have time.”

One person, several priorities

The persona, Anthony Gonzales, 34, represented a Venezuelan with technical training in petrochemistry, living with his family in Brazil and interested in returning to education. The desire to continue studying coexists with the need for income and stability.

The journey covered arrival in Brazil, documentation, housing, language courses, using a phone to find information, and employment. Desk research also highlighted barriers around language, work, services and documentation.

5. Decisions

01 / Narrow the challenge

Education was the starting point. The investigation led the team to focus on access to information during the first stages of adaptation, especially documentation.

02 / Ground the concept in the need

The Job to Be Done connected the tool to the goal of settling in the country:

“When I arrive in Brazil, I want a tool to help me with my first steps, so I can adapt more easily to study and support myself in the new country.”

03 / Explore a mobile experience

A mobile prototype aligned with the journey, which included using mobile internet for communication and information. Prototyping enabled an initial evaluation before any potential implementation.

04 / Build visual consistency

A logo, an orange, green and brown palette, Gotham Rounded typography and iconography established MOVAE’s visual foundation.

6. Solution

MOVAE was conceived as a platform supporting immigrants and refugees with their initial challenges on arriving in Brazil, focusing on access to information about documents.

The aim was to help people understand their next steps within a context that also involves education, work and adaptation.

From research to prototype

The team produced a persona and journey, a problem definition, a Job to Be Done, a visual identity, a style guide and a mobile prototype evaluated through usability testing.

The original presentation includes a Spanish registration screen, but does not detail every flow. The documented stage is a prototyped guidance concept.

The adjacent interfaces were recreated for this portfolio. The document, guide and support screens illustrate potential experiences; they do not reproduce the original prototype or provide a documentation guidance service.

7. Results

The material documents an initial usability evaluation with the following data:

“Direct and simple.”
“The flow was clear.”

The comments offer early indications of perceived clarity. The presentation does not state the number of test participants, tasks, completion rate or errors encountered. The timings alone do not demonstrate efficiency.

The documented result was translating research into a product concept and obtaining initial feedback on the prototype. There is no evidence of reduced time to obtain documents or improved access to education.

8. Lessons learned

Research into access to education can reveal barriers earlier in the journey. In MOVAE, the focus shifted to guidance and documentation during adaptation.

The audience’s priorities coexist: studying and returning to a profession compete with work, housing and income. The experience needs to account for this reality.

A flow perceived as simple is an early signal. Further work would need to verify whether people find suitable information and understand what to do next.

Next steps

The team proposed expanding testing and contacting NGOs to bring the solution closer to its audience. Further development would also require measuring comprehension of next steps and defining how to verify and update guidance.

Useful information helps people understand their next step.