NEEDS MAP 2.0

Needs Map is a map-based platform that closes the gap between people who need help and the individuals and organizations ready to give it — without a third party in between. It lists humanitarian needs from individuals, public schools, and community centers, giving anyone visibility into what’s needed and a direct way to provide it. Dreamspace financed and led the design and development of Needs Map 2.0, rebuilding the platform to support humanitarian exchange globally.

Needs Map’s first version proved the model worked, but the platform itself was holding the mission back. Dreamspace’s objective was straightforward in concept and demanding in execution: take a functioning idea and turn it into a platform people would actually want to use, on any device, at any scale.

A platform built to facilitate direct humanitarian aid has to earn trust fast. Visitors need to understand what’s being asked, who’s asking, and how to help — without friction, confusion, or a design that feels like an afterthought to the mission. The original version lacked the visual clarity and usability needed to grow beyond its early use case. Dreamspace’s task was to rebuild the experience from the ground up while preserving what made the platform meaningful in the first place.

The rebuild started with data, not design. Dreamspace spent months gathering and analyzing information before touching the interface, then used those findings to re-strategize the platform’s UX and UI from scratch. The result was redesigned and optimized for both desktop and mobile, with a new set of features built around how people actually ask for and offer help, including human-centric help categories and individual and group scheduling tools.

Color is needed to do real work on this platform, not just look good. Dreamspace moved away from saturated, alarm-style hues in favor of a softer, more unified palette: soft red for needs alerts, mint green for support functions, and light blue for resolved needs. A new set of universal icons was built to match, creating a visual system that made navigation intuitive regardless of language or location.

Dreamspace designed, developed, and launched Needs Map 2.0 in Turkey, then donated the platform to IDEMA to manage local operations going forward. The project was recognized with a Gold Award from the Golden Spider Awards as Category Winner for Social Responsibility Projects.

Needs Map 2.0 gives people a direct, transparent way to express their own needs — and gives local authorities a clear view of what’s needed in their district. For companies, it turns CSR from a guessing game into a targeted effort, making it easier to direct support toward specific groups, like women or children, based on real, located need. Help for the people, by the people.

Dreamspace financed, designed, and developed Needs Map 2.0, a map-based platform connecting humanitarian needs with in-kind donations, earning a Prestigious Golden Spider Award for Social Responsibility.