What is the main goal for this project?

Make Your Mess Holy is a not yet published creative non-fiction book and self-reflection guide focused on creative transformation, ritual, and personal growth. We hope to expand its impact by creating a user-friendly online portal that allows readers to engage with its practices through digital journaling, rituals, and multimedia experiences.

We would like to work with students to develop a minimum viable product (MVP) of an interactive web application that translates the book’s themes into a meaningful digital experience. The portal should reflect the book’s tone, aesthetic, and user-friendly format, and be built with future scalability and ease of use in mind.

This will involve several different steps for the students, including:

• Reviewing the book’s structure and audience to identify relevant features for an online platform.
• Researching and comparing potential front-end and back-end development tools and frameworks.
• Conducting a needs analysis to determine technical and content requirements for the site.
• Designing and building the MVP portal, with guidance from our team and use of provided content.
• Creating documentation that outlines the development process, technical specs, and update guidelines.

Bonus steps in the process would also include:

• Integrating simple creative tools (e.g., digital journaling or ritual-building widgets)
• Gathering informal user feedback and incorporating design adjustments based on it

What tasks will learners need to complete to achieve the project goal?

By the end of the project, students should demonstrate:

• Understanding of web development frameworks and portal design approaches
• Clear identification of functional and technical requirements
• Development of an MVP web portal that incorporates interactive, multimedia-based features
• Creation of a maintenance and scalability guide for future development phases

Bonus steps would include:

• Collecting early user feedback and refining the platform accordingly
• Exploring community-building or social features to deepen engagement

Final deliverables should include:

• A functional MVP version of the portal or web app
• A final written report including:
• Project summary
• Technical overview and system requirements
• Wireframes or design assets
• Documentation of implemented features and any known limitations

How will you support learners in completing the project?

Students will connect directly with the book’s author and project mentor. We will provide support through:

• A detailed overview of the book and its creative framework
• Access to content assets, visual guidelines, and user insights
• Feedback sessions throughout the design and development process
• Input on technical and design decisions as needed