Designing and Developing a Sign Language Learning Application to Bridge the Communication Gap Between the Deaf and Hearing Community Using a Design Thinking Approach

Hearing loss impacts 4.6 % of Indonesia's population, including 2.6 million individuals with impairments. Despite this, communication challenges remain due to a lack of widespread sign language understanding and limited access to learning resources. This paper introduces Berisyarat, a mobile application designed with a user-centered approach to support the learning of Indonesian sign language through structured content and gamified features. Developed using the design thinking framework, the process focused on empathy, defining problems, ideating solutions, prototyping, and thorough user testing to address specific needs. Key features of the app include interactive learning modules, a sign language translator, quizzes, and a community forum aimed at fostering engagement and collaboration. Usability testing with 10 participants showed significant improvements, with SEQ scores increasing from 4.4 to 5.31 (+20.7 %) and SUS scores rising from 66.25 to 86.75(+31.0 %) after iterative refinements. These results highlight the impact of a user-centered approach in improving accessibility and inclusivity. By leveraging technology, Berisyarat bridges communication gaps, improves accessibility, and promotes inclusivity between Indonesia's deaf and hearing communities, offering a scalable solution for sign language education.