UXPLORE
A user research study on how UX students stay informed and connected
Role
UX Designer
& Researcher
Time Frame
8 weeks
Team
Clarissa Hyun
Daraksha Shaik
Rashi Dhoju
UXPLORE
A user research study on how UX students stay informed and connected
Role
UX Designer
& Researcher
Time Frame
8 weeks
Team
Clarissa Hyun
Daraksha Shaik
Rashi Dhoju
UXPLORE
A user research study on how UX students stay informed and connected
Role
UX Designer
& Researcher
Time Frame
8 weeks
Team
Clarissa Hyun
Daraksha Shaik
Rashi Dhoju
Background
Background
Domain of Inquiry
Domain of Inquiry
It's no secret that many designers regularly attend meetups, events, and conferences. UX design is a fast moving field that require its practitioners to constantly keep up with new trends and exchange ideas with each other. Our team wanted to look at how UX students specifically find these events and stay connected with each other.
It's no secret that many designers regularly attend meetups, events, and conferences. UX design is a fast moving field that require its practitioners to constantly keep up with new trends and exchange ideas with each other. Our team wanted to look at how UX students specifically find these events and stay connected with each other.
Discovery & Research
Discovery & Research
Interviews and Contextual Inquiry
Interviews and Contextual Inquiry
It's no secret that many designers regularly attend meetups, events, and conferences. UX design is a fast moving field that require its practitioners to constantly keep up with new trends and exchange ideas with each other. Our team wanted to look at how UX students specifically find these events and stay connected with each other.
It's no secret that many designers regularly attend meetups, events, and conferences. UX design is a fast moving field that require its practitioners to constantly keep up with new trends and exchange ideas with each other. Our team wanted to look at how UX students specifically find these events and stay connected with each other.
Key Findings
Key Findings
Across the interviews we conducted, we found that:
1. Users use multiple sources to find events
2. Many struggle to keep track of event logistics
3. Price, location, subject matter, and event type are important factors when deciding whether or not to attend events
Across the interviews we conducted, we found that:
1. Users use multiple sources to find events
2. Many struggle to keep track of event logistics
3. Price, location, subject matter, and event type are important factors when deciding whether or not to attend events
Pain Points
Pain Points
User Persona
User Persona
From our user research, we created our user persona Amanda. We had debated whether or not to create two personas, one for the experienced student and one for the newer student. However, in our affinity map, we did not find enough of a difference between these experience levels to warrant two personas. Most students, despite experience level, had the same frustrations, motivations, and processes.
From our user research, we created our user persona Amanda. We had debated whether or not to create two personas, one for the experienced student and one for the newer student. However, in our affinity map, we did not find enough of a difference between these experience levels to warrant two personas. Most students, despite experience level, had the same frustrations, motivations, and processes.
Competitive Analysis
Competitive Analysis
After identifying user needs and pain points, we conducted a competitive analysis of sites that our users currently use to find events.
After identifying user needs and pain points, we conducted a competitive analysis of sites that our users currently use to find events.
We found that
We found that
Design
Design
Requirements
Requirements
Taking into consideration competing meetup and event platforms as well as listening to user needs, we identified gaps and opportunities for a UX focused solution.
Taking into consideration competing meetup and event platforms as well as listening to user needs, we identified gaps and opportunities for a UX focused solution.
Discover
Discover
- For you page and explore page
- See event info
- For you page and explore page
- See event info
Post
Post
- Post and create events
- Verify users for posting
- Add event tags to post
- Post and create events
- Verify users for posting
- Add event tags to post
Social
Social
- Message other users
- RSVP
- Share post through DM
- See if friends are attending event
- Organization and personal profile setup
- Message other users
- RSVP
- Share post through DM
- See if friends are attending event
- Organization and personal profile setup
Search
Search
- Filter for date, cost, location, virtual/in person, and event type
- Filter for date, cost, location, virtual/in person, and event type
Organize
Organize
- Integrate in app calendar
- Integrate in app calendar
We wanted our solution to be a crowdsourcing app that:
1. Helps users find and keep track of events they're interested in
2. Create and maintain community ties and networks
We wanted our solution to be a crowdsourcing app that:
1. Helps users find and keep track of events they're interested in
2. Create and maintain community ties and networks
Wireframes
Wireframes
Each of our team members designed their own version of the app's following page:
Each of our team members designed their own version of the app's following page:
We then combined the best features from each design to create the design basis for our app.
We then combined the best features from each design to create the design basis for our app.
Prototypes and Usability Testing
Prototypes and Usability Testing
After our initial wireframes, we created more screens and conducted usability tests with 4 users to see where improvements could be made.
After our initial wireframes, we created more screens and conducted usability tests with 4 users to see where improvements could be made.
Findings:
- Three participants asked about having the search button on the home page
- Three participants said that there was too much information in the home page
- One participant had a problem with finding the search button on the explore page
Findings:
- Three participants asked about having the search button on the home page
- Three participants said that there was too much information in the home page
- One participant had a problem with finding the search button on the explore page
Solution
Solution
The class had ended before our team had a chance to revise the design following the usability testing. After reviewing the project to put into my portfolio, I decided to go ahead and finish the final design to bring the project to a more satisfying close!
Based off user feedback, I modified the following page to be less information dense and included the search bar at the top. I also modified the explore page by taking out the live event feature which seemed to confuse users and distract from the search bar.
The class had ended before our team had a chance to revise the design following the usability testing. After reviewing the project to put into my portfolio, I decided to go ahead and finish the final design to bring the project to a more satisfying close!
Based off user feedback, I modified the following page to be less information dense and included the search bar at the top. I also modified the explore page by taking out the live event feature which seemed to confuse users and distract from the search bar.
Reflection
Reflection
Research & Design
Research & Design
This project was a bit time constrained due to the length of my class but I think it would be interesting to continue working on the design of the app, so I can get more practice with the design process. I definitely would like to add the calendar features to the prototype and see how that would be integrated.
As for the research, I would have liked to conduct the interviews with UX students of different schools and geographic locations which may have provided some more insights and perspectives.
This project was a bit time constrained due to the length of my class but I think it would be interesting to continue working on the design of the app, so I can get more practice with the design process. I definitely would like to add the calendar features to the prototype and see how that would be integrated.
As for the research, I would have liked to conduct the interviews with UX students of different schools and geographic locations which may have provided some more insights and perspectives.
Personal
Personal
This was my first UX project that I had worked on with a team. I definitely learned a lot about effective communication and collaboration. I also think my Figma skills got a lot stronger over the course of this project (finally got a good grasp on auto layout!).
This was my first UX project that I had worked on with a team. I definitely learned a lot about effective communication and collaboration. I also think my Figma skills got a lot stronger over the course of this project (finally got a good grasp on auto layout!).
Thanks for reading!