In this Google UX Design course, I worked as UX researcher and a concept developer during all the phase (empathize, define ideation, prototype and test).
Challenge: Design an application for people and newcomers that are visually impaired to find a place to stay without having to pay a real state agency.
Solution: House Finder is an application that allows users to customize their house research easily, review the profile of the house owner and check the history of changes regarding the house.
research
Upon receiving our prompt, I was cognizant of its complexities. Therefore, I deconstructed the prompt into tangible subproblems, which I tackled by establishing research goals.
RESEARCH GOALS
The who, what, where, when about the user and why it is hard to find a place to stay when relocating
What tools and methods exist currently?
How do people search for a place now?
Are existing tools useful and helpful for all users?
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
As UX Researcher, I conducted interviews and created empathy maps to understand the users I’m designing for and their needs. A primary user group identified through research was working adults who are busy.
USER JOURNEY MAP
Mapping participants’s user journey revealed how helpful it would be for users to have access to a dedicated house finder app.
AFFINITY MAP
DIGITAL WIREFRAMES
As the initial design phase continued, I made sure to base screen designs on feedback and findings from the user research.
Easy navigation was a key user need to address in the designs in addition to equipping the app to work with assistive technologies.
LOW - FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
Using the completed set of digital wireframes, I created a low-fidelity prototype. The primary user flow I connected was building a fast apartment hunting, so the prototype could be used in a usability study.
USABILITY STUDY: FINDINGS
I conducted two rounds of usability studies. Findings from the first study helped guide the designs from wireframes to mockups. The second study used a high-fidelity prototype and revealed what aspects of the mockups needed refining.
MOCKUPS
Early designs allowed for some customization, but after the usability studies, I revised the design so users see all the customization options when they first land on the screen.
HIGH - FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Impact: The application makes users feel like really thinks about how to meet their needs. One quote from peer feedback:
“The app made it so easy to search for houses and check reviews of the house owners! I would definitely use this app as a substitute for a real state agency!”
What I learned: While designing the House Finder app, I learned that the first ideas for the app are only the beginning of the process. Usability studies and peer feedback influenced each iteration of the app’s designs.
NEXT STEPS
Conduct another round of usability studies to validate whether the pain points users experienced have been effectively addressed
Conduct more user research to determine any new areas of need.