During my internship at Cennec, I collaborated closely with the founder, CTO, and development team to redesign a mobile app focused on connecting people with shared interests. The goal of the app is to foster genuine connections in a space beyond traditional networking platforms.
Upon joining the team, I discovered that the beta version of the app was set for launch without prior testing. To address this, I assumed responsibility for crafting a usability test plan. I then scheduled and conducted tests with five participants. These are a few of the insights:
Due to time constraints of the launch date, structural changes to the app were not feasible. Therefore, our strategy pivoted towards quick solutions, such as establishing a style guide and ensuring UI consistency. Collaborating closely with the developer, I actively participated in bug bashes and played a key role in creating and implementing the style guide.
During the usability test, some participants expressed discomfort connecting with users with incomplete profiles. Interestingly, these participants faced difficulty in locating the section for adding information and thereby struggled to complete their profiles. Therefore, I initiated the redesign process by focusing on the profile page, making UI adjustments to improve cohesion and intuitiveness.
In the earlier phase, we discovered a significant concern: the product was being perceived as a dating app. Given the common perception that dating apps tend to be superficial, we decided it was crucial to differentiate our product. To do so, we needed to understand how people make genuine connections both in person and on online platforms.
Online communities are an excellent means of gaining insights into opinions and conversations centered around specific topics. They are also time and cost-effective, eliminating the need to recruit participants, as all content is readily available. Additionally, the problem we are addressing is widespread, with numerous discussion threads related to it.
Therefore I decided to conduct netnographic research. I began by perusing various online platforms where individuals seek advice on making friends. This provided valuable insights into the strategies people use in their pursuit of meaningful connections.
I conducted 5 semi structured interviews to understand issues faced by people when forming new connections or maintaining existing relationships.
1.
Purely online friendships face challenges due to reasons such as being disingenuous, non-committal, lacking accountability, having too many options, not holding each other responsible, and a lack of focus on building things up.
2.
Initially, common interests are sufficient to initiate connections. Subsequently, factors like humor, communication style, values, and perceptions become crucial in fostering deeper connections
3.
In real life, the process of making friends takes time. It often begins with learning about small things and gradually deepens over time. Sharing experiences and building memories play a significant role in this real-life friendship-building process.
We decided to iterate on solution that encourages meeting in person.
To build an online community that is responsible and fosters a sense of accountability, I explored ideas aimed at promoting more in-person interactions and community-building initiatives. Alongside, my focus has been on favoring quality interactions over quantity. I've also delved into behavior change theories, aiming to bring positive transformations through thoughtful design.
NOTE: This project is ongoing. However, I keep updating it regularly.
1.
In real-world scenarios, adhering to the ideal UX process may not always be feasible. As a designer, I frequently had to modify my plans to align with business requirements. For instance, in this particular case, I was unable to revamp the app during the initial phase due to constraints within the development team. In response, I adapted to the situation and focused solely on UI changes.
2.
In contrast to established organizations with well-defined structures, startups often operate in a fluid, rapidly evolving landscape. This project taught me the importance of understanding and navigating diverse priorities. I learned to balance different priorities through effective communication, flexibility, and aligning user experience goals with overarching business objectives.
