Summary
This was a research project which I thought initially when I came across this app as a fresher student. I assumed that the client's needs were to revamp and improve the user experience by making changes in the design, with a focus on addressing the problems faced by students. This included adding features as needed to acknowledge student challenges and rectifying existing inefficiencies in the application. Targeting students as the audience, the goal was to create a seamless and accessible experience that students could rely on for their tasks, incorporating personalization options and responsive design elements.
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Target Audience -
Students attending
university
Role -
UX Researcher, UX designer
Time -
14 days
Empathize
To define our users' pain points, I decided there is a need to create use cases. I wanted to understand exactly where there is a proper need for change, as one of the client's wishes is minimal changes.
Pain Points:
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Students are unaware of the application because the features are not very convenient.
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Many features do not cater to the students' needs effectively.
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The application is too cluttered.
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It is challenging to find the desired feature.
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Students prefer using Google or the search option within the college website rather than relying on the app for links.
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All features redirect to external links; there is no saved information or personalization within the application.
User Research
(field study)
Students from different periods and departments were chosen to better understand the application's user experience. This included recently admitted students, two-year college attendees, and those with one year of attendance. I conducted a field study research since many were unaware of the application's existence. It was challenging to convince students to participate in a diary study due to the infrequent use of the application and time constraints.
Based on the above assumptions questions asked:
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Do you know the Hawk-i application?
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Have you used the Hawk-i application?
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How do you feel while using the Hawk-i application?
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How would you rate your experience?
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What can be improved in this application?
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Will you use this application now that you know of its existence?
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What bothers you the most about this application?
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What feature do you like about this application?
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Does the application feel too cluttered with information?
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Would you suggest your friends use this application?
" It would be better to add a different section for international students as they have a lot of rules they must follow. Having an app storing their information and giving them reminders would be great."
- Sneha Patil
I 'm a gard student studying chemical engineering. This is my second year.
" It is a great application. I had no idea about it. I will see if I can use this application, but I do feel it is very handy."
- Tanvi Patil
I 'm an undergrad student studying Business. This is my first semester.
" The application is great; however, I do not like the color scheme. It would be better if easily recognizable icons were used."
- Vaishnavi Kesarkar
I 'm a grad student studying bio molecular engineering. This is my second semester.
Summary of the interview:
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The users suggested the need of the following is necessary for a better experience:
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Better icons
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Better color combination
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More ease of acquiring information
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More information about committees, departments, international center, and events
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Bigger icons
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Easily detectable icons or headings
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Saving recent information or recently accessed information
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Notification on calendar
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More information about faculty and their schedule
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More information on the research department and project leaders
Solutions
After understanding the users' pain points, which were similar to the ones I assumed, I found that many students were still okay with the structure of the application. However, it was surprising that the application never seemed to have caught their attention. Additionally, there were students who actually liked the colors but not the icons, and some students did not like the application itself. After understanding this, I came up with the following solutions:
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Create a dedicated section for international students, committees, departments, faculty, and research information within the application
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I noticed that there was missing information for the students, which was available on the official website but not included in the application. This information was something students wanted to know every week or might need repeatedly. Therefore, I did some digging and asked them about it, and these were the features I came up with.
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2
Implement a search feature that displays only the relevant information available on the application, improving user experience
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The search feature was not working properly, so I decided it should only be connected to the application cards and not the website. I noticed that the search function contained external data along with the application data, which confused users. Therefore, I modified it to only direct users to the cards within the application. Additionally, there was a title instead of a search bar, which I changed as it was confusing for some users. I also found the title of the college name to be an unnecessary addition.
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Incorporate a feature to save the information of clicked icons for ease of use in the future
I added a "Recently Viewed" section because there was a lot of information available on the application. Having a "Recently Viewed" section made it easier for users to access cards they had clicked on before, reducing the need to scroll multiple times. Since the application only directs users to the proper link without saving personal information, this was the least amount of personalization that could be added to meet our client's needs.
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Redesign the interface to make it more consistent, user-friendly, ensuring proper colors and typography as per WCAG standards
I used neutral colors in the body instead of red, and the icons were in black. I utilized color theory to enhance usability and followed the WCAG accessibility standards, as everything was in red before. This change gave the application a proper look and reduced the cognitive load users experienced previously. I also used typography similar to the one the college was using on its site. Since I did not have accurate information about the college's typography, I compared and found the most similar option to the college site.
Wireframes
I used figma and paper wireframes for the process
Final draft
Old designs
User Comments
01.
The new design is much more user-friendly. The font size and color combinations make it easier to read.
02.
I appreciate the updated icons and how intuitive they are to use.
03.
Scrolling through the app is now smoother, and I can find information quickly without any hassle.
04.
The application feels much more organized, and the overall experience has improved significantly.
05.
I only use the app when I need specific information, but the new updates have made those instances much more efficient.
Learnings
Challenges in Participation:
Convincing students to participate in a diary study for user research was challenging.
UI Dissatisfaction:
Some students were dissatisfied with the application's UI, contributing to their reluctance to use it regularly.
Information Availability:
The readily available information reduced the application's daily usage as students accessed it only for specific queries.
Purpose of Application:
The primary purpose of the application was to centralize information for ease of access, hence the lack of personalization.
Developer Issues:
Numerous developer issues discouraged student engagement with the app.
Initial Encounter:
Recognized the need for a designer due to a lack of design thinking background after transitioning from a mobile application developer role.
Feature Implementation Consideration:
Considered implementing registration features based on audience feedback but decided against it to align with the application's core purpose, though it remains an option for future development.
Skill Improvement:
Improved skills in enhancing existing designs, incorporating new features, and evaluating them against universal standards.
Usability Improvement:
Achieved a significant 75% increase in the application's usability rate.
Metrics were acquired through usability testing, where users evaluated the new design's ease of use, including font size, color combination, icon size, icons used, scrolling feature, and ease of getting information.