SpurConnect
About:
SpurConnect is tailored to users who are looking to grow their networks and establish meaningful business relationships. Spur Connect’s mobile app is best intended for traveling business professionals who are dissatisfied with multiple single-source solutions when arranging and documenting meetings in unfamiliar destinations.
Problem:
SpurConnect’s mobile application is in its early phases of development (as of May 2022) and needs input from potential users to provide a better experience. SpurConnect is aiming to feature means to arrange spontaneous meetings, manage taxes, connect with others, and other features related to networking.
Tasks:
Collaborate in a team of UX Designers
Research how the application is currently working for the user
Test and interview the application with business users
Document findings and recommendations for the client
Prototype a revised version of SpurConnect’s mobile app
Synopsis
Preview of the SpurConnect’s Redesign
Client: SpurConnect
Role: UX Designer/Researcher
Goals:
Review the current state of the app and document key tasks
Test the app with business-related users
Methodologies:
Cognitive Review - completing and analyzing key tasks
Usability Testing - testing & interviewing with users
Speak-Aloud Protocol - users speak their thoughts while performing tasks
Tools: Figma, Google Excel and Doc, Zoom
Meet the Team
Left to right - Saba, Jared, James, Sara
Team Members/UX Designers:
Saba
Sara (me)
Jared
James
Reviewing the App
The first phase of this project involves reviewing some key tasks that the client wants the app to provide for the user and how the user will accomplish those tasks. There were about 9 Key Tasks to perform, and as a team, we distributed 2-3 tasks to check individually. Noted in the list below, I was responsible for Task 6 and 7.
Key Tasks
Register as a new user
Sign in
Edit and update user profile
Find and browse profiles within a localized geographic area
Find and browse profiles fitting certain user-entered criteria or location
Identify and initiate contact (message) with desirable, relevant professionals within a localized geographic area
Set up a meeting with a new potential connection
Document a receipt for a recent meeting
Increase privacy by hiding their profile in searches and blocking incoming meetings and messages
Each task is recorded step-by-step and evaluated based on four concepts:
Is the effect of the current action the same as the user's goals?
Is the action visible?
Is there a clear connection between the control and the resulting action? Will the user have their expectations met?
Is there sufficient and/or appropriate feedback?
Scripting & Testing
After evaluating the key tasks of the mobile app, we started compiling an interview script so we can test the current state of the app with a business professional. Our focus was to gain insights on why the user would use SpurConnect for networking in addition to uncovering existing applications with features that already meets user expectations.
My Role: Sub-moderator, Tech Support, and Photographer
Duration: 1 hour
Environment: Zoom call, held at Prime Digital Academy
Materials: Laptop, observation sheet, notepads, pen, script
Results
Our biggest take-away to enhance the product is to introduce a system to track meeting receipts so that the user can finance their taxes in addition to bringing clarity for processing meetings and connections with potential clients and business partners.
Synthesizing Research Data
Affinity Diagram
Data obtained from the session was synthesized into an Affinity Diagram - revealing common themes and potential features for the app. Some of these categories range from Personal Privacy, Meeting Documentation, and Networking.
Findings & User Stories
A quick summary of the research is documented in the link. With these findings, I have written three user stories representing key features for the app which will be prototyped.
Prototyping
SpurConnect’s app has room for growth, both visually and functionally. This gave our team the opportunity to personalize how the app would both look and function for the user. Once our findings were gathered, we separately sketched Wireframes and Information Architecture Diagrams on paper before making an Interactive Prototype in Figma.
Applying other Social Media
When sketching the wireframes for screens such as the search function, I researched the apps that our interviewee introduced to us which were LinkedIn and Twitter. For instance, I followed the interface from Twitter’s search window since one of SpurConnect’s purposes was to search for users based on their names or related industries and locations.
My Design Approach
As I was creating the prototype, I decided to re-use the same UI coloration and overall theme of the original interactive app that we tested instead of starting from scratch with a different palette. Not only to save time, it also challenged how I design an interface with certain conditions. My focus was to illustrate the user flows for each User Story, so I did not prioritize the log-in screen. However, I would make a survey section that would customize the user’s search results if I included the log-in pages, since this would help the user set up the basis for how they want to network.
Prototype Interactive
You can open the link to Figma and interact with the prototype for the SpurConnect app. If you have an account, you can also read the descriptions for each user flow and my rationale behind certain changes.
Conclusion
Important Takeaways
SpurConnect has a variety of features that business partners, job-seekers, and entrepreneurs can utilize to expand their network and manage their work expenses for meetings. By focusing more on the end user’s experience to provide a base for connections and financial support, SpurConnect will be able to start up their reach towards success.
Next Steps
Add log-in screens to the Prototype
Modernize and enhance the graphic design
Include settings for personal privacy
Test the redesign with potential users