Introduction

PostUp is an app designed to help remote workers easily find great public places to work from. This is a 5 days solo design sprint to quickly create and test out a possible solution.

Role

  • UX design

  • UI design

Deliverables

  • User need statements

  • Persona

  • User Journey

  • Screen Mapping

  • Sketches

  • Style guide

  • Prototype

  • User testing

Team

Just me:)

Problem

Searching for a productive coffee shop or study spot? Imagine finally finding one, only to discover it's crowded, noisy, and no available seats. Frustrating, isn't it?

Finding a great public place to work, whether for quiet work, phone calls or quick meetings, can be time-consuming and nerve-wracking.


Day 1 - Map

User need statements are highlighted using the provided research information. This is done to establish the design goals and to figure out specific requirements needed to build the right solution to the right problem.

User Needs

  1. People want solid wifi, and fast and reliable connections for virtual meetings and for studying.

  2. Pictures of the place’s layout are important, to have an idea of what the environment looks like.

  3. Bathrooms and power outlets.

  4. Users want to know how far they need to travel to get to the place.

  5. Friendly work environment.

  6. Knowing crowding and sound level.

Persona

A generic persona is created with the given information. This persona serves as a valuable tool for maintaining a clear focus on the target audience and identifying the essential features necessary to deliver the optimal experience for our user base.

Lightning Demo

Initiating with an exploration of the existing product, a lightning demo is carried out to ignite inspiration. Products and services that can serve as inspiration for the concepts in the next phases of the sprint are examined, and features that work well are noted down.


Day 1 - Map

User need statements are highlighted using the provided research information. This is done to establish the design goals and to figure out specific requirements needed to build the right solution to the right problem.

User Journey

The user journey help me understand the steps taken by the user when they interact with the app.

Crazy 8 Sketches

Solution Panels

The initial concept sketches (Crazy 8) guided my choice of the solution screen to move forward with and helped me identify key components, such as star ratings, pictures, and distance, to focus on. More detailed sketches for screens preceding and following my critical screen were created, serving as the foundational framework for the app prototype.


Day 3 - Screen Mapping

On the third day of the sprint, a screen mapping is being crafted, incorporating essential UI elements based on key research findings. The main features identified in the research are being emphasized, ensuring their presence in the storyboard. This is laying the foundation for the problem-solving app.

The Style Guide

A style guide was created to ensure consistency across the prototype, aiming to establish uniformity in text, color, and icons. This foundational document serves as a reference point to maintain a cohesive and visually harmonious design throughout the project.


Day 4 - Prototype

On the fourth day of the design sprint, a Figma prototype is being developed utilizing the gathered information. The layout of the results is being optimized to enhance visibility, and care is taken to ensure that users can easily discern the features of each search result.


Day 5 - Usability Testing

On the final day of the design sprint, app usability testing was conducted on the prototype with 5 different users to derive insights on whether the app solved the initial problem.

User Interviews

Context: You are a remote worker and would like to get some work done in an Asian coffee shop. You’re also craving some cake.

Task: Find a place you would like to work in, look at the info given by the app, then bookmark it for later.

Findings

All interviewees successfully accomplished the task of locating a specific coffee shop within three minutes, encountering no difficulties. The unanimous perception of the solution as straightforward and intuitive among all participants serves as a strong indicator that the app effectively addresses the identified problem.


Learnings and Next Steps

  • Taking time to set solid foundations—identifying the right problem and understanding user needs—isn't a delay; it's an investment. A weak foundation renders the rest useless. In design, patience early on ensures a sturdy structure.

  • I thoroughly enjoyed the 5-day design sprint, as it offered a platform for creative thinking and problem-solving while prioritizing user needs within a tight timeline.

  • The experience exceeded my expectations in terms of productivity within a short period, and I eagerly anticipate participating in another design sprint soon!

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