Role
UX Design Consultant
Deliverables
Mind Maps
Wireframes
Prototypes
Tools
Figma, Miro, Slack,
Google Workplace,
Zoom
Duration
4 Weeks
2022
Case Summary
Problem
Currently the MagnifiU website is visually eye-catching but not engaging for users. The app is a poorly scaled version of the webpage. MagnifiU’s internal UX team reached out to get a fresh view of their platform as they redesign using a mobile first approach. In this sprint I focused on ways to keep users engaged and to expand the MagnifiU platform.
Audience
This platform is targeted towards Millennials looking for personal and professional development.
Solution
Produce UX ideas to be added to the next version of the mobile first MagnifiU platform that encourage user engagement. The client also requested that wireframes be presented in high fidelity to better represent the concepts.
Process Highlights
Product Team
I was one of 3 UX Designers that reported to a Project Manager that facilitated contact with the client.
Methodology
Design thinking driven concept development during an agile sprint. Daily stand ups and weekly presentations were used to individual contributions.
Responsibilities
UX Design- all designs shown are my own portion of the final presentation.
Project Plan
We focused on a week of exploration and two weeks of concept development. The last week was used to refine and polish concepts and deliverables.
Background
We met with the client through out the project and was in constant communication on Slack. My main task was idea generation but visual representation was necessary to convey my ideas. MagnifiU's internal UX team was in the process of redesigning the app and creating a style guide. The UI shown is my own interpretation of their style. The client expressed that while the sprint is focused on the app version, they would need ideas that could translate to a web site. Translations of key features were provided.
Hypothesis
User engagement can be enhanced by focusing on community and gamification. The client also wanted a way to implement a coaching feature through out the app.
How?
Community
Community engagement builds trust in the platform and users are more likely to recommend the experience. MagnifiU can also use the community interactions to gain insight on user interests.
Creating In-App Communities: A proven Way to Improve User Engagement
Coaching
Coaching fits into the MagnifiU mission and allows users to have a structured learning path paired with a personal connection. Coaching provides external accountability to help users reach their goals.
Gamification
Gamification is a powerful tool for learning as well as marketing. Providing habit forming tasks and a reward system has shown to result in more sustainable retention and attract more users.
Business Goals
-
Increase the number of users by creating a community.
-
Create new connections and expand the MagnifiU brand by partnering with external coaches and companies.
-
Increase user retention and the time spent using the app through gamification.​
Concepts
A Chat-less Community
Challenge: The client did not want to add a chat bot or pay for moderators and so did not want any free chat.
​
I took inspiration from a few different sources such as LinkedIn, Wordle, and Animal Crossings New Horizon to pull together some ideas:
-
A community feed with news that users can interact with using emotes, saving, or sharing.
-
User should be able to see when others interact with content like seeing how many people "liked" a post.
-
A share feature that shows stats, limited content, or predetermined responses so that personal content is kept off of the community feed.
-
Users can discover and add friends and become part of an exclusive group by utilizing a global search.
GG WP
Challenge: The client wanted to keep the interactions positive wherever there was gamification involved.
​
I took inspiration from a few different sources such as Noom and PokemonGo to pull together some ideas:
-
Users can earn badges for completing courses, interacting with the community, and by working with coaches.
-
Transparent tracking of goals and progress.
-
Users receive encouraging reminders and options to celebrate achievements by sharing.
-
Customizable backgrounds can be unlocked
-
"Don't break the streak" rewards for consistent users.
Positive Vibes Only
Challenge: The client wanted coach reviews to only show positive reactions. Also create incentives to stay on the coaching page since there is no chat ability.​
​
I took inspiration from a few different sources such as League of Legends honor system and ADP List to pull together some ideas:
-
Reviews work as a honor system where users can give honors to coaches in areas where their strength lies.
-
An option to collect written reviews that are for interal use only.
-
Users can earn badges with coaches or a specific professional interest or to fulfill a Collection requirement.
-
Coaches can also earn badges and achievements as they are mentoring.
I wanted to break down the coaching category to make space in the app for self coaching. I looked a a number of meditation and self care apps for inspiration.
-
Daily prompts and check-ins
-
Users can be recommended courses or activities based on their mood, activity, or lack of activity.
-
Users can utilize positive affirmations and self talk to spark internal motivation
Did you know: Positive self talk (positive and present tense) helps to materialize intentions, motivate, concentrate on goals, reprogram self-conscious/ self-worth, and nurture emotional intimacy.
Self-affirmation activates brain systems associated with self-related processing and reward
Design
Touch Points Mind Map
This map uses MagnifiU's architecture ideas to show where community, coaching, self coaching, and gamification would live.
High Level Information Architecture
This collection of mind maps is the proposed architecture for the key features of the app.
Wireframes
I started iterating while receiving feedback from the client.
After many...
Conclusion
​The next steps for the app are ideas that were asked about during my user testing:
Outcome
MagnifiU Key Features Presentation
​
Client Feedback- This project secured another contract with the client for the company. MagnifiU's internal UX team is making decisions on which features will be included in their next version.
Future Roadmap
-
Monetization of gamification areas of the app
-
Hiring internal coaches and content creators to produce premium content. Also add features that would keep contacting coaches and coaching inside the app rather than leaving the app
-
Expansion of community capabilities by adding a chat
-
Continue to collect feedback from users through qualitative reviews and quantifiable data from interactions on the app
Conclusion
I was so grateful to be able to stretch my creative brain during this project. I was glad to hear when the client liked my ideas and I can't wait to see how they are implemented in their next version. My biggest take aways are that inspiration is everywhere and to always save my ideas. If it didn't fit in this project it could possibly be the solution to the next one.