Mates App Design

An enthralling and community-centric app that redefines the very essence of neighborly connections, while effortlessly serving as the gateway to a seamless experience of community living.

My Role

User Research

Planned and conducted remote user interviews

Synthesis

Synthesized findings into actionable deliverables such as persona, user journey map, archetypes, key insights, and design opportunities.

Ideation

Ideated features and concepts with the design team using methods like the Crazy 8's.

Prototype and Test

Created wireframes to rapidly test and iterate the designs from mockups to high-fidelity prototypes.

Overview

Problems

Inefficient utilization of app features for Reporting Common Area Defects and Pre-registering Visitors: Despite investment in these functionalities aimed at streamlining community management and enhancing security, user engagement remains low, leading to persistent congestion at the management office and extended waiting times at the guardhouse area.

Goals

Feature redesign to enhance utilization and usability, and to drive app adoption.

Target Audience

As our innovative app takes its initial steps in the market, we are setting our sights on engaging residents, including homeowners and families, residing in the bustling city center and its suburban surroundings. Our intended audience spans a dynamic age range from 18 to 60.

01 Research and Synthesis

Remote 1-to-1 Interview

Interviewees were asked to complete the 2 tasks with a few follow-up questions to understand their mental model and blockers

Pain Point

1. Accessibility: Users are not able to locate the feature.
2. Clutter: Important announcements from the management team, the ones that hold the utmost significance for users, are often overshadowed by general discussions from other residents.
3. Hassle: Visitors' personal information has to be collected offline as part of the security pass creation process.

Key Insight & Design Opportunity

Through user research, preliminary findings indicate the need for prioritizing key features and content. Users are actively engaging with the app, and they express a desire to make the most of their time by focusing on the most essential and valuable information.

02 Ideation and Prototype

Wireframes

Based on the insights from the usability studies and research, I applied design changes such as introducing a "Quick Action", facilitating effortless access to frequently-used features. Additional design changes included segregating announcements from the management office from the general discussion forum for better clarity. These ideas were translated into digital wireframes, ensuring a precise alignment with user needs.

Mockups

In the mockups, I unveiled an innovative security pass feature, allowing visitors to register themselves via a shared link, enriching the user experience.

High-fidelity Prototypes

The hi-fi prototype followed the same user flow as the lo-fi prototype, including design changes made after the usability study.

Accessibility Considerations

Screen Reader Compatibility

Clear labels and alternative text for interactive elements that can be read by screen readers

Machine Translation

Integrates machine translation services (e.g., Google Translate) for quick translations.

Text Size and Font

Allows users to adjust text size and choose from a range of readable fonts. This is particularly crucial for users with visual impairments.

Other Work