“I like being able to filter a search myself and click on different tabs or filters”
-Nathan
Responses:
Problem
Main Problem
Users are having to use too many sources when researching a location to move to. Users are frustrated by the time it is taking for them to research a location.
“I really want the ability to favorite or like things that I find interesting”
-Tiffany
I researched how the competitors of my app dealt with various pain points
“I like being able to know the population and statistics of the people”
-Laura
Competitive Analysis
Affinity Mapping
I sorted the responses into different categories. These were defined by pain points, and what users wanted the app to look like. The categories were also decided on repeated responses.
“I don’t want to have to take an additional step to find food, and then use another website to find housing”
-Laura
User Interviews
3 in person; 2 remote
I conducted 5 interviews to empathize with the user and gain insight into any problems they might be having
Example Questions:
-Tell me a little bit about your moving history
-Which ones of your moves were the easiest? Which ones were the hardest? Why?
-What do you value most when looking for a place to move to?
-Do other people’s opinions or values affect your decision on a move?
-What apps or resources have you used in the part to research a new location? Why did you use these apps specifically?
-What pain points or challenges did you run into when using these apps?
-What did you wish was different about this experience?
-What features did you like when using these apps? What was successful?
Discover your next move!
About MoverFinder
MoveFinder is an online application designed to help those who are moving to a new location. MoveFinder was designed to help movers discover their future area, and tailor their search to gain a perspective of that intended location.
Goal
To provide a resource to help movers gain an insight into their new surrounding area
Project Overview
Role
Designer/Researcher
Category
Travel, Lifestyle, Reference
What
Mobile App (IOS)
Who
Users who are researching and discovering an intended place to move
Research
Zillow
Positives
- Interactive map view
- Provides responsive design
- Ability to draw on map
- Tabs and filters are easy to use
Pain Points
- Not able to easily combine filters
- Only provides housing information
- Need to scroll far down to get neighborhood statistics
Search
Foursquare
Positives
-Easy to use search bar with dropdown menu
-No responsive design
-Provides an insight into many factors of a neighborhood
Pain Points
-Takes a few steps to get started on a search
-Hierarchy isn’t great and takes awhile to find each feature
-Does not provide housing information
“Being able to filter and sort my search to my needs is really important to me”
-John
Redfin
Positives
-Easy search bar based on location
-Easy sort option
-Filters are easily accessible
Pain Points
-No responsive design
-Map isn’t as simple as Zillow
-Have to scroll far down to get to specific filters
-Does not provide a good insight into neighborhood
POV statements and HMW questions
Define
Personas
I created two personas to help me explore the needs of specific users from their perspective
POV:
I would like to explore ways to help potential movers have a more personalized research experience because their reasoning for moving is individualized
HMW:
How might we filter research based on user preferences
POV:
I would like to explore ways to help movers avoid bias from secondary sources because users are finding that a review might not be genuine or from a source that has real-world experience with that destination.
HMW:
How might we help users feel more confident that they are receiving genuine insight based on real-world experiences?
POV:
I would like to explore ways to help potential movers simplify their research because they are having to use multiple apps and sources when conducting their research
HMW:
How might we consolidate information to be easier and faster to view?
Low Fidelity Wireframes
Visual Design
Component Library
High Fidelity Wireframes
Design
Project Goals
I created two personas to help me explore the needs of specific users from their perspective
Feature Set
Now that the goals are defined, I proceeded to prioritize features based on impact and effort.
User Flows
I created two user flows for users to problem solve how a user would both login to their profile and also completes a search
Prototype
Testing
Usability Testing
I conducted usability testing on 5 users to receive feedback and any pain points that users are experiencing
Revisions
Interactive Favorites
Users wanted to be able to receive feedback when liking or favoriting something. So, I created an interactive prototype so users knew when they clicked on the like button
Reflection
Conclusion
Because this was my first project as a UX designer, I learned so many invaluable skills to take into my next projects. I learned that so much of the user’s experience is not only how they interact with the product, but the research that goes into why they make the choices they do. As a designer, I have become much more empathetic while working with the user, and have learned to remove much of my own personal bias.
Takeways
I have become much more proficient while working in Figma. I found myself utilizing components much more and saving time.
I would like to see myself removing my own bias from the interview process. I found myself targeting the questions towards a specific answer. I need to be more open ended when interviewing users
I want to ask about more pain points the user is experiencing.
I would like to take more time with the low fidelity wireframes to save time in the long run.