renaulin11@gmail.com
Reflection
This project was one of my first chances to completely concentrate on making the user experience better. It let me have more time for creating prototypes and testing designs internally. It also gave me a chance to gain more in-depth experience in UX design.
Discovering all usability issues and refining the best experience through numerous iterations turned out to be a remarkably enjoyable process.
I take pride in having my initial app featured on the App Store, and I continue to feel a sense of excitement whenever I receive messages from colleagues sharing their experiences with the application.
Reflection
This project was one of my first chances to completely concentrate on making the user experience better. It let me have more time for creating prototypes and testing designs internally. It also gave me a chance to gain more in-depth experience in UX design.
Discovering all usability issues and refining the best experience through numerous iterations turned out to be a remarkably enjoyable process.
I take pride in having my initial app featured on the App Store, and I continue to feel a sense of excitement whenever I receive messages from colleagues sharing their experiences with the application.
OUTCOME
OUTCOME
Reduction steps in saving for image reference.
Reduction steps in saving for image reference.
We achieved the project goals of streamlining the image reference-saving experience, reducing the process from up to 5 clicks to just 2 simple actions: drag and drop.
We achieved the project goals of streamlining the image reference-saving experience, reducing the process from up to 5 clicks to just 2 simple actions: drag and drop.
Beneficial for a broader audience beyond just designers.
Beneficial for a broader audience beyond just designers.
During our usability testing, we discovered that this app has many use cases beyond designers. For instance, now anyone can use the panel when they need references for redecorating the house, planning a housewarming party, and more
During our usability testing, we discovered that this app has many use cases beyond designers. For instance, now anyone can use the panel when they need references for redecorating the house, planning a housewarming party, and more
Convenient flow
Convenient flow
Considerations
Considerations
Designers browse through inspiration from multiple sources, apps, and tabs. It would be helpful for them if the apps did not require them to change tabs.
Designers browse through inspiration from multiple sources, apps, and tabs. It would be helpful for them if the apps did not require them to change tabs.
Approach
Approach
Explore multiple workflows to identify the most convenient one.
Provide a quick and accessible option for users to start a new project and switch to other projects.
Explore multiple workflows to identify the most convenient one.
Provide a quick and accessible option for users to start a new project and switch to other projects.
Reduce collecting steps
Reduce collecting steps
Considerations
Considerations
Address the primary pain point for users when collecting references.
Address the primary pain point for users when collecting references.
Approach
Approach
Utilize the Drag and Drop gesture to eliminate unnecessary clicks.
Utilize a Project Folder to automatically organize all the references that users drop inside the app.
Utilize the Drag and Drop gesture to eliminate unnecessary clicks.
Utilize a Project Folder to automatically organize all the references that users drop inside the app.
The perfect size
The perfect size
Considerations
Considerations
The app needs to lay out all the important features and information clearly amidst the visuals on the Mac monitor.
The app needs to lay out all the important features and information clearly amidst the visuals on the Mac monitor.
Approach
Approach
Refer to the Apple Watch size, as it's small, but ensure all the information is laid out clearly.
Refer to the Apple Watch size, as it's small, but ensure all the information is laid out clearly.
DESIGN APPROACH
DESIGN APPROACH
Not to be a distraction
Not to be a distraction
Considerations
Considerations
User will see a lot of types of visual when looking for inspiration, so the app should not add noise and be a distraction.
User will see a lot of types of visual when looking for inspiration, so the app should not add noise and be a distraction.
Approach
Approach
Create something that is easy to access when the user is collecting references.
Utilize the glassmorphism style to give off a light and floating effect that will help users find the app easily without causing distraction.
Create something that is easy to access when the user is collecting references.
Utilize the glassmorphism style to give off a light and floating effect that will help users find the app easily without causing distraction.
Not pleasing visual
Not pleasing visual
Designers are primarily visual individuals. They do not typically seek out apps with rigid and flashy designs as their preferred qualities.
Designers are primarily visual individuals. They do not typically seek out apps with rigid and flashy designs as their preferred qualities.
Too much work
Too much work
Utility and productivity apps on Mac often require frequent logging and sometimes have an excessive number of functions, which can make designers feel overwhelmed, especially if these functions do not directly impact their creative work.
Utility and productivity apps on Mac often require frequent logging and sometimes have an excessive number of functions, which can make designers feel overwhelmed, especially if these functions do not directly impact their creative work.
Cluttered device
Cluttered device
During the collection process, most designers do not rename all the downloaded materials they save. As a result, they end up with files that have random names and codes.
It is unlikely for designers to organize all the downloaded materials immediately after collecting them. This leaves designers with hundreds of cluttered images on their devices.
It becomes challenging for designers to find their desired references among the sea of randomly named files.
During the collection process, most designers do not rename all the downloaded materials they save. As a result, they end up with files that have random names and codes.
It is unlikely for designers to organize all the downloaded materials immediately after collecting them. This leaves designers with hundreds of cluttered images on their devices.
It becomes challenging for designers to find their desired references among the sea of randomly named files.
FINDINGS
FINDINGS
Time consuming
Time consuming
Designers need to follow a minimum of 5 steps to collect and save image references for use in their workspace app.
Currently, designers have to manually save anything that catches their attention from multiple sites like Pinterest, Instagram, Behance, Dribbble, and more.
To access these saved or pinned materials, designers have to manually search through multiple tabs and apps in their finder space.
Designers need to follow a minimum of 5 steps to collect and save image references for use in their workspace app.
Currently, designers have to manually save anything that catches their attention from multiple sites like Pinterest, Instagram, Behance, Dribbble, and more.
To access these saved or pinned materials, designers have to manually search through multiple tabs and apps in their finder space.
Merj: Merging Ideas
Merj: Merging Ideas
A Panel that simplify the process of gathering references and inspirations for designers.
A Panel that simplify the process of gathering references and inspirations for designers.
Objective
Shorten the steps of the pre-production phase in a project.
Create a straightforward flow to improve the user experience.
Create a delightful interface for designers.
Role
Product Designer
Challenges
Minimal MacOS design documentation.
Designing a 'good-enough' app for designers to use.
Trying to design everything alone in 10 weeks of development time.
Outcomes
Approved to App Store after two months of development.
Gained 68 organic downloads on App Store in two months after launched.
Objective
Shorten the steps of the pre-production phase in a project.
Create a straightforward flow to improve the user experience.
Create a delightful interface for designers.
Role
Product Designer
Challenges
Minimal MacOS design documentation.
Designing a 'good-enough' app for designers to use.
Trying to design everything alone in 10 weeks of development time.
Outcomes
Approved to App Store after two months of development.
Gained 68 organic downloads on App Store in two months after launched.
RESEARCH
RESEARCH
Analyze the current user behavior through user interview
Analyze the current user behavior through user interview
My researcher and I conducted user interviews with our designer colleagues to understand their behavior during the pre-production phase. During this time, I focused on collecting as much information as possible from multiple users, as designers have their own specific working styles.
My researcher and I conducted user interviews with our designer colleagues to understand their behavior during the pre-production phase. During this time, I focused on collecting as much information as possible from multiple users, as designers have their own specific working styles.
Compare experience with other utility apps
Compare experience with other utility apps
Furthermore, I compared the overall experience of utility apps, design apps, and productivity apps to identify the desirable qualities we want to incorporate and the undesirable qualities we want to avoid. Through this comparison, we discovered that users are likely to stop using an app if it is time-consuming, confusing, or difficult to navigate.
Furthermore, I compared the overall experience of utility apps, design apps, and productivity apps to identify the desirable qualities we want to incorporate and the undesirable qualities we want to avoid. Through this comparison, we discovered that users are likely to stop using an app if it is time-consuming, confusing, or difficult to navigate.