Project Overview
GramCity is a startup that wants to help people find the most Instagram-able locations to take a photo in any city. In this 5-day design sprint project, I explore how I can help those who love to travel and take pictures find places and locations to take pictures.
Project type
iOS App Design - Design Sprint
Date
November 2023 - 5 days
Role
UI/UX Designer, UX Researcher
Link
The Problem
The saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" has become increasingly evident, particularly as social media has evolved into an integral part of our everyday lives. However, when exploring new cities, discovering aesthetically pleasing and Instagram-worthy locations becomes a significant challenge.
The Solution
I aim to provide a platform that guides users to quickly and effortlessly discover and gather information to explore picture-perfect locations in any city, making the most of their valuable time and travel experience.
Project Timeline
This project was guided by a modified Google Venture design sprint method in which the design process is divided into 5 separate days.
Day 1: Understanding Our Users & Mapping Out Ideas
On Day 1 of the design sprint project, I focused on comprehending the problem through examining the design brief provided by BitesizeUX. I dedicated time to synthesize the desires and requirements of our potential users, as well as understanding the various challenges and frustrations encountered during travel when seeking photo locations.
Our target audience consists of individuals who share a passion for both travel and photography. They want to discover places to capture memories and document their journeys. The primary challenge for these users lies in the time-consuming process of scouting for these places - be it iconic landmarks, hidden gems, or historic sites, as they are in search of unique and distinctive experiences.
Delving into the motivations that guide users in their decision-making process, I identified key factors influencing their choices. With that, I created visual maps and documented a range of ideas and questions that will guide the direction of this project.
Day 2: Sketching the Solution
Lightning Demos
I conducted competitive research through lightning demos to quickly identify strengths, weaknesses, characteristics and features of our competitors.
Crazy 8
I recognized the main search page as the key component for our users, offering a comprehensive view of the map and a list of places with information. Through the Crazy 8 method, I explored various ideas and drew out sketches to help me visualize different concepts.
At the conclusion of Day 2, I chose one sketch and developed a solution sketch to complement my critical screen. When selecting one sketch and developing my three-panel board, it was important for me that users:
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Can easily identify nearby locations on the map
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Have access to a list of nearby places with essential information such as ratings, hours, distance, and pictures
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Obtain all the necessary information to guide their decision-making process
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See suggested places nearby
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View a variety of pictures and ideas posted by other users
Day 3: Deciding & Creating a Storyboard
Solution Sketch
As a team of 1 for this project, I had full control over which solution sketch to move forward with. I was confident in advancing with the solution sketch I created because it presents information in a clear, intuitive, and familiar format. User navigation and ease of use were very important, ensuring an optimized experience for discovering new places while maximizing time efficiency.
With this decision, I created a storyboard featuring additional sketched wireframes. I included all the essential elements, covering every step and screen that a user would interact with.
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Ratings based on user reviews
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Upload photos and leave reviews and comments
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Options to save, share, upload pictures, leave comments
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Profile page with collection of users’ uploaded photos for active community
Day 4: From Concept to Structure
Building a Prototype
On Day 4 of the design sprint, I developed my prototype. I focused on the app’s intuitiveness and familiarity in order to respect users’ time. The emphasis was on saving users’ time by presenting information in a clean and organized manner, preventing them from feeling overwhelmed with the abundance of information.
Day 5: Test, Validate, Iterate
Usability Testing
On the final day of the design sprint week, I conducted usability tests to evaluate and validate the final design of GramCity.
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Objectives
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Assess the user-friendliness and functionality of the app
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Identifying and addressing any obstacles or pain points that might hinder smooth and intuitive user interaction
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Ensure the app contained all necessary information users need and want, and that the provided information was helpful.
The usability tests involved 5 different users that I recruited, and they were conducted through Zoom meetings and lasted approximately 15 minutes each.
Findings
Many valuable insights have been gathered from user interactions with the prototype, including positive feedback which shows the strengths of my design, and the areas identified for improvement based on user interactions.
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Positives
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Abundance of details condensed into an easily digestible format
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Seamless navigation and user-friendly interface
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Key information is present at every stage
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Photos are nice and big, a crucial aspect of the app
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Neat organization of information into distinct sections and categories, preventing overwhelming users
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Familiar and intuitive design for user comfort
Negatives
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Need for increased spacing between texts for better readability
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CTA buttons look more like informational tags rather than actual buttons
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Suggested overall improvement in the size and appearance of CTA buttons
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Lack of pins on the map, hindering users’ ability to visualize locations and distances
Conclusion
After reviewing and organizing all the feedback from the usability tests, I revisited my designs and implemented some key iterations. Encouragingly, the overall feedback leaned towards the positive, confirming that my designs are on the right track. The need for only a few simple fixes further validated the effectiveness of the chosen design approach.
✦ Key Learnings and Takeaways :
The design sprint journey for GramCity began with the excitement of tackling and completing a 5-day challenge, and concluded with the excitement that positive feedback from usability tests affirmed the strengths of the design.
This project improved my ability to identify problems and needs and apply the necessary and right solutions that aligned with user expectation within a short given period.
Throughout this project, I’ve gained the confidence to be bold with ideas and solutions. I’ve also learned valuable lessons in time management, understanding the impact of a structured schedule and planning, witnessing how these elements can yield significant results when executed effectively.