UX Case Study | Designing a solution for a mobile vlogger
A look into the UX process of video editing on the move | GA UXDI | Concept project
Overview
This case study describes the journey between problem and solution in the case of a vlogger who wanted to be able to create, edit and post vlogs within one platform.
The problem was identified through conducting user interviews and experience mapping with the user, Pinusa who often struggles during the editing process, due to technical difficulties which often delays projects and results in inefficiency.
Through various stages of ideation and iteration, including wire-flows and paper prototyping, this case study outlines an approach to designing an app which aims to enhance the user experience when Pinusa creates a vlog project.
Challenge
For my first project at GA I had the task of designing an app that would address a problem for my partner Pinusa. After conducting user interviews with Pinusa, I discovered that she has an interest in vlogging, partly borne out of a desire to share her experiences with friends and family back home in Thailand. However she encounters various issues which make this process challenging.
This seemed to me to provide an ideal opportunity for technology to step in. With this in mind I began designing an app which would enable Pinusa to organise, edit and publish her vlogs within one, easy to use platform.
Problem statement
I created a problem statement in order to capture Pinusa’s key issues:
Pinusa needs to find a way to organise and edit her vlog projects because she is struggling with the number of platforms she is currently using.
Process & Insight
After conducting the user interviews, I embarked on the next stage of discovery through mapping out Pinusa’s current user journey for creating a vlog project. With each stage I added information regarding task analysis, as well as emotional mapping. This process was helpful in understanding and identifying the pain points in the process, as well as getting an overview of the elements of the process Pinusa enjoys.
It was clear that the vlogging process is a labour of love to Pinusa: she enjoys the recording, the editing of footage (at least aspects of it), publishing her vlogs onto Youtube, and of course receiving positive reinforcement through the social media platform.
However, the editing process can be complicated, as she often encounters technical issues when transferring files from one editing software to another, or downloading/uploading between devices i.e. phone to computer which can seriously delay the process.
My key insights from the affinity mapping process were:
- Pinusa has issues finding time to organise and create projects due to the extrapolated process that she currently goes through.
- Uploading and editing process is a big pain point due to lengthy process of downloading content and working across various design softwares.
- Pinusa likes to be able to edit videos, include stills, add filter effects and text to projects.
- She uploads vlogs to Youtube where she has a following.
- She likes to get feedback from friends and family which helps with future vlogs.
It was clear that the vlog editing process was the key issue — these are technical issues that arise from working with different software and hardware, so how can this app alone solve this problem?
Ideation
I then ideated 6 different ways I could try to solve Pinusa’s problem through the mobile app. I was trying to think as freely and creatively as I could before narrowing it down to the most suitable concept.
Aiding the vlog process
The first idea was an app which ‘aided the vlogging process’. This app would link her recorded footage straight from her phone to her desktop editing apps, and then back to the mobile app once ready for upload. However this didn’t seem to address the key problem at hand.
Vlog editing
The second idea was a ‘vlog editing app’ which enabled Pinusa to record, edit and upload the vlog to Youtube all within the same device, bypassing the need to use an external device to edit the footage.
Multi-share
The third idea was an extension of the ‘vlog editing app’ and would enable Pinusa to directly share her vlogs to many different types of social media platforms. However, it was clear from talking to Pinusa that this was unnecessary as she only uses Youtube to publish her vlogs.
Narrowing it down
Idea #2! An app which records, edits and posts vlogs!
Instead of trying to be overambitious with the app, I imagined a more straightforward and social design, taking a lead such from Instagram and Snapchat, which would allow the user to add effects such as filters and drawn elements , as well as edit/cut the footage.
Solution
How would the app improve the user experience for Pinusa?
From here I devised an outcome statement which I used alongside a storyboard to visually frame the situation, problem, outcome and solution .
User flow & wire flow
I then created a user flow and wire flow, to outline the steps Pinusa will take when creating a vlog project through the app.
Paper prototypes
The first iteration shows the flow in 6 main steps. This was then broken down further in the second iteration, to expand on certain stages. Specifically the editing video stage was broken into two separate pages— first frame editing, and then an option to add effects. The ‘Preview’ page was removed from the first iteration and instead this process was included within the editing stage.
The top app bar displays the screen title as well as providing navigation through each stage, with the tab bar changing between navigation and control e.g. film editing, depending on the stage.
Task scenario
Using this iteration I created a paper prototype, and using marvel I made it interactive and performed user-testing with Pinusa in order to obtain feedback quickly. I gave Pinusa two task scenarios to complete with the prototype:
1) Create a new vlog project. You want to record and edit your own footage.
2) Add a thumbnail image for your video, using an image from your photo library and upload to Youtube.
Post user-testing
From the user testing I learnt that some of the navigation within the top app-bar was misleading and needed to be simplified e.g for previewing the thumbnail, the top app bar displayed ‘Preview’; this was then changed to ‘Thumbnail’ following her feedback.
I also learnt that Pinusa wanted to have the option of adding effects to the thumbnail image, as well as the final stage of the app linking her directly to her Youtube account. These steps were incorporated into the final iteration.
