UX case study for Funda (part two)
In my previous post I discussed the research I did for the assignment that I’m doing at the Codaisseur design academy. A case study of a Dutch company. For this I picked Funda. (Please note that this is a learning opportunity for me and that I am not associated with Funda) I myself am a frequent user and I’ve always had my own pet peeves. But what I thought was a problem does not appear to be a big issue to a lot of users.
What I did discover from my research was that many people see a listing too late and miss the opportunity to see the potential new home.
Below are the issues I’ve found in the current notification system. On my phone, I tried to find the shortest route to the notifications settings. It takes you through 9 screens and in such a way that half the time you’re guessing what button or icon to click.
As you can see, it’s a long and confusing journey. The most confusing part was the bell icon to save your search. For my first test, I’ve changed it to a save icon, but the testers still had trouble finding where to save the search. Later on, I’ll go into more details about the steps I ‘ve taken to come up with a solution.
Thinking of ways to improve the current system, I’ve tackled another problem that came up in my research.
Most users use both the app and the website but there is no way to access the saved search from one platform to the other. Having the possibility to save multiple searches and setting the desired notification for them in the new system, would be a great way to improve the current system.
Working Methode
For this UX case study, I’ve used multiple tools and methods over the course of 2 weeks. Below you will see what is researched, what methods I used and what tools I have used.
Design solution
I have focused on the app version of Funda for a solution. I’ve designed a new notification system that is connected to the searches that a user saves. From the filter page, they are given the option to name and save their search. They will see a pop up with a little explanation and a field where they can name the search. From their profile page, they can set the notifications as desired.
Quality assurance
“Acceptance criteria could establish a boundary that helps team members to understand what’s included and what’s excluded from the scope of the user story. The criterion of user story acceptance not only informs the product behaviour in happy path scenarios, but it also guides the user experience when things don’t work as intended. It describes what would be verified by the acceptance tests.” (from agileforgrowth.com)
Mockups
The Funda app is only available in dutch and for my redesign, I did not want to deviate from that format. That being said, I would advice to make the app also available in English. There is an English version for the website so an English app would make sense. There are a lot of non-Dutch speakers that want to use the app as well and it would be a great service to provide.
Usability testing with my peers
When I started redesigning and thinking of a better, faster way to set notifications. I kept close to the original design, changing as little as possible. I wanted to do a quick usability test to see if small changes helped with the user flow. I gave the testers a couple of simple tasks.
Starting from the main or home screen, they had to save a search, Set a notification for that search and then select another saved search. At the time I did not have a screen where they could also name a search. I just wanted to know if the flow that I designed was logical for them as well.
As I mentioned before I changed the confusing bell icon that saves your search in a (to me) more logical save icon. I kept it in the same position at the left top corner in the orange top bar.
A quote from one of the testers:
So, hmm, I’m not really sure then how I would save it, usually would scroll down, you would have all the preferences and you can check them out and then at the end you would have the option uhh buttuh, let me see if there is an icon here at the top? Ah, here….. ahaa!
And another tested also had a hard time finding the icon.
Oooooh, where is the save,…… can’t find it, uhh….oh! found it! saved!
First Iteration
After testing the usability I came to the conclusion that the save icon and the position is still hard to find. Also finding where you can go to your saved searches and set a notification was not very clear.
All testers said that they were looking for a button to save at the bottom of the filter screen. The save icon was hard to spot as well. Going to your profile page to set notifications was, as well, not the easiest thing to figure out for them. Back to the drawing board, it was.
I looked more closely at the layout and graphics style Funda uses. For example The activation buttons turn blue when selected, otherwise, they’re white with a grey border. Buttons that will take the user to another screen are blue with white text and at the bottom.
Furthermore, I found out that a lot of clickable spots on the start screen will bring the user to the same ‘next’ screen. I tried to find a better use of the spaces, implementing the new screens I created.
As you can see, the user has direct access to the notification settings and to the saved searches. By changing the wording it is easier to understand what click/tap brings to where. I’m still not sure if the ‘feedback’ tab will be understood and that it will bring you to the FAQ screen, but that could be another great test. For now, let’s stay focused on the ‘search’ and ‘notification’ issues.
A/B testing
The next step was to do some A/B testing and multivariate tests. To get more feedback I made a survey in Typeform with two screens next to each other. I asked the participants each time to choose between A or B. I did this for 2 screens that I felt that I needed feedback for. I made a colour change a layout change and a ‘call to action’ change and for one screen I also made multivariate changes.
From this I made the conclusion that the screen for the notifications was clearer with a list layout, the colours needed to stay the same and people prefered ‘bericht(en)’ over ‘notifcatie(s)’.
Optimization
Before the final design, it is important to optimize the use of words on the website. Since I’m designing for an app, I thought it would be a great idea to optimize the description text that is used in the play store. They already have a great text but maybe I could find other words to use.
Conclusion and final design
After all the testing and analyzing, it was time to make a final proposal. From the results of the A/B testing I’ve changed the ‘notifications setting’ screen layout and I changed the word ‘notificatie(s)’ to ‘bericht(en)’ people seem to think that’s clearer and I agree. Especially for a what older user this will make more sense to them.
I’ve added the option to save multiple searches and set different notifications for them. The option to receive push notifications does not exist in the current design but I think in a time where people are always checking their phone it will be a better way to notify them of a new listing.
There now is a new button at the end of the filter screen where people will expect a save button instead of a vague bell icon that does not make sense.
As mentioned before from the start screen it is easier to access the saved searches and notifications setting, so that when people want to change or delete those it is much easier.
And I’ve changed the profile screen to also have links to the saved searches and notification settings. The buttons to see favoured houses and new listings are now also on the screen instead of in the orange bar at the top.
Reflections and learnings
I’d be lying if I said it was piece of cake the last 2 weeks, but I’ve learned so much and grown as a designer tremendously. I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone so many times. And I’m glad I did.
I loved diving into an existing platform and trying to see if there where improvements to be made. Funda is a great platform and has a lot of good design already implemented. But as is the case, there is always room for improvement.
It’s good to realize that the things that bothered me were hardly noticed by the people I’ve interviewed or who filled in my survey. Being a designer gives you another way to see the world around you, online and offline and that’s awesome.
“Don’t assume anything and keep an open mind!”
Missed part one? here is the link
