Case Study: A Better Nairaland User Experience
I took it upon myself to set up an imaginary client project brief due to boredom and as a Designer, we should never be bored :)
But First!
Don’t be a complainer; make things better, let it go, or take action to make it better. — Tina Roth Eisenberg
Can we agree to the above quote as a Designer?
Well, yes…
I can’t play all day in a week and not stay productive, I’m a COD Mobile fan and I play games a lot but at least, I wasn’t part of the first team to get killed.
Time to Get Serious!
The Main Story Goes…
Client: Hello this is Nairaland CEO (Seun), Please are you a Product Designer?
Geek: Hi, Mr Seun. Yes, I’m a Product Designer with over 3 years+ of experience.
Client: Good to hear, I have a job for you, Please join the meeting link for the Project Brief.
(Quickly jumped on the call…)
Fast Foward>>
Project Brief
We want you as a UI/UX Designer to help us re-design the Nairaland forum to help improve our user experience and to stay with the latest technology.
Our user would prefer a minimal design and would like you to use the brand colour, which is green.
One bad experience & poof, customers are history. Sure, you can replace them, but at 5x the cost. — Pavvo Hanninen
Role: UX/UI Designer
Goal
The stakeholders stated the goals they want to achieve, which are;
- Improve Nairaland User experience to be more user-centred.
- Re-design a better user interface that’s well organized.
- Stay updated with technologies.
UX Workflow
After the project brief from the client, I started with the UX workflow so I can design a better experience for the users. I applied the standard Design process.
You’ve got to start with the customer experience & work backwards to the technology. — Steve Jobs
It’s time to convert the client's brief into something meaningful.
Empathize
I went ahead to empathize with the users, I started by searching for what users are saying about the platform via Twitter due to the brand trending on Twitter.
I get very uncomfortable when someone makes a design decision without customer contact. — Dan Ritzenthaler
Below are some of my searches;
Finally, I understand why users were complaining via Twitter but I wanted more user feedback.
I created a Survey/ Interview to empathize with more users. The questions were based on how i can improve the forum to meet their needs.
I also went ahead to ask users to rate the current Design.
Based on the survey and interview research, the results indicated that:
- The platform deserves a better design, Nothing has changed over the years on the site
- Some users abuse other users on the platform.
- Moderators are not enough on the platform.
- The platform should be a Nigerian version of Reddit.
- Bad Navigation when trying to access categories.
- Finding it difficult to read articles on the forum.
- We need a mobile app to get access to information quickly.
Persona
I created user personas of some users who filled the survey I sent out, I clearly understood my ideas and direction in presenting content.
Throughout the project, I used the personas to inform design decisions, identify priorities, and empathize with the users.
Problem Statement
Nairaland was launched in 2005 and ever since the platform has maintained the same user interface while ignoring the use and implementation of new technology on its platform. The challenge is to develop a well-improved website with the latest technology, good navigation, easy readability and making it a fun & safe place for users.
Information Architecture
Before Wireframing and prototype, I decided to map out the I.A.
Brainstorm Ideas
I created a brainstorming session with my friends & Family :) Just to see their input (Working on a Design sprint)
UI is the saddle, the stirrups, & the reigns. UX is the feeling you get being able to ride the horse. — Dain Miller
At first, I was about to brainstorm using a digital low fidelity but i said to myself; Ideas are better expressed faster on paper which prompted the use of sketching on a paper.
So i decided to conduct a design sprint with my friends & family and their inputs are listed below;
Input 1 Below;
Input 2 Below;
Input 3 Below;
Winning Idea
Finally, we voted for Input 2!
Yeah!! That’s me.
Usability answers the question, “Can the user accomplish their goal?” — Dr. Joyce Lee
Lo-fi Wireframes
Right after finishing the Information Architecture, I was ready to convert my low fidelity wireframe on paper to a digital low fidelity wireframe.
Visual Design/ Hi-fi Wireframes
For this part of the process, I was able to transform the digital lo-fi frameworks into high-fidelity prototypes.
Click here to check the Full Wireframe & prototype.
Final Users Feedback
The feedbacks were positive; no participants reported encountering any difficulty in completing a task.
Feedback from a user after interacting with the New Design.
Accessibility Considerations
My main objective was to design an updated version that users will love and be able to interact properly with while maintaining the brand style, tone and voice.
I took in some accessibility considerations:
- Fixing bad navigation throughout the website.
- Choosing a colour scheme that passes the accessibility colour checker.
- Improve Readability.
- Introducing a mobile app for users who find it difficult to access information quickly from the website.
Conclusion
Working on this project has been a great experience and I have learned about the user-centred design process in great detail. Understanding the UX process through a user-centred lens allows for designing apps/websites with the user in mind by understanding the motivations and desires of each user.
Readers feedback
After reading several UX case studies, and seeking to find the perfect methodology, I realized that nobody’s project reaches perfection and I’m pretty sure that mine is not the exception.
For this reason, I’d really really love to have feedback from you guys whether it is on my methodology, my writing or any other thing you think I should improve.
Thanks a lot in advance for the feedback and for your reading!
Here is the Final desktop version, Just for you alone :)
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I appreciate you taking the time to read my case study! My contact information is below if you would like to speak or work with me.
Thank you again for reading this far.
