Likey
Visual, UX/UI, Wireframe, Prototype, User Research, User Testing
Can you name all of your favorite things off the top of your head? I can’t say that I can!
Sometimes the names of even our most favorite movies, books, podcasts, etc. slip our mind when we seem to need them the most! Likey is here to organize all those favorites in an accessible and visual way. Never blank out on what makes you, well...you! Share new things with friends and follow your favorite people to see what they enjoy!
Time to Observe
What's the Problem?
It’s your first day of class or work and you’re in a room full of strangers. You know what’s coming and you’re wracking your brain for information about yourself to break the ice. You’re drawing up nothing but blanks and when the time finally comes to talk about yourself, you list generalities. However, the inevitable follow-up questions start coming and all of a sudden you can’t name a single one of your favorite movies!
Don’t worry, we’ve all been there! The inspiration for Likey was born out of interactions just like this.
Asking Questions
What are the People Saying?
I wanted to gauge the average person’s experience with recalling favorites to identify why this dilemma existed. So in order to get a better idea of pain points, I created a survey and conducted interviews.
Although the questions directly asked about a person’s favorites, the primary aim of the survey was to examine the thought process behind the answers and how well or poorly people perceived they answered the questions.
Research Says
Wireframe
Ideate and layout necessary assets in a lo-fi prototype to test hypothesis.
Prototype
Compile findings into a hi-fi prototype and conduct user testing to tweak product.
Test
Make edits according to user feedback and to create a more streamline experience.
Iterate
Repeat steps until I can confidently ensure that the user’s problems are solved.
Observe
Empathize with people and thoroughly understand their problems.
Research
Conduct surveys and interviews to gather a deeper understanding of the user.
Sketch
After understanding the user’s obstacle, brainstorm possible solutions to overcome it.
Analyze
Ensure that all pain points are being addressed and the user journey is smooth.
The Process Behind Likey
Sketch It Out
What Does the User Want to See?
With priorities like accessibility and organization in mind, I roughly sketched ideas for the UI. The main function of the app is to index your favorites, so that function had to be the most emphasized and easy to find.
I found that some layouts were to busy according to the users, so I really focused on decluttering the interface. It was insightful to hear input about what placement did or didn’t make sense and whether people would rather see an icon or have text. I enjoyed the process of getting feedback and editing over and over until I found a design that worked.
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Step 1:
Content Map
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Step 2:
Interaction Map
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Step 3:
Site Map
Analyzing the Data
How Will Users Move Through the App?
Maps, maps, and more maps! Before moving onto designing further, it was essential to understand the layout and order of the screens. The maps progressed from simply stating what content would be included to how the users would navigate to a certain screen. Lastly, a hierarchy of information was created to indicate what might be visually emphasized in the wireframe.
The Prototype
Test and Repeat
What Can be Made Better for the User?
Thanks to multiple user tests and useful feedback, I was able to identify the problems with the design of the app.
To solve these problems, I usually went back to the drawing board and sketched out possible solutions. I would ask for more feedback on these sketches before proceeding on making changes to the prototype
Have I Done What I Can for the User?
I genuinely enjoy that there are always ways to create an even better app. Perfection is not possible, but I strive to get as close as possible. The journey to the Likey hi-fi prototype was definitely not linear, but it followed a user-centric design process.
Making a Wireframe
Is the App Functional?
I made a clickable wireframe so I could conduct user testing and observe whether the process to add favorites was smooth and not too tedious. I was focused on seeing if there was anything I could change to either expedite the process or clarify any confusion.
According to the feedback, users thought the “Adding” feature was simple to figure out and the option of adding as much or as little information was the most convenient. Some pointed out that they thought the “Categories” page could be easier to navigate.
Moving Forward with Likey
As always, there is room to grow with this project. I would love to explore adding features that enable users to connect with people with similar interests based on proximity. I think taking geographical aspects into mind would enhance the benefits of this app in places like college campuses.
At the heart of this app is the desire to foster connections, and through the process of this project I found that it is always crucial to form a connection with the user in order to make suitable design decisions.
Research Says
Sketch It Out
What Does the User Want to See?
With priorities like accessibility and organization in mind, I roughly sketched ideas for the UI. The main function of the app is to index your favorites, so that function had to be the most emphasized and easy to find.
I found that some layouts were to busy according to the users, so I really focused on decluttering the interface. It was insightful to hear input about what placement did or didn’t make sense and whether people would rather see an icon or have text. I enjoyed the process of getting feedback and editing over and over until I found a design that worked.