Outdoor bubbles (2020-2021)
Networking app for outdoor lovers
Outdoor bubbles (2020-2021)
Networking app for outdoor lovers
My role
My role
As a product designer, I set up the strategy and scale of MVP product and created the prototype based on the UX research.
As a product designer, I set up the strategy and scale of MVP product and created the prototype based on the UX research.
Deliverables
Deliverables
Designing a MVP that can improve outdoor experience for outdoor adventurers in networking and collecting information
Designing a MVP that can improve outdoor experience for outdoor adventurers in networking and collecting information
Challenges
Challenges
Identifying general insights and product solutions
Caring the needs for various groups of people
Identifying general insights and product solutions
Caring the needs for various groups of people
Project process
Project process
1
1
Spotting difficulties
as a outdoor enthusiast
Spotting difficulties
as a outdoor enthusiast
2
2
Collecting user feedback and creating outdoor activity flows
Collecting user feedback and creating outdoor activity flows
3
3
Finding user insights and analysing user journeys
Finding user insights and analysing user journeys
UX research
UX research
Analyse outdoor apps, identify user problems and opportunities
Analyse outdoor apps, identify user problems and opportunities
4
4
Visualising design solutions
Visualising design solutions
5
5
Conducting and reviewing usability test
Conducting and reviewing usability test
6
6
Redesigning and optimising app prototype
Redesigning and optimising app prototype
UX and UI design
UX and UI design
V1.0: avatar roles
V2.0: outdoor radar
V1.0: avatar roles
V2.0: outdoor radar
UX research
UX research
How it started..
How it started..
As an outdoor lover, I have had many exciting and amazing trips while there have been still quite a few trips not so enjoyable as others due to many reasons. I started to think if it is possible to have an app that can help to solve the problem and enhance the experience in outdoor trips. However, I could not find any similar one in Android app store in Central Europe.
Finding many outdoor lovers having the same issues, I collected the feedback from outdoor lovers during different outdoor trips, observed the outdoor lovers around over a few years, and created the diagram based on the experience to analyze the pain points for outdoor lovers.
As an outdoor lover, I have had many exciting and amazing trips while there have been still quite a few trips not so enjoyable as others due to many reasons. I started to think if it is possible to have an app that can help to solve the problem and enhance the experience in outdoor trips. However, I could not find any similar one in Android app store in Central Europe.
Finding many outdoor lovers having the same issues, I collected the feedback from outdoor lovers during different outdoor trips, observed the outdoor lovers around over a few years, and created the diagram based on the experience to analyze the pain points for outdoor lovers.
Cicada (34)
Designer
Cicada (34)
Designer
Organiser 80%, follower 20%
Favourite activities:
hiking, walking, climbing, Via Ferrata, trekking, camping, winter hiking
Preferred level: 3-4
Organiser 80%, follower 20%
Favourite activities:
hiking, walking, climbing, Via Ferrata, trekking, camping, winter hiking
Preferred level: 3-4
Bridget (35)
Administrator
Bridget (35)
Administrator
Organiser 60%, follower 40%
Favourite activities:
cross-country skiing, Via Ferrata, hiking, indoor climbing
Preferred level: 3-4
Organiser 60%, follower 40%
Favourite activities:
cross-country skiing, Via Ferrata, hiking, indoor climbing
Preferred level: 3-4
Bufek (39)
Programmer
Bufek (39)
Programmer
Organiser 30%, follower 70%
Favourite activities:
hiking, climbing, kayaking, supping, skating, snowboarding, Via Ferrata, bouldering, camping
Preferred level : 4
Organiser 30%, follower 70%
Favourite activities:
hiking, climbing, kayaking, supping, skating, snowboarding, Via Ferrata, bouldering, camping
Preferred level : 4
Hong (30)
Customer services
Hong (30)
Customer services
Organiser 10%, follower 90%
Favourite activities:
hiking, walking, running
Preferred level : 1-2
Organiser 10%, follower 90%
Favourite activities:
hiking, walking, running
Preferred level : 1-2
User journey
User journey
Before trips
Before trips
Expectations
Expectations
Find good partners and transportation info, and decide itinerary (organiser)
Find good partners and transportation info, and decide itinerary (organiser)
Find a reliable organiser and relevant info about trip (follower)
Find a reliable organiser and relevant info about trip (follower)
Prepare well (physically or outdoor gears) for trip
Prepare well (physically or outdoor gears) for trip
Issues
Issues
Unable to find good partners to do outdoor activities together
Unable to find good partners to do outdoor activities together
Spent too much time in doing research on where to explore
Spent too much time in doing research on where to explore
Verify the ability and fitness of people who want to join the trip
Verify the ability and fitness of people who want to join the trip
Identify the difficulty level of an outdoor activity
Identify the difficulty level of an outdoor activity
opportunities
opportunities
Create a profile showing new partners’ interests, abilities and experiences
Create a profile showing new partners’ interests, abilities and experiences
Create an activity format evaluating trip details
Create an activity format evaluating trip details
Filter partners
Filter partners
Browse outdoor activities
Browse outdoor activities
During trips
During trips
Expectations
Expectations
Enjoy a smooth outdoor trip
Enjoy a smooth outdoor trip
Have a company from good partners
Have a company from good partners
Have a nice weather
Have a nice weather
Issues
Issues
Unexpected adventure with people in a different level leading to a schedule change
Unexpected adventure with people in a different level leading to a schedule change
Tiredness caused by doing outdoor activities with people not getting along well
Tiredness caused by doing outdoor activities with people not getting along well
Tiredness caused by different level of fitness
Tiredness caused by different level of fitness
Not enjoyable small talks
Not enjoyable small talks
opportunities
opportunities
Connect to weather forecast and alert for weather changes
Connect to weather forecast and alert for weather changes
Help to evaluate users’ profiles
Help to evaluate users’ profiles
Help to evaluate activity difficulty
Help to evaluate activity difficulty
Provide matched suggestions
Provide matched suggestions
After trips
After trips
Expectations
Expectations
Have a nice memory
Have a nice memory
Share nice pictures between partners and on social media
Share nice pictures between partners and on social media
Have a new friendship
Have a new friendship
Issues
Issues
Organise and share pictures
Organise and share pictures
Offer feedback
Offer feedback
Being pushed to share pictures
Being pushed to share pictures
opportunities
opportunities
Invite to share feedback and pictures
Invite to share feedback and pictures
Provide activity suggestions connected to new partners
Provide activity suggestions connected to new partners
Prioritise MVP opportunities
Prioritise MVP opportunities
Among the opportunities, considering the features of existing apps and platform where is used to share pictures and socially interact after outdoor trips, and the fundamental needs of outdoor lovers, I decided to categorise the opportunities of features to 3 groups and identify the solutions based on the priorities for MVP prototyping.
Among the opportunities, considering the features of existing apps and platform where is used to share pictures and socially interact after outdoor trips, and the fundamental needs of outdoor lovers, I decided to categorise the opportunities of features to 3 groups and identify the solutions based on the priorities for MVP prototyping.
Key factors to consider outdoor partners
Key factors to consider outdoor partners
I found that the definition of an “enjoyable trip” is different from person to person. The difference may be caused by personal expectations affected by experiences, different level of fitness and preparation including information search, gears and risk assessment.
Below are thus what outdoor lovers may consider when they are looking for partners:
I found that the definition of an “enjoyable trip” is different from person to person. The difference may be caused by personal expectations affected by experiences, different level of fitness and preparation including information search, gears and risk assessment.
Below are thus what outdoor lovers may consider when they are looking for partners:
Risk assessment
Risk assessment
Referred to the knowledge of terrain, weather, first aid and required fitness
Referred to the knowledge of terrain, weather, first aid and required fitness
Equipment preparation
Equipment preparation
To what extend you know how to arrange and prepare the equipment and gears for a trip
To what extend you know how to arrange and prepare the equipment and gears for a trip
Experience
Experience
Referred to the experience in actively attending outdoor trips
Referred to the experience in actively attending outdoor trips
Openness
Openness
How open to the people from different backgrounds and with different experiences and abilities
How open to the people from different backgrounds and with different experiences and abilities
Fitness
Fitness
To what extend the body has been trained for outdoor trips
To what extend the body has been trained for outdoor trips
Intention
Intention
How serious to see outdoor trips, consider them as leisure activity or serious physical training
How serious to see outdoor trips, consider them as leisure activity or serious physical training
App flow
App flow
Wireframing for MVP features
Wireframing for MVP features
1. Look for outdoor trips
1. Look for outdoor trips
Browse outdoor activities
Browse outdoor activities
Create an outdoor trip format to understand trip details
Create an outdoor trip format to understand trip details
Except the most concerned info about an outdoor trip (location, meeting point and date), each activity card shows the available number of people, challenge level, activity types and save mark to check out the details later.
After selecting an activity card, users can send a join request or recommend to other adventurers.
Except the most concerned info about an outdoor trip (location, meeting point and date), each activity card shows the available number of people, challenge level, activity types and save mark to check out the details later.
After selecting an activity card, users can send a join request or recommend to other adventurers.
Look for partner(s)
Look for partner(s)
Create a filter to filter outdoor lovers
Create a filter to filter outdoor lovers
Adventurer’s card shows the most important factors for outdoor lovers- the basic info (name, age), activity types, and advanced details:
a. Next trip:
Users can quickly browse where matched adventurers will go and further be inspired or tap in to check more details if interested.
b. Last trip:
Users can browse where matched adventurers have been to for trip inspiration and possible interaction in future.
Adventurer’s card shows the most important factors for outdoor lovers- the basic info (name, age), activity types, and advanced details:
a. Next trip:
Users can quickly browse where matched adventurers will go and further be inspired or tap in to check more details if interested.
b. Last trip:
Users can browse where matched adventurers have been to for trip inspiration and possible interaction in future.
Custom filter is designed here to let users to look for ideal adventurers based on distance, age, profile content and references, plus search by next trip on the main screen to locate adventurers having the same interest in the similar places.
Custom filter is designed here to let users to look for ideal adventurers based on distance, age, profile content and references, plus search by next trip on the main screen to locate adventurers having the same interest in the similar places.
Create/ evaluate an outdoor radar and profile
Create/ evaluate an outdoor radar and profile
Build up a profile with outdoor radar to understand new partners’ interests, abilities and experiences
Build up a profile with outdoor radar to understand new partners’ interests, abilities and experiences
The experience card is designed to let users to quickly identify how active the adventurer is in terms of using the app.
Organised trip(s) can further reveal if the adventurer owns leadership in outdoor activities which refers to the reliability if the references are good too.
Upcoming trip(s) shows what trips the adventurers will be ongoing and the history of completed trip(s) can be viewed as how active the adventurer is in outdoor activities.
The experience card is designed to let users to quickly identify how active the adventurer is in terms of using the app.
Organised trip(s) can further reveal if the adventurer owns leadership in outdoor activities which refers to the reliability if the references are good too.
Upcoming trip(s) shows what trips the adventurers will be ongoing and the history of completed trip(s) can be viewed as how active the adventurer is in outdoor activities.
Outdoor radar is a diagram designed with 5 out of 6 factors used to consider outdoor partners: intention, fitness, gear preparation, openness, risk assessment. Users can tap or drag a points along the line to adjust the relevant index.
It can be used to help the user to review his/her abilities while creating the profile. Moreover, it may help trip organisers to identify if the adventure is a better fit to the trip than others.
Outdoor radar is a diagram designed with 5 out of 6 factors used to consider outdoor partners: intention, fitness, gear preparation, openness, risk assessment. Users can tap or drag a points along the line to adjust the relevant index.
It can be used to help the user to review his/her abilities while creating the profile. Moreover, it may help trip organisers to identify if the adventure is a better fit to the trip than others.
Alternative control bar is located under the radar diagram in edit mode. It is designed to provide the details of the measurement units of the 5 factors for users to easily adjust the units.
Alternative control bar is located under the radar diagram in edit mode. It is designed to provide the details of the measurement units of the 5 factors for users to easily adjust the units.
Set up a notification to remind users providing feedback and make profiles’ reference grow
Set up a notification to remind users providing feedback and make profiles’ reference grow
Users can check out replies to activity discussion, and receive notices for (dis)approvals on activity requests.
Users can check out replies to activity discussion, and receive notices for (dis)approvals on activity requests.
Additionally, the reminder for the reference for the activity organiser will be set as a notification to increase the chance in typing feedback during users’ free time.
After the reference is written, it will be shown in the organiser’s profile. Users are also encourage to write feedback for other partners (activity attenders).
Additionally, the reminder for the reference for the activity organiser will be set as a notification to increase the chance in typing feedback during users’ free time.
After the reference is written, it will be shown in the organiser’s profile. Users are also encourage to write feedback for other partners (activity attenders).
Prototypes
Prototypes
1. Look for outdoor trips
1. Look for outdoor trips
Look for some interesting outdoor trips
Look for some interesting outdoor trips
Ask questions about the trip
Ask questions about the trip
Invite adventurers to the trip
Invite adventurers to the trip
Look for partner(s)
Look for partner(s)
Look for more interesting adventurers around
Look for more interesting adventurers around
Use the custom filter to adjuest search results
Use the custom filter to adjuest search results
Create/ evaluate an outdoor radar and profile
Create/ evaluate an outdoor radar and profile
Check more details of the outdoor lover
Check more details of the outdoor lover
Invite the outdoor lover to outdoor trips
Invite the outdoor lover to outdoor trips
What I learnt from the project
What I learnt from the project
Learn to be a product designer from resolving a problem around myself
Learn to be a product designer from resolving a problem around myself
I realised that solving an issue around me is a great way to discover the passion for the process in identifying product solutions. The connection between myself and the issue motivated me a lot. I actively adopted different approaches to identifying users’ pain points, and transferred their needs to the solutions.
I realised that solving an issue around me is a great way to discover the passion for the process in identifying product solutions. The connection between myself and the issue motivated me a lot. I actively adopted different approaches to identifying users’ pain points, and transferred their needs to the solutions.
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© 2024 Chan’s portfolio
© 2024 Chan’s portfolio