Snapshot

Problem
This began as a class project to create an app, or new feature of an existing app, that would improve the experience of communicating and sharing content between people over long distances and multiple timezones.

Solution
After some qualitative research, it became clear that people like to share content by group preferences (i.e. close friends, parents, coworkers, etc.) rather than by channel (i.e. text messaging, Facebook, Snapchat, etc.). I decided to design a feature in iOS that would allow users to create custom groups with channel preferences predetermined—giving users the option to share content via groups instead of channels.

Project Type
This was a class project and I performed all of the work.

Timeframe
One week

Research and Discovery

I began by interviewing three different people who all have experience using mobile devices to communicate and share information with family and friends over a long distance. I recorded each interview and listened several times to these recordings to clarify their statements and listen for insights. Most of the questions and discussion centered on how each person uses their mobile device to communicate and share content, which channels they choose to use most frequently, and who they communicate with using their mobile device.

Here were some of the my findings:

• Everyone I spoke to uses different channels (i.e. Facebook, texting, phone calls, etc.) to communicate different types of content with different social groups
• Different channels are chosen depending on who they intend to share with, and depending on the immediacy of the message or content—some messages require instant feedback while others don't.
• Even when sharing the same information to various groups, the message and channel used must be tailored for the intended recipients.

Design Hypothesis

The research I had conducted helped me see potential in a different method for sharing that did not exist in the current iOS. I drafted the following hypothesis which would provide direction for the design:

By adding a feature to iOS that allows users to share content, by choosing pre-established and customized social groups created in their mobile device, people can use this time-saving and intuitive feature—in addition to sharing by channel—to connect with friends and family.

I created a storyboard illustrating the ideal user flow that I imagined for this new iOS feature. The user customizes various groups (i.e. close friends, family, parents, etc.), designating which channels to share content through based on how those groups are set up. For example: a user could set up a group of two to three of their closest friends, and then designate which channel(s) to use when sharing content with them—whether it be through texting, Snapchat, Facebook, or any other combination of channels.

Paper Prototype

I wanted to test the concept quickly, with someone other than myself, and see if the idea had merit. Using note cards, I sketched out some key wireframes to create a paper prototype.

Here were my findings from the paper prototype test:

• The user was able to achieve the goals with relative ease.
• Changing the "add group" button to function more like the iTunes "add playlist" button would probably be more intuitive and quicker to find.
• There are concerns about how this feature would send content—whether it would be sent in the context of a group format or individually. Individually might be preferable in many instances.
• It does seem that this would be a helpful, and useful, sharing feature to add to a mobile operating system.

Mid-Fidelity Screens

Taking what I learned from the paper prototype test, I moved ahead with wireframing mid-fidelity screens using Sketch. I also created an updated digital prototype to run more tests with.

A user can select which groups they wish to share the content with from this screen, as well as add a group or change settings to an existing group.

The user can customize the settings with each group by selecting which channels to use when connecting with this group.

From this screen, a user can add a caption or comment—if they are sharing a photo or video—and then select share to post the content. They can also view who it will be shared with.

Mid-Fidelity Prototype

These are the tasks I asked users to accomplish with the mid-fidelity prototype:

• Select share photo
• Select "Share with Group" option
• View settings for group "Mom & Dad" and then select "Done"
• Select "Mom & Dad" and "Close Friends", and "Next"
• Tell what options are available on the "Write Caption or Comment" screen and then select "Share"

Here were my findings from the mid-fidelity prototype test:

• The users agreed that this would be a helpful and useful sharing feature of their mobile operating system.
• The flow of the interface seemed to be straightforward, and the users agreed that it was simple to navigate.
• With large hit targets and visual feedback the interface responded well to their input.
• There were some elements that would be helpful do to some A/B testing on: where to place the “group edit” button, where to include a brief or quick preview of the contacts included in each group, and possible layout adjustments made on the final screen.

Hi-Fidelity Screens

To put the finishing touches on this project, I went ahead and fleshed out some of the key screens with hi-fidelity mockups, seen below.

What I Learned

None of the people I initially interviewed for this project told me that they wanted a feature allowing them to share by social groups. However, it was in listening to how they currently use technology to connect with others that I was able to "read between the lines" and see a possibility that does not currently exist. This taught me two things:

• Sometimes good research means listening for the motivations and reasons people behave a certain way, rather than just taking what they say at face value.
• There is always room for improvement, a new feature, or a new product. As a UX designer, and a problem solver, I can never assume that something is ever as good as it can get.

Lastly, I believe my solution for this project would make for a very useful iOS feature. Many of us view our social connections in terms of groups (e.g. family, friends, coworkers, etc.), and like to communicate in that way. This feature draws on that natural way of relating to others.

Popdock onboarding and usability improvements for increased conversion.