Ollie App
At-a-Glance
During my recent semester at Texas A&M, I tackled a project targeting the complexities faced by 4DWN Skatepark, notably the intricate entry procedures and fragmented community engagement. Users grappled with the absence of a cohesive platform, prompting the design of an iOS app solution. Ollie, the resultant app, aimed to streamline entry processes and cultivate a unified platform for community interactions at the skatepark. Through rigorous research and iterative design, Ollie was conceptualized as a user-centric solution poised to transform 4DWN's operations, harmonizing entry procedures and fostering a more connected community experience. Through research, wireframing, prototyping, and testing, I developed and presented the solutions and app, which received positive feedback from 4DWN's co-founder and director.
Timeline
Three Months
Emphasize
4DWN Goal
Target Audience
Pain Points
My Role
UX Designer
Collaboration
4DWN Skatepark
Platform
Figma
Problem
4DWN Skatepark, a vibrant community hub, faces hurdles in offering a seamless entry process and fostering community cohesion. Users grapple with intricate entry processes, such as waiver signing, and seek a unified platform for community engagement, highlighting the park's active and engaging environment. Addressing these challenges became crucial to enhance user experiences and foster a more cohesive community environment at 4DWN.
Solution
My solution involved designing an intuitive mobile app customized for 4DWN Skatepark, specifically targeting the simplification of entry processes and the creation of a user-friendly platform. By streamlining entry procedures and fostering a more accessible platform for community interaction, the aim was to elevate the overall user experience at the skatepark, ensuring seamless navigation and enhanced engagement for all visitors.
My professor acted as a project manager, checking in on the progress and offering feedback and suggestions over the timeline.
Process
Persona
User Journey Map
The Importance
During the wireframing process, I relied on tools like Figma along with traditional pen and paper to create low-fidelity wireframes, enabling quick iterations and feedback incorporation. This method allowed me to conceptualize the app's layout and flow, ensuring a logical and intuitive user experience. By focusing on functionality rather than aesthetics, we could rapidly test different design ideas and iterate based on user feedback. Additionally, wireframes facilitated collaboration among team members and stakeholders, providing a clear blueprint for discussion and refinement. Moving forward, these wireframes served as the foundation for the next phase of my project: prototyping and user testing, guiding the development of interactions and transitions to create a high-fidelity prototype aligned with user needs and expectations.
User Testing
After creating the initial prototype for the Ollie app, I organized a user testing session involving six classmates. Their diverse viewpoints provided a broad spectrum of feedback, highlighting recurring positive responses, negative observations, and valuable suggestions. This comprehensive analysis guided the refinement process, enabling the prioritization of enhancements to accentuate positive aspects and rectify user concerns. By carefully synthesizing and integrating these insights, the final prototype evolved into a more user-centered and effective solution, aligning with the needs and preferences identified during testing.
Final Design Changes
Before User Feedback
Design System
High-Fidelity Prototype
Final Designs
Product Successes
In my academic study, the success of the product became apparent through user feedback, emphasizing the remarkable ease users experienced while navigating the park and engaging with the entry process via the prototype app vs the current method. Users notably found the prototype significantly more user-friendly than the actual website, simplifying the complex entry procedures at 4DWN Skatepark. The prototype's accomplishment lay in its capability to streamline the user journey, ensuring a smoother and more efficient experience. This positive reception affirmed its potential to revolutionize the skatepark's operational processes.
What I Learned
Through this project, I gained further insights into UX methodologies, recognizing the pivotal role of comprehensive research and iterative design processes. I learned the significance of user-centric approaches, utilizing empathy maps, user journey mapping, and personas to deeply understand user needs and pain points. The iterative prototyping and testing phases allowed me to grasp the essence of iterative design, enabling continual refinement based on user feedback. The integration of wireframing, usability testing, and stakeholder feedback became paramount in shaping a user-friendly solution. Overall, this journey expanded my understanding of UX principles, emphasizing the importance of user research and iterative design cycles in crafting impactful and user-centric solutions.
Ideate and Define
Brainstorming
Persona
Problem Statement
Prototype
Lo-Fi Wireframing
Hi-Fi Wireframing
Design Systems
Reflect
Testing
Feedback
Final Thoughts
