BuilderTrend
Role
UI/UX Designer & Researcher
Problem
Timeline
September - December 2023, 12 weeks
Collaboration
2 Designers’ 1 Researcher
The Buildertrend app was developed almost 20 years ago, aiding in filling the gap in the market for an interface or application for builders and entrepreneurs. It is your "desk of papers" in an app! However now, the interface needs some improvements.
Project Type
Final Project
Keeping your business organized is time-consuming and stressful
As a previous user, I have observed the time, energy, and frustration that there can be. Finding information is not easy and along wit a need for easier accessinlity to messages for client satisfaction.
How can the stress of staying organized and calm within the chaos be reduced?
Process
Design Thinking Approach
Rapid Wireframes
I created individual wireframes, then reviewed and discussed with my Professor
I delved into and implemented unique ideas to ease user pain points, utilizing the knowledge and assistance of my peers and professor. Converting these ideas into wireframe models, I later worked closely with my peers and professor to merge and enhance all the drafted designs.
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Low-Fidelity prototype addressing usability issues
I took an active approach in crafting a joint paper prototype that tackled usability concerns stemming from the earlier individual wireframes. I presented and communicated the choices made, taking into account the impending usability test.
Usability Test
Each design iteration was followed by a series of usabilty testings to evaluate and improve the prototype.
Usability testing helped identify app issues
Prototypes
I proactively created a digital low-fidelity prototype addressing usability issues in terminology, visual complexity, navigation, security, and workflow from the previous individual wireframes.
Medium-Fidelity Prototype
Prototypes
Translating those paper prototypes into functional prototypes on Figma.
Solution
The home page lacks a personalized greeting upon entry, a crucial element in UX, which should convey a sense of welcome and community engagement. In addition, the extensive vertical scroll on the home page gives an overwhelming or weighty navigational experience. With this, we should consider design alternatives such as a filter bar or distinct pages with categories, to compartmentalize and organize content efficiently.
Future Steps
User feedback clarified areas for further improvement
High-Fidelity Prototype
The positioning of the "more" tab at the bottom of the interface is in a visually confusing area. It would benefit from relocation to a more accessible and standardized location, like the upper-left corner, ensuring swift access to personal information and financials across all pages.
Style Guide
Learnings
1.Explore more user testing, testing a wide range of users of all ages.
2.Extend the platform to be accessible to the public for those who do not have their business subscribed, with limited abilities/function.
3.Provide more flexibility and ease on all devices, such as differenct phones, computers, iPads, ect in regard to the frustratin with how slow the interface is on different devices.
The importance of low-fidelity prototyping and user demographics was learned through feedback and professor leadership
Choosing the Builder Trend app has taught me the value of user demographics and low fidelity prototyping. User demographics shape a projects objective needs. If the target audience and analysis of their background is accurate, this leads you one step closer to a solution. As one of my first prototypes, understanding, recognizing, iterating and user testing before solidifying any design decisions was imperative to end with a elegant and clear user experience.
It needs to be more accessible to users, this is the first thing clients see when you are conversing.