Simply Spaced
I was leading the UI design for the Simply Spaced and my approach was to define the design pattern that we were going to use for this project. We did this by defining fonts, colours, and basic components up-front. This approach ensured a consistent design among designers as we were all working with a predefined design patterns.
Role: UX/UI Designer
Year: 2018 - 2019
My contribution to the project included UI design for their responsive mobile website, research about the industry as well as the potential users, information architecture, user interviews and usability testing.
The Challenge
When we started working on Simply Spaced they were known as Spritzed. Our initial focus was on rebranding Spritzed as they had a poor brand appeal and users struggled to link their name to the relevant industry. Their existing platform was intended to alleviate the frustration in finding the appropriate workspace but the lack of usability was only adding to the frustration of the user when trying to find the right office space.
The Solution
Users didn’t connect the company name to their offerings and thus we encouraged a name change and a new corporate identity. Our usability testing further helped us design a platform that is a pleasure to use and makes the process of find a work space less frustrating for the user.
The Approach
A Heuristic Evaluation was performed as well as contextual interviews in order to pinpoint the problems experienced when using the existing platform and the core focus was to find out why users couldn’t relate to the brand. Secondary UX Research was important in this context because it gave us insight into what the market leaders were doing and what features we need to prioritise in order to help Simply Spaced increase their client base and meet the users’ needs.
Each member of our team did an individual heuristic evaluation of the existing site in order to get the most accurate results. Paper wireframing was a team effort and thereafter I was tasked with creating the hi-fidelity wireframes as well as the prototype, that we used for user testing. I used my UI knowledge to make the platform inviting, clear and easy to understand.
UX/UI Methodologies & Techniques:
- Kick-off Meeting
- Walkthrough with Stakeholders
- Heuristic Evaluation
- Competitive Audit
- User Interviews Observations
- Personas
- Low-fidelity Wireframes
- High-fidelity Prototyping
- Style Guide For Mobile
Software used:
A major challenge with this project was that the client wanted to include a lot of information that the users did not find relevant, as was discovered through user testing. After doing a Content Audit and eliminating some, we were still left with a lot of content. I had to balance a clean UI and make sure the content was easily digestible, in order to achieve the mandate of the client.
Content Heavy
Because this project also included a re-brand of the business. The UI design also needed to pioneer the implementation on the new CI. This consisted of a new name, a new logo, a style guide for both web and mobile, new business cards and I mocked up a variety of ways they could utilises their new brand.
Re-brand
Typography set up
I needed to select a combination of typography that would compliment the new brand.
Colour palette
In addition to the other brand elements, I needed to define the most appropriate colours for the brand that would be used in the UI of their website and mobile application.
Components
I then proceeded to design a basic component library which would ensure consistency across the basic design patterns.
I build digital experiences and interface designs
With over four years of experience in digital design, I have worked with companies and startups to design and develop both large and small-scale web and app projects.
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