Fresh Out
UX Designer Leading design: Conducting interviews, paper and digital wire framing, low and high-fidelity prototyping, conducting usability studies, accounting accessibility, iterating on designs and responsive design.
Problem:
Upon transitioning out of the military, veterans frequently encounter profound feelings of isolation. This period can be exceptionally challenging for them as they are compelled to embark on a fresh journey, encompassing their professional pursuits, place of residence, and social circles. In response to this problem, veterans are actively pursuing avenues to establish connections with fellow veterans, thereby facilitating networking opportunities and fostering meaningful interpersonal bonds.
At A Glance
My task was to design a mobile app, targeting Veterans and soon to be separated military members. The project involved three rounds of wire framing, prototyping, and testing. Within a span of 3 months, I successfully delivered a comprehensive set app design, a design system, and a case study.
In Response to this problem, Veterans are actively pursuing avenues to establish connections with fellow veterans, thereby facilitating networking opportunities and fostering meaningful interpersonal bonds.
Survey Says:
To gain insights into the requirements of users, I carried out an unmoderated survey involving a total of 7 participants. The survey was administered through Qualtricsxm, a platform known for its survey capabilities. A set of 10 questions was posed to the participants in order to gather relevant information. My findings entailed that most veterans do suffer from loneliness and are interested in finding a way to connect with other veterans.
Participants were between the ages 25-55. My findings entailed that most veterans do suffer from loneliness and are interested in finding a way to connect with other veterans.
Process
User Research:
Throughout my research, I have gained a clear understanding of the target user and their needs. I discovered that many users are simply seeking a way to connect with other veterans. Connecting with others opens the doors for new opportunities.
Personas:
Based on valuable feedback obtained from the unsupervised survey, I incorporated the insights into our user personas. One notable example is Michael Wilson, a Veteran who just moved to a new city to start over after serving his country. Understanding his need to connect and network, we aimed to develop a solution that addresses his specific pain point.
User Journey Map:
Through the creation of a user journey map, I developed a visualization document that effectively illustrates the sequential steps taken by a user in order to achieve a specific objective. Consequently, this process enabled me to discern the crucial functionalities that are essential for the intended audience.
Empathy Map
To enhance comprehension of the user, an empathy map was devised to establish a connection with the end user.
Wireframes
Goals and Methods:
Objective: Users require a means to connect with fellow veterans for the purpose of socializing, networking, and exploring housing prospects.→ we audit industry competitors to understand how the Fresh Out app compares.
Research Questions
1. Are we attracting the audience we are talking to?
2. How does the application look and feel? Does the design complement the products?
3. Will the users get confused as they navigate through the app?
Procedure
We have reviewed these aspects of competitive Veteran transition services and their website or app design. → Audience, First thoughts, User interaction, Visual design, content.
Before And After
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Accessibility Considerations
1. Universal Icons for easy understanding
2.Used color contrast principles
3.Simple design for easy navigation
Check out the prototype
Takeaways
Impact: According to feedback from our target users, the application has been found to offer effective solutions for coping with loneliness after completing their service. Additionally, users have expressed that the app possesses an aesthetically pleasing design and is user-friendly in terms of navigation.
Participant: "the app is so versatile and hits more than one pain point”
What I learned: I have gained knowledge that as a UX designer, it is inevitable to encounter various challenges while creating for every user pain point. In the particular project I worked on, we successfully tackled multiple pain points, thereby facilitating the transition process for veterans and fostering the development of interpersonal relationships.