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Project: Swimm

Swimm is a platform designed to assist new international students in the US by providing crowd-sourced recommendations and organizing group shopping trips. Initially focused on helping students find social events and friends, our research led us to pivot towards solving the more pressing issue of navigating daily tasks like grocery shopping and transportation.

Role

UX Designer

Industry

Social Networking

Duration

2 months

Stage 1. The Problem

Initial Objective: Our initial goal was to create a platform that helps new students in the area find events and friends to hang out with.

Research Insight: Through comprehensive user interviews and surveys involving 30+ international students, we discovered that socializing was not a major concern.

Instead, the primary challenges were managing daily tasks such as grocery shopping and understanding local transportation. This pivotal insight led to a strategic pivot in our project focus.

Stage 2. Research

Methods:

User Interviews: Conducted 15 in-depth interviews with international students to understand their daily challenges.
Surveys: Distributed surveys to 30 international students, achieving a 70% response rate, to quantify the issues faced.
Contextual Inquiry: Observed 5 students during their grocery shopping and transportation routines to identify pain points.

Key Findings:

85% of participants struggled with finding reliable transportation options.
78% mentioned difficulties in locating grocery stores that carry authentic ethnic foods.
Group activities, such as organized shopping trips, were fondly remembered by 65% of the respondents, highlighting a potential area for intervention.

Stage 3. Ideation

Brainstorming Sessions: We conducted 2 brainstorming workshops, each lasting 2 hours, with a team of 4 members to explore potential solutions. Ideas generated included but not limited to:

Planning group shopping trips
Searching for mentors
Holding Q&A orientation sessions
Finding recommendations for authentic ethnic restaurants and grocery stores

Selected Ideas: We prioritized ideas based on feasibility and user impact, narrowing our focus to two main functions:

Discovering reliable recommendations from other international students
Planning group outings

Stage 1. The Problem

Initial Objective: Our initial goal was to create a platform that helps new students in the area find events and friends to hang out with.

Stage 2. Research

Methods:

User Interviews: Conducted 15 in-depth interviews with international students to understand their daily challenges.
Surveys: Distributed surveys to 30 international students, achieving a 70% response rate, to quantify the issues faced.
Contextual Inquiry: Observed 5 students during their grocery shopping and transportation routines to identify pain points.

Key Findings:

85% of participants struggled with finding reliable transportation options.
78% mentioned difficulties in locating grocery stores that carry authentic ethnic foods.
Group activities, such as organized shopping trips, were fondly remembered by 65% of the respondents, highlighting a potential area for intervention.

Stage 3. Ideation

Brainstorming Sessions: We conducted 2 brainstorming workshops, each lasting 2 hours, with a team of 4 members to explore potential solutions. Ideas generated included but not limited to:

Planning group shopping trips
Searching for mentors
Holding Q&A orientation sessions
Finding recommendations for authentic ethnic restaurants and grocery stores

Selected Ideas: We prioritized ideas based on feasibility and user impact, narrowing our focus to two main functions:

Discovering reliable recommendations from other international students
Planning group outings

Stage 4. Design

Low-Fidelity Wireframes & Storyboarding: I concentrated on creating low-fidelity wireframes and storyboards to quickly iterate on ideas and test them with users using paper sketches and Miro.

User Flows: Developed user flow diagrams to visualize the app’s structure and ensure a seamless user experience. These helped identify potential bottlenecks and areas for improvement early in the design process.

Stage 5. Testing & Insights

Paper Prototyping: Utilized low-fidelity paper prototypes to test the initial concepts with users. These low-fidelity prototypes allowed for rapid iteration based on user feedback

User Testing: Conducted multiple rounds of user testing with international students using paper prototypes and storyboards. Key insights:

Ease of Use: 85% of users found the paper prototypes easy to navigate and understand.
Functionality: Users appreciated the focus on practical assistance, confirming the need for features like group trip planning and reliable recommendations.

Stage 6. Final Solution

Implementation and Final Touches: In the final phase, I used Figma to add aesthetic touch-ups to ensure the design was visually appealing. The primary focus remained on ensuring that the solution effectively addressed the needs identified during the research and testing phases.

Solution Overview: A robust platform for international students to access reliable recommendations and plan group outings efficiently. Key functionalities:

Browse Recommendations: Users can easily find verified recommendations for grocery stores, restaurants, and transportation services.
Plan Group Trips: An integrated planner allows users to organize and join group shopping trips, enhancing the sense of community and support.

Stage 6. Final Solution

Solution Overview: A robust platform for international students to access reliable recommendations and plan group outings efficiently. Key functionalities:

Browse Recommendations: Users can easily find verified recommendations for grocery stores, restaurants, and transportation services.
Plan Group Trips: An integrated planner allows users to organize and join group shopping trips, enhancing the sense of community and support.

Stage 7. Outcome & Reflection

Learnings & Challenges: This project underscored the critical importance of user research in identifying genuine user needs. The strategic pivot from social networking to practical assistance highlighted the value of flexibility in the design process. Key challenges:

Balancing Features: Ensuring the app was feature-rich without overwhelming users.
Iterative Design: Continuously refining the design based on user feedback and testing.

Impact:

Increased User Engagement: 85% of users expressed a willingness to recommend Swimm to fellow international students.
Enhanced User Satisfaction: 90% reported feeling more confident in navigating daily tasks.

Personal Growth: This project significantly enhanced my skills in UX research and low-fidelity prototyping. I learned the value of early user testing and iterative design, ensuring that the final product truly meets user needs. The experience reinforced the importance of a user-centered approach and flexibility in adapting to new insights.

Stage 7. Outcome & Reflection

Balancing Features: Ensuring the app was feature-rich without overwhelming users.
Iterative Design: Continuously refining the design based on user feedback and testing.

Impact:

Increased User Engagement: 85% of users expressed a willingness to recommend Swimm to fellow international students.
Enhanced User Satisfaction: 90% reported feeling more confident in navigating daily tasks.

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