Planet
Planet is a recently designed app concept that allows users to easily make plans with friends or groups. It will organize the users’ plans in their own personal social calendar. The user will also be able to communicate with their friends through multiple means and filter through a news feed of social events based on their interests. Planet is designed to make the process of planning an event work with everyone’s busy schedule while also reminding people about their upcoming plans. The goal is for the user to be able to effectively manage and enjoy their social life while balancing it against their other obligations.
User Interviews
Interview Discussion Guide
Basic Info
- State name, age, and profession
- What city did you grow up in?
- Where do you go to college/ what city?
- What city do you currently live in?
- Summarize your personal goals.
Defining Where They Live
- What city do your parents live in?
- Same as your hometown?
- Why did you move away from your hometown?
- If you moved for college, why did you move away from your college town?
Defining Friendships/Family
- To whom do you still speak with from your hometown and college town? Family? Friends? Who are the people you still speak with but don’t live near?
- Do you have friends that live all over the country?
- How do you typically stay in touch with these people?
- Why do you stay in touch with these people?
- What do you typically talk about when you are reconnecting/speaking with these people?
- What information typically gets shared?
- How often do you speak with these people?
- How often do you physically see these people?
- How often would you like to physically see these people?
- Describe how you feel when talking with these people.
- Describe how you feel when you physically see these people.
Process/Problems
- How do you plan to see these people? What methods do you take? Describe your personal planning process in order to visit these people...
- What is easy about keeping in touch with these people?
- What barriers do you run into when trying to keep in touch with these people?
Basic Info
- State name, age, and profession
- What city did you grow up in?
- Where do you go to college/ what city?
- What city do you currently live in?
- Summarize your personal goals.
Defining Where They Live
- What city do your parents live in?
- Same as your hometown?
- Why did you move away from your hometown?
- If you moved for college, why did you move away from your college town?
Defining Friendships/Family
- To whom do you still speak with from your hometown and college town? Family? Friends? Who are the people you still speak with but don’t live near?
- Do you have friends that live all over the country?
- How do you typically stay in touch with these people?
- Why do you stay in touch with these people?
- What do you typically talk about when you are reconnecting/speaking with these people?
- What information typically gets shared?
- How often do you speak with these people?
- How often do you physically see these people?
- How often would you like to physically see these people?
- Describe how you feel when talking with these people.
- Describe how you feel when you physically see these people.
Process/Problems
- How do you plan to see these people? What methods do you take? Describe your personal planning process in order to visit these people...
- What is easy about keeping in touch with these people?
- What barriers do you run into when trying to keep in touch with these people?
Competitor Analysis
Persona
Affinity Mapping
Dream List of Features
Primary Goal: Greg is looking to better manage his communication with his family and friends that works with his schedule.
- Separate one-to-one conversations and group chats (must choose first)
- Calling, messaging, video chat options
- Making plans with one person and groups
- Polls for voting on dates/locations for plan feature
- “My plans” to view your upcoming / booked plans with other friends
- “Online” / busy button for when you don’t want to receive certain notifications
- Ability to view other peoples plans without knowing “what their doing,” unless its a plan with you - in order to check if others are busy for certain dates
- Time zone display when you click on a certain user - based on city/location services
- Enter in work address for “busy” option - when your at this location you are marked as busy, or enter times in a week, busy button is right when you open app incase someone needs to turn it on right away
- Notification reminders to let you know to message or call back or respond to plans people put forth - force you to remember
- Group video chatting
- View upcoming group plans inside group
- When proposing a plan, it auto knows which weekends work best based on everyone’s personal plans
- Invite new friends through text
- Contact list within app, ability to view favorites first
- Calendar view
- Separate one-to-one conversations and group chats (must choose first)
- Calling, messaging, video chat options
- Making plans with one person and groups
- Polls for voting on dates/locations for plan feature
- “My plans” to view your upcoming / booked plans with other friends
- “Online” / busy button for when you don’t want to receive certain notifications
- Ability to view other peoples plans without knowing “what their doing,” unless its a plan with you - in order to check if others are busy for certain dates
- Time zone display when you click on a certain user - based on city/location services
- Enter in work address for “busy” option - when your at this location you are marked as busy, or enter times in a week, busy button is right when you open app incase someone needs to turn it on right away
- Notification reminders to let you know to message or call back or respond to plans people put forth - force you to remember
- Group video chatting
- View upcoming group plans inside group
- When proposing a plan, it auto knows which weekends work best based on everyone’s personal plans
- Invite new friends through text
- Contact list within app, ability to view favorites first
- Calendar view
Feature Prioritization
Features to Prioritize First
Separation of group and individual chats
This is important because this seems to be the main factor to how our persona would most likely communicate with their friends or family. Certain conversations are made for just the user and one other and other are made for groups.
Type of Contact: Call, Message, Video Chat
These methods are necessary because they are the primary ways that a user interacts through their phone when communicating to friends and family. They all are important to include within the app because certain users communicate with others in different ways. This can also depending on the type of conversation and the current times and place a user is in.
Making Plans
This feature is very important because I believe it is what is going to distinguish the app from any other. There are a few chatting apps that allow you to try to make plans with one another or groups, however, I have yet to see it presented in an easy format along with the person/group you chat with often (family/friends). In order to make the plan, there have to be a few features built into this one such as custom naming, adding a location, adding a date/time or proposing multiple dates and time which would then create a poll for receiving users to choose from.
My Plans
This feature is important because it is what is going to organize the users plans with their friends or family in a chronological order so they user has an easy list to refer to.
Forced Reminders
This is feature is necessary because it was noted in all three of my user interviews that everyone forgets to respond back to certain messages, calls, etc. because they are so busy. This can allow for a user to always remember that someone reached out to them and that they are looking for a response. Also, these will remind you when you have a plan coming up as well.
Invite new friends to groups/ the app/ or a new conversation
This feature is necessary because there needs to be a way for users to invite other new users, or start new conversations that they haven’t had before. Also, if someone wants to add someone to a group they can with the group creators permission.
Separation of group and individual chats
This is important because this seems to be the main factor to how our persona would most likely communicate with their friends or family. Certain conversations are made for just the user and one other and other are made for groups.
Type of Contact: Call, Message, Video Chat
These methods are necessary because they are the primary ways that a user interacts through their phone when communicating to friends and family. They all are important to include within the app because certain users communicate with others in different ways. This can also depending on the type of conversation and the current times and place a user is in.
Making Plans
This feature is very important because I believe it is what is going to distinguish the app from any other. There are a few chatting apps that allow you to try to make plans with one another or groups, however, I have yet to see it presented in an easy format along with the person/group you chat with often (family/friends). In order to make the plan, there have to be a few features built into this one such as custom naming, adding a location, adding a date/time or proposing multiple dates and time which would then create a poll for receiving users to choose from.
My Plans
This feature is important because it is what is going to organize the users plans with their friends or family in a chronological order so they user has an easy list to refer to.
Forced Reminders
This is feature is necessary because it was noted in all three of my user interviews that everyone forgets to respond back to certain messages, calls, etc. because they are so busy. This can allow for a user to always remember that someone reached out to them and that they are looking for a response. Also, these will remind you when you have a plan coming up as well.
Invite new friends to groups/ the app/ or a new conversation
This feature is necessary because there needs to be a way for users to invite other new users, or start new conversations that they haven’t had before. Also, if someone wants to add someone to a group they can with the group creators permission.
Storyboarding
Ideating
Good Ideas
Bad Ideas
Project Proposal
What are your overall objectives for the project?
My product’s objectives is to manage communication between family and friends in a simpler fashion that works with everyone’s schedule.
What problem(s) are you solving? What user goals are you making possible?
The product will solve the problem of poor communication (missed opportunities for contact) and also making a plan with friends or family simple.
What is/are the main takeaways from your research findings?
My main takeaways from my research are that everyone and everything is different. People communicate with certain people in many different ways. Certain situations call for different forms of communication. Due to this, it was difficult to narrow everything down. However, since I am focusing on close friends and family and improving their communication, I found that many things were consistent. These people spoke on a regular basis and also look forward to future plans that they have together.
Who is your target audience?
My target audience is ultimately 18-30 year olds who have a lot going on in their lives with regard to career and changes, but still look to remain socially active as well with their friends and family. The age range and audience can expand dependent on situation. For example, a mother whose two kids just went away to college. A young high school student who made friends when studying abroad and still looks to remain in contact and plan to visit.
What is your MVP(minimum viable product)?
My MVP is a product that organizes all of your social interactions in a simple fashion while allowing you to make plans with those interactions. I am defining interactions as both with individuals or groups. When a user opens the app, they will either be looking to talk to a friend or group, make a plan with that friend or a group, or respond to a plan, message or call.
What features will you include?
My MVP will include separated chat lists for individual and group interactions. Within these interactions, the user will be able to call, message, or video chat their friend/group. They also will be able to make a plan with their friend/group as well as view their upcoming plans. The app will routinely notify them when they haven’t responded to a friend or plan proposal. They will also be able to invite new friends to the app using a text message through their contact list or through facebook.
How will this differentiate from your competitors? What pain points are being addressed?
The main pain point that is solved here is the fact that users will be able to plan with their desired user/group with everyone’s contribution. They will be able manage their conversations in a simpler fashion, remember to respond back, allow them to reach out using any method they’d like at that current time.
Is there anything else you think might help us (your stakeholders) understand what you’re proposing?
In simple terms, this will be product that allows the user to choose when they want to talk to their family or friends, but reminds them to take action when a plan is made.
My product’s objectives is to manage communication between family and friends in a simpler fashion that works with everyone’s schedule.
What problem(s) are you solving? What user goals are you making possible?
The product will solve the problem of poor communication (missed opportunities for contact) and also making a plan with friends or family simple.
What is/are the main takeaways from your research findings?
My main takeaways from my research are that everyone and everything is different. People communicate with certain people in many different ways. Certain situations call for different forms of communication. Due to this, it was difficult to narrow everything down. However, since I am focusing on close friends and family and improving their communication, I found that many things were consistent. These people spoke on a regular basis and also look forward to future plans that they have together.
Who is your target audience?
My target audience is ultimately 18-30 year olds who have a lot going on in their lives with regard to career and changes, but still look to remain socially active as well with their friends and family. The age range and audience can expand dependent on situation. For example, a mother whose two kids just went away to college. A young high school student who made friends when studying abroad and still looks to remain in contact and plan to visit.
What is your MVP(minimum viable product)?
My MVP is a product that organizes all of your social interactions in a simple fashion while allowing you to make plans with those interactions. I am defining interactions as both with individuals or groups. When a user opens the app, they will either be looking to talk to a friend or group, make a plan with that friend or a group, or respond to a plan, message or call.
What features will you include?
My MVP will include separated chat lists for individual and group interactions. Within these interactions, the user will be able to call, message, or video chat their friend/group. They also will be able to make a plan with their friend/group as well as view their upcoming plans. The app will routinely notify them when they haven’t responded to a friend or plan proposal. They will also be able to invite new friends to the app using a text message through their contact list or through facebook.
How will this differentiate from your competitors? What pain points are being addressed?
The main pain point that is solved here is the fact that users will be able to plan with their desired user/group with everyone’s contribution. They will be able manage their conversations in a simpler fashion, remember to respond back, allow them to reach out using any method they’d like at that current time.
Is there anything else you think might help us (your stakeholders) understand what you’re proposing?
In simple terms, this will be product that allows the user to choose when they want to talk to their family or friends, but reminds them to take action when a plan is made.
User Flow
Sitemaps
Key Screens Sketches
Lo-Fi Wireframe Sketches
Hi-Fi Wireframes
Planet Page
Making a Planet
Profile/Home Page
Friends Page
Communicating w/ Friends
Groups Page
Annotations
Usability Testing
Hello. My name is Mitch Krumm. Today, I will be conducting a usability test. Don’t get discouraged about the about the word “test.” Nothing you do will be considered wrong during this test. We just hope to understand how you are user, would go about navigating our new app product. In short, our app helps friends and family make plans with and speak with each other.
When we begin, I will just ask that you speak out loud as you make your decisions to complete the tasks using the interface. I will give you the task to complete and then just take a step back and observe. I may interject to just ask why or how you thought about going through making your decisions.
Ok before we begin.. Just a few questions…
- Can you tell me about how you usually go about making plans with your friends and or family?
- What do you enjoy about it?
- What do you least enjoy about it?
- What are some of the tasks that are involved when you are trying to make plans with these people?
When we begin, I will just ask that you speak out loud as you make your decisions to complete the tasks using the interface. I will give you the task to complete and then just take a step back and observe. I may interject to just ask why or how you thought about going through making your decisions.
Ok before we begin.. Just a few questions…
- Can you tell me about how you usually go about making plans with your friends and or family?
- What do you enjoy about it?
- What do you least enjoy about it?
- What are some of the tasks that are involved when you are trying to make plans with these people?
Pre-Test Discussion Guide
Demographics
- What is your first name?
- Male or Female?
- What is your age?
- What is your occupation?
- What city/town do you live in?
- What is your email address?
Experience Habit Questions
- Do you have friends/family that live in other cities/areas?
- What products do you use to stay in contact with them?
- What products do you use to stay in contact with any of your friends?
- Do you use any tools/products to help you make plans with your friends/family? If so, which ones?
Behavior Questions
- How many times per week or month would you say you keep in contact with your family?
- How about your close friends?
- How do you usually make plans with your friends?
Participation Question
I will be conducting a series of interviews about a new app I’m designing that helps user make plans and speak with their friends, please fill out your info below if you are interested in participating.
- What is your first name?
- Male or Female?
- What is your age?
- What is your occupation?
- What city/town do you live in?
- What is your email address?
Experience Habit Questions
- Do you have friends/family that live in other cities/areas?
- What products do you use to stay in contact with them?
- What products do you use to stay in contact with any of your friends?
- Do you use any tools/products to help you make plans with your friends/family? If so, which ones?
Behavior Questions
- How many times per week or month would you say you keep in contact with your family?
- How about your close friends?
- How do you usually make plans with your friends?
Participation Question
I will be conducting a series of interviews about a new app I’m designing that helps user make plans and speak with their friends, please fill out your info below if you are interested in participating.
Screener Questions
Task Scenarios
Task 1: Make a plan with your friends John and Kelly for next Saturday
Task 2: Message your friend John Smith about your upcoming plan next weekend
Task 3: Make a plan with your family group that allows them to vote on the dates of the plan
Test Notes
Plus/Delta Evaluation