An Engaging Search Engine
An Engaging Search Engine
Mobile Application Redesign
Mobile Application Redesign
Timeline
April-May 2022
Refined in June. 2022
Contribution
End-to-end design
UI/UX design
UX research
Team
Sole designer, 1 advisor
Context
MyRISD is the official campus app for Rhode Island School of Design. The MyRISD app is intended to make it easier for students and faculties to access campus services and resources on the go. Current features include but not limited to: Campus Map/Dining/Directory Information/Emergency Information/Fitness Center/Indoor Map/Laundry/News/Residence Life/risdbucks/RISD rides/RISD Store and etc.
MyRISD is the official campus app for Rhode Island School of Design. The MyRISD app is intended to make it easier for students and faculties to access campus services and resources on the go. Current features include but not limited to: Campus Map/Dining/Directory Information/Emergency Information/Fitness Center/Indoor Map/Laundry/News/Residence Life/risdbucks/RISD rides/RISD Store and etc.
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
How can I renovate the current RISD information platform, such that I will be able to create an engaging ‘search engine’ that helps students and faculties to find useful campus resources in a more delightful way?
How can I renovate the current RISD information platform, such that I will be able to create an engaging ‘search engine’ that helps students and faculties to find useful campus resources in a more delightful way?
Problems with existing application
Problems with existing application
Disjointed experience
Disjointed experience
Convoluted features are being arranged in a non-logical order
Convoluted features are being arranged in a non-logical order
Complicated user flow
Complicated user flow
Endless steps that need to be taken prior getting to the desired feature
Endless steps that need to be taken prior getting to the desired feature
Poor app execution and low usage
Poor app execution and low usage
The vast amount of functionalities
The vast amount of functionalities
Design Solution
Design Solution
Key Design Highlights
Key Design Highlights
Home Screen Redesign
Home Screen Redesign
The redesign of the home screen focuses on simplicity with the search bar in the middle as the main elements, followed by quick-access to features that users most frequently used and manually added.
The redesign of the home screen focuses on simplicity with the search bar in the middle as the main elements, followed by quick-access to features that users most frequently used and manually added.
Location Recognition Powered by Camera
Location Recognition Powered by Camera
Users can initiate the location recognition with the camera; The app asks to open campus map and it will then lead to the information page.
Users can initiate the location recognition with the camera; The app asks to open campus map and it will then lead to the information page.
Places Near Searched Result
Places Near Searched Result
App brings users to check out places that are near the searched site; Built-in Google Map like page has the updated open hours and offers more precise information/description within RISD.
App brings users to check out places that are near the searched site; Built-in Google Map like page has the updated open hours and offers more precise information/description within RISD.
information
information
Facilities’ open hours of various sorts, the one thing that students most desperately want to know, are constantly updated including the availability, the hours during breaks and different semesters. Dorm section is mostly targeted at freshman and sophomore, allowing them to get to known the on-campus housing options.
Facilities’ open hours of various sorts, the one thing that students most desperately want to know, are constantly updated including the availability, the hours during breaks and different semesters. Dorm section is mostly targeted at freshman and sophomore, allowing them to get to known the on-campus housing options.
Personal Setting
Personal Setting
A place designed at the menu bar, always allowing users to check all the bookmarks, find more inquiry. Users also has the option to glance at their viewing history, either quickly go back to the previous window opened, or delete the ones that’s no longer in use to ensure a lighter backend.
A place designed at the menu bar, always allowing users to check all the bookmarks, find more inquiry. Users also has the option to glance at their viewing history, either quickly go back to the previous window opened, or delete the ones that’s no longer in use to ensure a lighter backend.
Enough case studies today? Jump ahead and see the pretty pictures!
Enough case studies today? Jump ahead and see the pretty pictures!
Design Process
Design Process
Overview of the old experience
Overview of the old experience
-> first time onboarding
-> the most complex home screen with no logical grouping
-> users often have trouble finding the functions right away to get their desired tasks done
-> blank, long loading screens in between steps
-> first time onboarding
-> the most complex home screen with no logical grouping
-> users often have trouble finding the functions right away to get their desired tasks done
-> blank, long loading screens in between steps
User Research
User Research
The intended users for MyRISD app are RISD students and faculties with the majority living near/on campus. Statistically speaking, a majority of the students usually use MyRISD app for RISD rides and Dining menus. Some of the students use it to locate a building on campus.
The intended users for MyRISD app are RISD students and faculties with the majority living near/on campus. Statistically speaking, a majority of the students usually use MyRISD app for RISD rides and Dining menus. Some of the students use it to locate a building on campus.
Being in the RISD community helped me understand the users and their behaviors. This empathy map also make me consider all the possible use cases for a flow or feature.
Being in the RISD community helped me understand the users and their behaviors. This empathy map also make me consider all the possible use cases for a flow or feature.
Initial Research
Initial Research
Personal comprehensive reviewing and navigating through MyRISD app
Close observations of some friends using MyRISD app
1 on 1 interviews with students currently living on and off campus using MyRISD to understand the user and their pain points.
Discovered a very low ratings on apple store page: average 2.4 out of 5.
Personal comprehensive reviewing and navigating through MyRISD app
Close observations of some friends using MyRISD app
1 on 1 interviews with students currently living on and off campus using MyRISD to understand the user and their pain points.
Discovered a very low ratings on apple store page: average 2.4 out of 5.
Continued Research in the Problem Space
01 Quick Validation with the Mass Survey
01 Quick Validation with the Mass Survey
“ I can’t find what I want with what provided there “
“ All the information are not stated clearly”
“ Too many options and the categories appear on the very first page are not detailed enough”
“ I can’t find what I want with what provided there “
“ All the information are not stated clearly”
“ Too many options and the categories appear on the very first page are not detailed enough”
02 User Interview
02 User Interview
To further troubleshoot the current app being extremely ineffective and to understand what exactly causes the problem with low views and other difficulties, I have conducted 3 user interviews on our target users, 1 with very little experience.
I arrived at key insights using diagramming.
To further troubleshoot the current app being extremely ineffective and to understand what exactly causes the problem with low views and other difficulties, I have conducted 3 user interviews on our target users, 1 with very little experience.
I arrived at key insights using diagramming.
Three Main Design Pillars
Efficient
Efficient
Intutive
Intutive
Engaging
Engaging
Competitive Analysis
Information Architecture
Based on the feedbacks and evaluation of the current MyRISD app, I chose to build a modern and intuitive solution with the focus of redesigning homescreen, redesigning existing features such as campus map related, and implementing new features to better achieve the goal.
Based on the feedbacks and evaluation of the current MyRISD app, I chose to build a modern and intuitive solution with the focus of redesigning homescreen, redesigning existing features such as campus map related, and implementing new features to better achieve the goal.
User Journey to Further Define Users’ Actions
Wireframing
Wireframing
Design Iterations Based on User Testings
Design Iterations Based on User Testings
UI Style Guidelines
UI Style Guidelines
Intuitive, efficient, coherent
Intuitive, efficient, coherent
outcome
outcome
Final Experience
Final Experience
SIGNING IN
Take a few seconds to login in and feel the new launched RISD identity. Login for the first time and your profile stays!
SIGNING IN
Take a few seconds to login in and feel the new launched RISD identity. Login for the first time and your profile stays!
HOME PAGE
Adding quick-access that you need to your home page and search anything you want
HOME PAGE
Adding quick-access that you need to your home page and search anything you want
LOCATION RECOGNITION
Ever wonder if that building is part of RISD’s property? Find information about the location with your phone camera.
LOCATION RECOGNITION
Ever wonder if that building is part of RISD’s property? Find information about the location with your phone camera.
CAMPUS MAP
Your searchers bring you to the built-in map feature and look for RISD places that are near the searched location
CAMPUS MAP
Your searchers bring you to the built-in map feature and look for RISD places that are near the searched location
ON-CAMPUS HOUSING
Area built for the freshman and sophomore easy for them to look for on-campus housing options
ON-CAMPUS HOUSING
Area built for the freshman and sophomore easy for them to look for on-campus housing options
PERSONAL SETTING
A quick glance at users’ viewing history, offer choices to go back to the previous window opened, or delete the ones that’s no longer in use to ensure a lighter backend.
PERSONAL SETTING
A quick glance at users’ viewing history, offer choices to go back to the previous window opened, or delete the ones that’s no longer in use to ensure a lighter backend.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this case study!
Thank you for taking the time to read through this case study!