Conducted heuristic evaluation on Adobe Photoshop website following Nielsen's 10 Heuristics for Usability Evaluation.
The scale considered is:
0 - no usability issues present
1 - cosmetic issue, issues do not affect usability but must be fixed
2 - minor issue, users can easily find a workaround but issue should be fixed when possible
3 - major issue, users find workaround with some difficulty so issue should be fixed as soon as possible
4 - catastrophic issue, users can’t find a workaround so issue should be fixed immediately
1. Website uses words like Generative Fill, Generative Expand, and Beta without any explanation.
Heavy technical jargon used all over the page
Missing option to “Buy now” on mobile
Extremely low contrast between the text and the background color
I conducted this user research survey with the primary objective of gaining a comprehensive understanding of the user base for Adobe.
The rationale behind this research was multifaceted:
1. User Profiling: By gathering demographic information and usage patterns, I aimed to profile the diverse user base of these Adobe products.
2. Identifying Pain Points: Understanding users' likes and dislikes, challenges, and pain points with Adobe Photoshop website is crucial.
3. Uncovering Needs: Through the survey responses, I sought to uncover the specific needs, preferences, and expectations of Adobe software users.
In summary, the user research survey was conducted to profile users, identify pain points and needs, and pave the way for creating user personas.
During the accessibility audit conducted for the Adobe website, it was identified that there were several issues with compliance according to the WCAG standards. These issues included the absence of alt text for images and challenges in accessing all website content using a keyboard. While the audit found that the website met the criteria for WCAG level A, it did not meet the higher standards of AA and AAA compliance.
Overall, the compliance level for the website was determined to be at level A, with room for improvement in meeting AA and AAA accessibility standards.
WCAG 2.0 conformance levels
WCAG 2.0 guidelines are categorized into three levels of conformance in order to meet the needs of different groups and different situations:
User story 1: discovering Photoshop features
As a graduate student, I want to explore specific features or capabilities in Adobe Photoshop so that I can complete my assigned coursework.
User story 2: efficient navigation
As a graduate student, I aim to navigate the Adobe website seamlessly to quickly find the information I need, such as product details and features so that I do not waste time in finding things I am looking for.
User story 3: access to latest technology
As a graduate student, I want access to information about the latest technology in design products, including detailed descriptions of new software features and video demonstrations so that I can stay up to date with the latest technological advancements.
User story 4: improved buy button
As a graduate student, I want a clear and straightforward path to purchase Adobe Photoshop without confusion so that I can get done with the task as soon as possible.
User story 1: discovering specific features
As a graphic designer, I want to discover specific features and capabilities of Adobe Photoshop, such as Generative AI, photo editing with AI, digital animation, and more so that I can stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in tech.
User story 2: access to latest technology - improved virtual assistance
As a graphic designer, I want the virtual assistant on the Adobe Photoshop website to be more noticeable and helpful so that I can get easy help whenever I need it.
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Arizona is facing significant water challenges due to rapid economic development and a substantial decline in water supplies. Decision-makers, stakeholders, and citizens need tools that can quickly deliver reliable information on water issues to address these challenges effectively.
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Research, user test, and recommend improvements to this AI chatbot, ensuring it can naturally and helpfully understand and respond to user inquiries about water-related issues in Arizona.
Conducted heuristic evaluation on the website following Nielsen's 10 Heuristics for Usability Evaluation.
The scale considered is:
No usability issues present
Cosmetic issue, issues do not affect usability but must be fixed
Minor issue, users can easily find a workaround but issue should be fixed when possible
Major issue, users find workaround with some difficulty so issue should be fixed as soon as possible
Catastrophic issue, users can’t find a workaround so issue should be fixed immediately
The system should always keep the users informed about what is going on, through suitable feedback within a reasonable time.
Minor issue, users can easily find a workaround but issue should be fixed when possible
Minimize the user's memory load by making elements, actions, and options visible. The user should not have to remember information.
Catastrophic issue, users can’t find a workaround so issue should be fixed immediately
Introduction & Consent
1. Informal chat about water project.
2. Seeking feedback with consent form.
Key Questions
1. Water info sources, conservation practices.
2. Engagement with water articles and digital tools.
3. Awareness of government plans, specific interests.
Interests & Concerns
1. Topics triggering water inquiries.
2. Commonly discussed water issues.
Drafted sketches with possible solutions to the issues identified after usability testing with 3 Arizona residents.
Importance of Usability Testing
Usability testing revealed key areas for improvement in chatbot interactions. I learned how essential it is to gather real-world feedback from users, as it helps validate design choices and identify unanticipated user behavior.
Combining AI with Human-Centric Design
The challenge of improving an AI chatbot highlighted the importance of designing for natural, intuitive communication. This project reinforced the need to balance technological capabilities with human-centered design to make AI tools more accessible and helpful.
The problem:
Existing online flower purchasing methods lack comprehensive options, particularly in customizable bulk orders and recurring purchases. This project targets addressing these specific needs.
The goal:
Develop a website enabling users to place bulk orders with recurring delivery options, offering a diverse selection of flowers to choose from.
My role:
UX Designer, conducting user interviews, creating paper and digital wireframes, developing low and high-fidelity prototypes, conducting usability studies, ensuring accessibility compliance, and refining designs through iterations.
Project duration:
September 2021 - December 2021
I conducted this user research survey with the primary objective of gaining a comprehensive understanding of the user base for the flower shop.
The aim was multifaceted:
1. User Understanding: Profiling the diverse user base—adults, including professionals requiring bulk flowers and individuals needing daily floral arrangements for personal reasons.
2. Validating Assumptions: Confirmation of initial assumptions about the customer base's preferences.
3. Identifying Additional Constraints: Unveiling user problems, including uncertainty about orders and difficulty in flower selection due to unfamiliarity with appearances.
In summary, the user research survey was conducted to profile users, identify pain points and needs, and pave the way for creating user personas.
Individuals in professional roles, like wedding planners, necessitate the ability to bulk order various single flowers.
Customers expressed the need for flowers delivered to their homes on a recurring basis.
Customers faced challenges in clearly identifying their orders or visualizing the appearance of a specific flower or bouquet.
User story 1: recurring order
As a busy worker, I want to set up a recurring order for specific daily flowers, ensuring I never run out for my prayers.
User story 2: home delivery
As a busy worker, I need a simple online ordering process that allows me to specify my flower preferences and schedule regular home deliveries.
User story 1: bulk orders
As a wedding organizer, I want a platform where I can place orders tailored precisely to my clients' specifications, ensuring the perfect flowers for their events.
User story 2: customization
As a weddign organizer, I need the flexibility to customize and select specific flowers for arrangements to match my clients' preferences and themes.
Study type:
Moderated usability study
Location:
Bangalore, India
Length:
20-30 min per participant
Participants:
5 participants
1. Users requested for product reviews.
2. Layout for individual flower page is cluttered with too many details.
1. Checkout page was asking users for lot of redundant information to be filled.
The ultimate solution for overwhelmed schedules. Seamlessly integrating with calendars, it uses AI to intelligently divide tasks and suggest optimal completion times. Say goodbye to missed deadlines and hello to enhanced productivity and control.
Frustrated by the overwhelming nature of daily tasks, people struggle with time management. Existing task management apps lack seamless integration with calendars and lack the intelligence to prioritize or suggest optimal task times. Enter TaskMaster: a solution born from this frustration. It empowers users to detail their tasks, which are then intelligently divided and assigned estimated completion times by an AI. This alleviates the stress of missed deadlines and incomplete tasks, elevating productivity. TaskMaster also populates users' calendars with task events and suggests suitable tasks when they have available time. By tackling these pain points,TaskMaster aims to provide users with a sense of control, reduce their mental burden, and enhance their efficiency, fostering a more confident and accomplished daily experience.
User Story 1:
As a freelance web developer, I want help organize and track client projects, so that I canefficiently manage my workload and meet project deadlines.
User Story 2:
As a freelancer aiming to maximize billable hours, I want to be able to intelligently prioritizetasks, so that I can focus on high-impact projects and avoid last-minute project crunches.
User Story 3:
As a freelancer looking to avoid missed deadlines, I want notifications for when projectdeadlines are approaching, so that I can ensure timely project delivery without stress.
User Story 1:
As a freelance web developer, I want TaskMaster to help me organize and track clientprojects, so that I can efficiently manage my workload and meet project deadlines.
User Story 2:
As a freelancer aiming to maximize billable hours, I want TaskMaster to intelligently prioritizetasks, so that I can focus on high-impact projects and avoid last-minute project crunches.
User Story 3:
As a freelancer looking to avoid missed deadlines, I want TaskMaster to notify me whenproject deadlines are approaching, so that I can ensure timely project delivery without stress.
Original design:
The initial layout involved distinct sections requiring individual view adjustments. However, user feedback highlighted a need for a more efficient and clearer design.
Refined design:
Addressing the feedback, I revamped the layout to incorporate a toggle feature, streamlining the process of changing views across the entirety of the sections. Additionally, I relocated the Call to Action (CTA) to the top, enabling users to execute a comprehensive layout change in a single action. This enhancement not only simplified the user experience but also clarified the functionality of the interface.
Original design:
In the initial iteration the interface displayed placeholder images when users hadn't added any tasks or when AI-generated tasks were absent. However, this design relied on users triggering a specific action to generate AI tasks.
Refined design:
To enhance user engagement and streamline the task initiation process, I implemented a dynamic update. Now, the interface proactively showcases AI-generated tasks without requiring users to manually initiate the process. By preemptively presenting these tasks, the interface offers users a more intuitive and immediately engaging experience. This adjustment eliminates the need for an additional step, providing users with a more seamless and accessible platform.
Original design:
Initially, the interface included a toggle button prompting users to opt for assistance in learning how to navigate the application.
Improved approach:
To refine the user guidance experience, I implemented a revised strategy. Rather than relying on a toggle button on the main interface, I relocated the option to the tutorial page itself. Users are now presented with an accessible "Skip Tutorial" option directly within the tutorial section. This adjustment streamlines the onboarding process, allowing users to make an informed decision within the context of the guidance material. By moving this functionality, the interface maintains a cleaner design while offering users the flexibility to access assistance at a relevant stage in their navigation journey.
Refined design:
Here is the Skip option that allows users to skip the tutorial that would tell them how to create a task. Clicking on it leads the user to the home page.
Original design:
In the original design iteration, the following issues were identified during usability testing:
Problem #1: Users found the priority numbers unclear and were unsure of their significance.
Problem #2: The phrase "Select Date and Repeat" caused confusion among users.
Improved approach:
Solution for Problem #1: Provided clarification by indicating that priority levels range from 1 (highest) to 5 (lowest).
Solution for Problem #2: Updated the button label to "Select date for task" to enhance clarity and comprehension.
Refined design:
Priority numbers are clearly labeled to indicate their range from 1 (highest) to 5 (lowest), improving user understanding and interaction.
The button label now reads "Select date for task," effectively eliminating confusion and enhancing user comprehension of the action.
Original design:
Users faced difficulty in locating newly created tasks within the interface, leading to potential confusion and navigation challenges.
Improved approach:
Enhanced the visual distinction of newly added tasks, ensuring they stand out prominently within the interface. This modification aimed to assist users in swiftly identifying and locating newly created tasks.
Refined design:
Newly added tasks now boast a visually distinctive appearance within the interface, making them easily noticeable. This adjustment aims to streamline user navigation and reduce the effort required to locate recently created tasks.
Designed a groundbreaking application aimed at providing an emergency line of funds to qualified members with an active paid subscription on the app, enhancing financial accessibility for underbanked users.
1. Led Visual Design for Beem - A Smart Wallet Application
I spearheaded the visual design efforts for Beem, this involved crafting an intuitive and visually appealing user interface to streamline financial transactions.
2. Icon and Illustration Creation Following Brand Guidelines
Developed a cohesive visual identity by meticulously crafting icons and illustrations that aligned seamlessly with the established brand guidelines of Line Financial. This not only strengthened brand recognition but also contributed to a visually unified user experience.
3. Conducted Comprehensive Accessibility Testing
Ensured inclusivity by conducting extensive accessibility testing for both web and mobile applications. This involved identifying and addressing potential usability challenges to make the platform user-friendly for individuals with diverse needs.
4. Usability Studies and Hi-Fidelity Designs
Played a pivotal role in conducting usability studies, gathering valuable user feedback, and translating insights into high-fidelity designs. This iterative process aimed at refining the user experience and optimizing the application's functionality.
5. Creation of Branding Guidelines and Marketing Materials
Contributed to the establishment of branding guidelines, providing a comprehensive framework for consistent visual communication. Additionally, I played a key role in designing impactful marketing materials that effectively conveyed the value proposition of the emergency funds application.
In summary, my internship at Line Financial allowed me to take on a multifaceted role, where I not only led the visual design for a groundbreaking application but also contributed significantly to the overall user experience, accessibility, and branding strategies. This experience honed my skills in creating user-centric designs and solidified my understanding of the intricate relationship between design and functionality.
Partnering to build a world where every drop of water for today turns into an olive branch for tomorrow.
Water can stop wars, just by being made available to everyone. Saving water everyday is not just contributing to a safer present, it is also imperative for a more secure future. With an intensifying global water crisis looming over us, the world is on the hot-seat to write its own fate.
Why Waste? is a team of like-minded youth who are taking water positivity to the world stage by means of innovative education and ideas that bring about a systemic change.
As a UX Designer at UNICEF's Why Waste initiative, I played a pivotal role in redefining the mobile application to educate users on efficient water conservation practices.
1. Understanding and Incorporating Design Requirements
I actively engaged in understanding new design requirements and seamlessly incorporated them into the re-design of UNICEF's mobile application. This involved a deep dive into the unique challenges and opportunities associated with water conservation education.
2. End-to-End Design Process
Executed the complete design lifecycle, from user research and ideation to prototyping and usability studies. This comprehensive approach ensured that the re-designed application not only met user expectations but also effectively communicated the importance of water conservation.
3. Facilitating Workshops for Dashboard Enhancement
Collaborated closely with UNICEF stakeholders by conducting workshops to gather requirements for enhancing the dashboard experiences. This collaborative process allowed for a nuanced understanding of user needs and organizational goals, shaping a dashboard that catered to both.
4. Innovative Education and Systemic Change
Contributed to Why Waste?'s mission of taking water positivity to the global stage by infusing innovative education methodologies into the application. The goal was not only to inform but also to inspire systemic change in water conservation practices.
In summary, as the UX Designer for UNICEF's Why Waste initiative, I led the charge in re-designing the mobile application to impart crucial water-saving knowledge. By actively involving stakeholders, facilitating workshops, and embracing an end-to-end design approach, I not only met design objectives but also contributed to the broader mission of creating a water-positive world.
I spearheaded the redesign and development of a responsive e-commerce website specializing in luxury items, including thrifted pieces, automotives, and recreational items. The objective was to create a seamless platform that not only showcased the exclusivity of the products but also provided a user-centric experience.
1. Responsive Design with Figma
I meticulously designed a responsive website using Figma, ensuring that every aspect was tailored to meet user needs. This encompassed a clear presentation of product information, a smooth checkout process, and an intuitive interface. The focus was on eliminating unnecessary details and procedures to streamline the user journey.
2. Front-End Development with HTML, CSS, Node JS, and React JS
Beyond design, I took charge of the front-end development using a tech stack that included HTML, CSS, Node JS, and React JS. This not only brought the envisioned design to life but also ensured a high-performance and interactive user interface.
3. Graphics and Icons Crafting
I personally designed graphics and icons to complement the aesthetic of the luxury items on the platform. These visual elements were meticulously crafted to enhance the overall user experience and reinforce brand identity.
4. End-to-End Oversight: From Design to Development
As a holistic contributor, I oversaw both the creative aspects and coding decisions, ensuring a seamless integration between design and functionality. This end-to-end approach allowed for a cohesive and polished final product.
5. Elevating User Experience and Brand Identity
The integration of carefully crafted graphics and icons played a crucial role in elevating the overall user experience and reinforcing the brand identity. The visuals were aligned with the luxury theme, enhancing the platform's appeal and memorability.
Irole in redesigning and building this luxury e-commerce website was not limited to design; it extended to front-end development, graphic and icon creation, and end-to-end project oversight. By seamlessly blending style and functionality, the final product not only met but exceeded user expectations, establishing a unique digital space for luxury and curated items.
Develop and implement an application to find a point of meeting for a group of people, based on their preferences and other factors such as distance and travel time. Further, we will obtain useful information regarding each individual's preferences from their social media handles. This will help in optimizing the final outcome of the location.
Module 1 - Finding the optimal location
After reading a few research papers, we discovered that the most appropriate way of approaching this project was with a mathematical model to find the centroid of the various locations of the participating users and then further optimizing the centroid location with constraints obtained from the data pertaining to the traffic layer and duration of travel. The method we use for this is k-means clustering by using route distance and real-time traffic.
Module 2 - Suggestion module for meetup spots
Using the Naïve Bayes Classifier algorithm to classify a user profile into one of the four characteristics of DISC - Dominance, Influence Steadiness, and Conscientiousness by reading data from their Twitter accounts. Take user preferences as input directly from the user. Using the same classifier to classify a venue based on their social - media presence and reviews. Classification of venues is also based on pre-existing Google tags associated with them.
Submodule Preferences Matching and Recommendation Module - After considering all the above classification methods, the user preferences will be mapped to suggest the most appropriate venues in the vicinity of the optimally found center location.
Findaspot
An app available on Play Store and App Store which finds central location based on user locations and user preferences.
Drawbacks - It's restricted only to the USA and it does not consider social media data for the recommendation of venues.
City Square
An app available on the Play Store which finds a location equidistant from user locations and recommends restaurants near the location.
Drawbacks - The app only considers equidistant locations from different locations without considering routes and in addition does not consider traffic and time taken for traveling. The app only recommends restaurants without considering user preferences.
Overview:
As part of a project to design a mobile application that helps people save water, I created a mascot illustration to represent the app's branding. The app is designed to educate users on water conservation practices and encourage them to adopt water-saving habits in their daily lives.
Design Choices:
I chose to use a blue color scheme to represent water, and added highlights and shadows to give the illustration depth and dimension. The overall style of the illustration is playful and friendly, to appeal to a wide range of users.
Overview:
For a mobile application that helps people find the best meetup spots based on their personalities, I created a mascot and illustrations to represent the app's branding. The app aims to provide users with personalized recommendations for meeting spots based on their interests, hobbies, and preferences.
Design Process:
To create the mascot illustration, I started by brainstorming different ideas that would convey the app's theme of personality and personalization. I decided to use a cat character, as cats are known for having multiple personalities and are also a popular internet meme. I sketched out several initial concepts and then refined the design, adding details like a simple face, whiskers, and a tail.
Overview:
As part of a mobile application that helps people find the best meetup spots based on their personalities, I created a series of cat illustrations to represent each of the 16 MBTI personality types. The app uses the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to categorize users into personality types and provide them with personalized recommendations for meeting spots.
Design Process:
To create the cat illustrations, I started by researching the different MBTI personality types and their characteristics. I then brainstormed different cat poses and expressions that would represent each personality type, and sketched out several initial concepts. I refined the designs, adding details like facial features, patterns, and colors that would reflect each personality type.
"Empowering a Future through Water Conservation"
"Why Waste?" embodies a collective of passionate young individuals dedicated to advocating water positivity on a global scale. Through innovative education and systemic change initiatives, Why Waste endeavors to reshape mindsets and behaviors towards water conservation.
As a UX Designer within UNICEF's Why Waste initiative, my responsibilities extended beyond enhancing the mobile application's user experience. I played a pivotal role in crafting intuitive and informative dashboards, specifically catering to UNICEF stakeholders. These dashboards served as windows into the app's performance and its impact on promoting efficient water conservation practices.
Purpose:
The creation of the Student Dashboard stemmed from a crucial need within UNICEF's Why Waste initiative. It aimed to offer UNICEF personnel a comprehensive view of student engagement and the overall impact of the water conservation app. The dashboard became a vital tool for decision-making and assessing the initiative's efficacy.
Reason for change
Insights from stakeholder usability research indicate a lack of clarity in comprehending the male and female gender symbols. Additionally, the colors used were not accessible.
Change
Swapped gender icons with both symbols and descriptive text. Adjusted the visualization to display male and female together within a single line.
Reason for change
The stakeholders from the usability study expressed a preference for observing engagement trends rather than mere isolated data points.
Change
Substituted the bar graph with a line chart in response to stakeholders' inclination towards observing trends over data points. The graph shows future data with dashed lines. Representatives required specific timestamps, this led to the addition of vertical and horizontal guidelines and axes marks for more clarity.
Stakeholder usability study insights:
1. Ambiguity arises in understanding the male and female ratio; a single line fails to convey sufficient information.
2. Abbreviations like C1, C2, and the like are not universally comprehensible among stakeholders.
3. Graphs lack clear labeling of their x and y axes, causing confusion in interpretation.
4. As all data is centered on water saved, aligning the student leaderboard metric with water saved rather than water consumed is recommended for consistency.
Reason for change
Stakeholders conveyed difficulty in comprehending the male and female ratio due to insufficient information conveyed by a single line representation.
Change
Substituted the single line with a pie chart that shows percentage and count of users of the gender.
Reason for change
The stakeholders from the usability study expressed a preference for observing engagement trends rather than mere isolated data points.
Change
Substituted the bar graph with a line chart in response to stakeholders' inclination towards observing trends over data points. To ensure a cleaner design emphasizing trends, I implemented a feature where the x and y axis labels are visible on hover only.
Reason for change
The stakeholders from the usability study pointed out that as all data is centered on water saved, aligning the student leaderboard metric with water saved rather than water consumed is recommended for consistency.
Change
Replaced the leaderboard showing water saved instead of water consumed.
Purpose:
The District Dashboard aimed to provide UNICEF stakeholders with a comprehensive view of district-level user engagement and the impact of the water conservation app. It served as a vital tool for decision-making and evaluating the initiative's effectiveness at the district level.
Reason for change
Stakeholders conveyed that the "Water saved per district" pie chart lacks clarity regarding which color represents each category of water saved.
Change
Added legend explaining the pie chart colors.
Purpose:
The State Dashboard mirrored the District Dashboard, aiming to offer UNICEF stakeholders a comprehensive perspective on state-level user engagement and the impact of the water conservation app.
Following meetings with three UNICEF state representatives to evaluate the impact of the email redesign, it came to my attention that they are still encountering issues with the email system.
Issues faced:
- Limited Visibility:
Stakeholders got access to static data that limited further drill down analysis.
- Delayed Reporting:
Engineers manually created and emailed monthly dashboards, resulting in delayed insights and information dissemination.
- Communication Bottlenecks:
Content update requests from stakeholder faced delays of upto weeks as engineers had to manually modify them.
This was the pivot in the project, where the problem statement evolved.
Based on the data I collected, the team an I came up with 3 scopes for improvement
To convert these opportunities into user value, we conducted brainstorm sessions with product managers, engineers, and stated representatives. In the brainstorming session we envisioned a platform where users could access data and manage content anytime.
Study type:
Moderated in-person. Met with UNICEF stakeholders to gather requirements
Participants:
Engaged with 3 UNICEF state representatives across regions, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
Insights:
- Introduction of data creation and deletion
- Insights into app usage
- Real time data
- Need to compare water usage data in any two months rather than only consecutive.
- Option to be able to view details of different schools, districts, and states.
- Need option to be able to perform bulk delete.
- Need quick access to option to add students and districts.
- Unable to tell when sidebar option is clicked or not.
The representatives expressed appreciation for the ability to add students directly from the platform. However, as the form allowed only one student to be added at a time, they reached out to us, requesting the capability to add multiple students simultaneously. Recognizing the user need, I successfully advocated for this enhancement with the engineering team, resulting in the implementation of a bulk add feature. This feature allowed users to add students through a CSV, Excel sheet, or a URL.
While the bulk add option proved useful, it introduced database issues due to variations in data formats across different schools. To address this challenge, I presented several ideas to my product manager. Through a thorough evaluation of the pros and cons of each idea, we collaboratively decided on creating a new version. This version included a template file for users, ensuring a consistent data format and resolving the database compatibility issues.
- Grouping actionable elements together
- Better information hierarchy
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