Empowering Small Businesses: Crafting Responsive Designs for Business Growth
Role
UX Researcher & Designer
Duration
10 weeks
Tools
Figma, Photoshop, pen and paper, Human brain.
Research & Synthesis
Conducting business and customer interviews to identify the user and define the core problem.
Ideation & Delivery
Creating and refining a solution based on insights gathered from rapid prototyping and usability testing.
The Goal
Design an app that will improve education on the topics of business information and policies to help people manage their own businesses.
Target Audience:
New business owners seeking information and guidance to effectively manage their businesses, optimizing profitability and mitigating losses.
The Problem
Business owners are overwhelmed with the available business information. They don't know how to use that information or how to get funds for their businesses.
Pain Points
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Process
A lot of overwhleming information.
Time
Lengthy sign up processes and forms.
Process
No easy way to contact the relevant expert.
User Research
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I used BizzAid’s data on the lack of specific and personalized business information to develop interview questions, which were then used to conduct user interviews. During the interviews, participants expressed frustration at their lack of knowledge regarding relevant business policies. Additionally, they felt uncertain about where to find resources for seamless business operations.
The feedback from our research underscores the need for an accessible, user-friendly tool that can guide individuals in enhancing their business information
Persona
Joseph
“It’s time to expand my business and have a global presence”
Age: 55
Education: High School
Hometown: Manila Philippines
Family: Spouse 4 children, 2 dogs
Occupation: Businessman
Joseph started his business when he was only 20 and worked really hard to establish it. He has now things on auto-pilot and he has time so he is looking to expand his business globally.
He is very confused on how things work in US and he does not trust people he talk to. He is also scared that he will end up losing money if he doesn't have required information he needs to start a business internationally.
Initial Design Concepts
I did a quick ideation exercise to come up with ideas for how to address gaps identified in the competitive audit. My focus was specifically on personalized and easy information flow for new and existing business owners.
Crazy Eights
Low-fidelity Prototype
User Testing Results
I conducted a thorough usability study, and the insights from this study informed the progression of designs from wireframes to mockups.
Study findings:
Guidance for New Business Owners: Participants expressed a strong desire for clear instructions on how to get started as new business owners. Providing intuitive signposts or step-by-step guidance during onboarding could enhance their experience.
Discoverability of Business Articles: Users encountered challenges when trying to locate relevant business articles. Improving the discoverability of this content—perhaps through better categorization or search functionality—would be beneficial.
Tailored Personalized Information: Participants emphasized the importance of having easy access to personalized business information. Designing a streamlined pathway to customized content based on individual needs could significantly enhance user satisfaction.
Mockups
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Informed by the insights from usability studies, I implemented several design changes:
Clear Onboarding Button: A prominent button on the home screen now guides new users through the process of starting their business journey.
Global Navigation: Users can easily access app features through a streamlined global navigation menu.
Improved Sign-Up Process: The sign-up flow has been refined for a smoother user experience.
Exit Option: To accommodate user preferences, an ‘X’ button allows users to exit screens during registration if they choose not to proceed with additional steps.
Mobile Mockups
Responsive Mockups
Responsive mockups were created to test and refine the design across different devices, ensuring a seamless user experience on all screen sizes.
Desktop Mockup
Conclusion
Facing a significant challenge, I persevered through each step of the design process. By prioritizing specific user needs, I was able to craft solutions that were not only feasible but also demonstrably useful.
Next Steps
Conduct research on how successful the app is in reaching the goal to provide personalized business information and resources.
Add more personalized options for the users and ask them to fill forms so we can provide them with most relevant information.
Provide one on one coaching for the business owners from trusted sources.
