UX research & Product Design Case Study

Background 

Bandsintown is a company with a website and mobile app on which the public can track their favorite musicians so they never miss a concert. Users can discover new touring musicians based on their music preferences and location. They’re also a producer of live stream events. 

This is an independent project based on a real company, Bandsintown. It is not funded or currently being implemented by the Company.

My Role 

User research, information architecture, user experience design, wireframes, responsive user interface design, usability testing and test interpretation. 

Project Scope

• Add a new feature to an existing mobile app

• Maintain consistent brand presentation

• Design high fidelity product concept visualizations presenting my ideas for the app

Tools 

Sketch, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Marvel, Google Forms, Slack, Skype, Trello and Pinterest.

Motivation 

For years I've worked as a music industry professional. I am a fervent concert goer. Bandsintown is my go-to source for learning about upcoming shows. There are features that I wish I could implement into Bandsintown's design to enhance the user experience. 

UX Research

Methodologies

• Survey

  I created and conducted a survey regarding peoples interests and habits surrounding music, going to concerts and socializing. The survey was completed by 24 people who use the Bandsintown appy.

• Competitor Analysis

  I analyzed competitors websites and mobile apps to compare information architecture, navigation and user interface design. 

Survey Data Percentages

I have a plethora of ideas for features to add to Bandsintown's mobile app.The survey provided insight into current users main interests.

Initially I was most excited about adding data visualization to show info graphs regarding what music genres users track most, see in concert, etc. I am a music nerd and would love to see my data visualized but the survey showed users are less interested in this feature. Their primary interest is to connect with friends more via going to concerts (the pre-planning phase). 

Ideation

I took screen shots of the mobile app pages that I had ideas on where to add new features or make improvements. The following documents annotate my ideas. 

strategy

Persona

In design thinking, empathy is key. I created a user persona; a realistic representation of Bandsintown's main audience. It addresses the major needs of the archetype user.

App Map

A core part of mobile UX design is determining a product's navigation. To do this I created an app map. The app map communicates where my newly designed features will be integrated into the existing organization and flow of the mobile app. 

Design

Added Features

• Increase the ability to see what concerts friends are going to

• Add a way to share mutual RSVP statuses to a particular concert

• Increase sociability amongst friends

• Add the ability to see what bands a friend of yours and you both track

• Add notification settings for the artists you track  

• Reorganize and add more information to the notifications section

• Reorganize and add more information to user's profile pages

Sketched Wireframes

I made wireframes, the architectural blueprint of a screens design, to show the information hierarchy and lay out the elements of each screen.  I made a prototype of the wireframes which I tested repeatedly to confirm that my developing design was well organized. User feedback confirmed that they understood how to interact with my new additional features.

Icon Design

When both you and your friend RSVP to a concert, you can send them a notification that includes your RSVP statuses. There is the option to include a personal message in the notifiction. It’s purpose is to give user’s a tool that connects them with their friends to start a dialogue about going to a specific show. It will increase concert attendance. 

The 16 icons below were explored as options to symbolize this new action. Focus group discussions and testing a prototype with the different symbols aided in this process.

User Interface

I designed 55 screens which I wove into the Bandsintown mobile app. Below are a few of the key screens that I created. 

TEST

Affinity Map

I tested the prototype with people who use the app. The affinity map visualizes the feedback from the test sessions and the user experience patterns. This insight helped me prioritize which aspects of my design I needed to redress. I returned to my designs and made improvements catering to the user needs. 

Prototype

I applied the changes from the affinity map to the designs and final prototype. A prototype is an interactive mock-up of a digital product which allows users to navigate from screen to screen and use a limited amount of functionality. The prototype that I created focuses on a specific flow to show my added features and alterations to the mobile app, Bandsintown.

Click on the blue hot spots to move forward through the prototype. 

Next Steps

Prototyping, user testing and the iterative design process bring to light the ways a product can always be improved. The next feature I would integrate into the Bandsintown mobile app is a mailbox. Users desire a section of the app where they can see their sent and received messages.