To provide users with safe and easy hands-free communication
To provide users with safe and easy hands-free communication
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To provide users with safe and easy hands-free communication
Proposing and Ideating changes to directly address user feedback
Proposing and Ideating changes to directly address user feedback
Proposing and Ideating changes to directly address user feedback
Buz Handsfree Mode was a project I pushed for very passionately after completing my User Research training, where I moderated and conducted multiple rounds of user interviews and analyzed feedback from the App Store and the Google Play Store
Buz Handsfree Mode was a project I pushed for very passionately after completing my User Research training, where I moderated and conducted multiple rounds of user interviews and analyzed feedback from the App Store and the Google Play Store
Buz Handsfree Mode was a project I pushed for very passionately after completing my User Research training, where I moderated and conducted multiple rounds of user interviews and analyzed feedback from the App Store and the Google Play Store
In essence, the project meant a design overhaul of the Buz user experience with the goal of aligning with Buz’s longterm vision — “Communication Made Easy”
In essence, the project meant a design overhaul of the Buz user experience with the goal of aligning with Buz’s longterm vision — “Communication Made Easy”
In essence, the project meant a design overhaul of the Buz user experience with the goal of aligning with Buz’s longterm vision — “Communication Made Easy”
Roles 💻
Roles 💻
Roles 💻
User Research
User Research
User Research
UX Design
UX Design
UX Design
Prototyping
Prototyping
Prototyping
Timeline 🗓️
Timeline 🗓️
Timeline 🗓️
6 Weeks, Q3 2023
6 Weeks, Q3 2023
6 Weeks, Q3 2023
"Messages still play out loud when phone is set to Do Not Disturb"
"Messages still play out loud when phone is set to Do Not Disturb"
"I'm not sure if my messages got sent"
"I'm not sure if my messages got sent"
"I'm not sure if my messages got sent"
"Buz feels very "all or nothing"
"Buz feels very "all or nothing"
"Buz feels very "all or nothing"
"Confused by background functionality"
"I need my earphones to use Buz when not home"
"I need my earphones to use Buz when not home"
"Buz feels like an in-between for calling and texting"
"Buz feels like an in-between for calling and texting"
"Buz feels like an in-between for calling and texting"
"Receiving messages can be disruptive"
"Audio messages gets played out loud when I'm in public"
"Audio messages gets played out loud when I'm in public"
"Messages still play out loud when phone is set to Do Not Disturb"
"Messages still play out loud when phone is set to Do Not Disturb"
"Buz auto-play is disruptive and feels like the app goes rouge"
"Buz auto-play is disruptive and feels like the app goes rouge"
"Buz auto-play is disruptive and feels like the app goes rouge"
"I feel perceived talking/listening to messages when I'm in public settings"
"I feel perceived talking/listening to messages when I'm in public settings"
"I feel perceived talking/listening to messages when I'm in public settings"
(Feedback collected from user interviews, the App Store, and Google Play Store)
(Feedback collected from user interviews, the App Store, and Google Play Store)
(Feedback collected from user interviews, the App Store, and Google Play Store)
"I need my earphones to use Buz when not home"
"I need my earphones to use Buz when not home"
"Receiving messages can be disruptive"
"Receiving messages can be disruptive"
"Confused by background functionality"
"Confused by background functionality"
"Confused by background functionality"
"Confused by background functionality"
"Audio messages gets played out loud when I'm in public"
"Audio messages gets played out loud when I'm in public"
"Receiving messages can be disruptive"
"Receiving messages can be disruptive"
User Confusion and Feature Fatigue 📉
User Confusion and Feature Fatigue 📉
User Confusion and Feature Fatigue 📉
Many users find Buz’s functionality confusing. Core features designed for convenience, such as 'auto-played voice messages,' 'Available Mode,' and 'Quiet Mode,' are hard to understand and often seen as disruptive. As a result, new users tend to leave the platform within two days, once the walkie-talkie and Voicemoji novelty wears off. Those who stay longer often use Quiet Mode continuously, leading to missed messages and eventual inactivity
Many users find Buz’s functionality confusing. Core features designed for convenience, such as 'auto-played voice messages,' 'Available Mode,' and 'Quiet Mode,' are hard to understand and often seen as disruptive. As a result, new users tend to leave the platform within two days, once the walkie-talkie and Voicemoji novelty wears off. Those who stay longer often use Quiet Mode continuously, leading to missed messages and eventual inactivity
Many users find Buz’s functionality confusing. Core features designed for convenience, such as 'auto-played voice messages,' 'Available Mode,' and 'Quiet Mode,' are hard to understand and often seen as disruptive. As a result, new users tend to leave the platform within two days, once the walkie-talkie and Voicemoji novelty wears off. Those who stay longer often use Quiet Mode continuously, leading to missed messages and eventual inactivity
Setting Design Goals 🎯
Setting Design Goals 🎯
Setting Design Goals 🎯
Collaborating with the Product Designer, I synthesized the feedback collected into four major pain points, which we used to define our design goals
Collaborating with the Product Designer, I synthesized the feedback collected into four major pain points, which we used to define our design goals
Collaborating with the Product Designer, I synthesized the feedback collected into four major pain points, which we used to define our design goals
Pain Point #1 🤬
The auto-play feature is disruptive, and messages are missed when on Quiet Mode
Design Goal #1 🔊
Improve auto-play logic and optimize Available and Quiet Modes
Pain Point #2 😵💫
Background functionality causes confusion and is perceived as invasive
Pain Point #3 😰
Push-to-Talk operation is difficult to use while driving
Design Goal #3 🚗
Incorporate voice and gesture controls — prioritizing safety and convenience for drivers
Pain Point #4 😕
Navigating the contact list becomes difficult once users have a large number of friends added
Design Goal #4 🗂️
Replace outdated ‘carousel’ design with a more intuitive contacts page
Design Goal #2🛡️
Incorporate voice and gesture controls — prioritizing safety and convenience for drivers
Scroll down to see Prototype!:)
Huge thanks to my talented friends and former colleagues —Maggi Li, John Keefe (Senior Product Designers), and Tommie Huynh (User Researcher) — for their brilliant work on this prototype and the usability testing that followed 🌟
Pain Point #1 🤬
Pain Point #1 🤬
The auto-play feature is disruptive, and messages are missed when on Quiet Mode
The auto-play feature is disruptive, and messages are missed when on Quiet Mode
Design Goal #1 🔊
Design Goal #1 🔊
Improve auto-play logic and optimize Available and Quiet Modes
Improve auto-play logic and optimize Available and Quiet Modes
Pain Point #2 😵💫
Pain Point #2 😵💫
Background functionality causes confusion and is perceived as invasive
Background functionality causes confusion and is perceived as invasive
Design Goal #2🛡️
Design Goal #2🛡️
Set clear, easy-to-understand parameters to give users more control
Set clear, easy-to-understand parameters to give users more control
Pain Point #3 😰
Pain Point #3 😰
Push-to-Talk operation is difficult to use while driving
Push-to-Talk operation is difficult to use while driving
Design Goal #3 🚗
Design Goal #3 🚗
Incorporate voice and gesture controls — prioritizing safety and convenience for drivers
Incorporate voice and gesture controls — prioritizing safety and convenience for drivers
Pain Point #4 😕
Pain Point #4 😕
Navigating the contact list becomes difficult once users have a large number of friends added
Navigating the contact list becomes difficult once users have a large number of friends added
Design Goal #4 🗂️
Design Goal #4 🗂️
Replace outdated ‘carousel’ design with a more intuitive contacts page
Replace outdated ‘carousel’ design with a more intuitive contacts page
Scroll down to see Prototype!:)
Scroll down to see Prototype!:)
Huge thanks to my talented friends and former colleagues —Maggi Li, John Keefe (Senior Product Designers), and Tommie Huynh (User Researcher) — for their brilliant work on this prototype and the usability testing that followed 🌟
Huge thanks to my talented friends and former colleagues —Maggi Li, John Keefe (Senior Product Designers), and Tommie Huynh (User Researcher) — for their brilliant work on this prototype and the usability testing that followed 🌟
Modes 🔊
Modes 🔊
Modes are now synced with phone settings — Quiet Mode will automatically activate when phone is set to Do Not Disturb, reducing disruptions and missed messages
Modes are now synced with phone settings: Quiet Mode will automatically activate when phone is set to Do Not Disturb, reducing disruptions and missed messages
Toggle On/Off Voice Controls🛡️
Toggle On/Off Voice Controls🛡️
Users have full control over when Buz listens. Even when Voice Controls are off, gesture controls ensure full functionality, offering a seamless handsfree experience
(Press "2" for demo)
Users have full control over when Buz listens. Even when Voice Controls are off, gesture controls ensure full functionality, offering a seamless handsfree experience
(Press "2" for demo)
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Handsfree Messaging 🚗
Handsfree Messaging 🚗
Simple voice commands keep users connected to their contacts, ensuring safety across various scenarios
(Press "3" for demo)
Simple voice commands keep users connected to their contacts, ensuring safety across various scenarios
(Press "3" for demo)
New Contacts Page 🗂️
New Contacts Page 🗂️
The new design replaces the carousel with a simple swipe up to reveal contacts page, making navigation effortless
(Press "4" for demo)
The new design replaces the carousel with a simple swipe up to reveal contacts page, making navigation effortless
(Press "4" for demo)
Modes 🔊
Modes are now synced with phone settings — Quiet Mode will automatically activate when phone is set to Do Not Disturb, reducing disruptions and missed messages
Toggle On/Off Voice Controls 🛡️
Users have full control over when Buz listens. Even when Voice Controls are off, gesture controls ensure full functionality, offering a seamless handsfree experience (Press "2" for demo)
Handsfree Messaging 🚗
Simple voice commands keep users connected to their contacts, ensuring safety across various scenarios (Press "3" for demo)
New Contacts Page 🗂️
The new design replaces the carousel with a simple swipe up to reveal contacts page, making navigation effortless (Press "4" for demo)
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Validating the Vision: Usability Testing 🔍
Validating the Vision: Usability Testing 🔍
Validating the Vision: Usability Testing 🔍
Excitement was growing across the Buz Team with the reveal of the new design. The Marketing Team was especially enthusiastic, as the design performed well in initial Smoke Tests. However, implementation posed significant challenges — the redesign would require substantial changes to Buz's entire coding structure.
Excitement was growing across the Buz Team with the reveal of the new design. The Marketing Team was especially enthusiastic, as the design performed well in initial Smoke Tests. However, implementation posed significant challenges — the redesign would require substantial changes to Buz's entire coding structure
Excitement was growing across the Buz Team with the reveal of the new design. The Marketing Team was especially enthusiastic, as the design performed well in initial Smoke Tests. However, implementation posed significant challenges — the redesign would require substantial changes to Buz's entire coding structure.
It was no easy decision
It was no easy decision
It was no easy decision
To ensure the new design’s viability and increase confidence among key stakeholders, the UX Researcher and I decided to conduct an in-depth usability test — to thoroughly validate the design and test its effectiveness in improving the user experience
To ensure the new design’s viability and increase confidence among key stakeholders, the UX Researcher and I decided to conduct an in-depth usability test — to thoroughly validate the design and test its effectiveness in improving the user experience
To ensure the new design’s viability and increase confidence among key stakeholders, the UX Researcher and I decided to conduct an in-depth usability test — to thoroughly validate the design and test its effectiveness in improving the user experience
6 task flows x 15 participants 📝
6 task flows x 15 participants 📝
6 task flows x 15 participants 📝
Task 1 - First time Handsfree Mode Entry
Task 2 - Sending a Message
Task 3 - Receiving a Message
Task 4 - Switching Contacts
Task 5 - Sending a Message to a Groupchat
Task 6 - Receiving a Message from a Groupchat
Task 1 - First time Handsfree Mode Entry
Task 2 - Sending a Message
Task 3 - Receiving a Message
Task 4 - Switching Contacts
Task 5 - Sending a Message to a Groupchat
Task 6 - Receiving a Message from a Groupchat
Task 1 - First time Handsfree Mode Entry
Task 2 - Sending a Message
Task 3 - Receiving a Message
Task 4 - Switching Contacts
Task 5 - Sending a Message to a Groupchat
Task 6 - Receiving a Message from a Groupchat
(task flows randomized during testing)
(task flows randomized during testing)
(task flows randomized during testing)
Example: Task 2 - Sending a Message 💬
Example: Task 2 - Sending a Message 💬
Example: Task 2 - Sending a Message 💬
All Clicks
All Clicks
All Clicks
Eye-tracking Heatmap
Eye-tracking Heatmap
Eye-tracking Heatmap
Success
Success
100%
100%
Positive Emotion
Positive Emotion
72.73%
72.73%
Duration
Duration
4.9s
4.9s
Neutral Emotion
Neutral Emotion
89.26
89.26
Misclick
Misclick
0.0%
0.0%
Negative Emotion
Negative Emotion
27.27%
27.27%
Emotive AI Metrics
Emotive AI Metrics
Conclusion ✨
Conclusion ✨
Conclusion ✨
Overall, the new design performed well in the usability tests, achieving an average success rate of 95.6% across all task flows. These promising results advanced the Handsfree Mode project to early stages of technical development. However, it was temporarily put on hold for the Voicemoji Project 🥳
Overall, the new design performed well in the usability tests, achieving an average success rate of 95.6% across all task flows. These promising results advanced the Handsfree Mode project to early stages of technical development. However, it was temporarily put on hold for the Voicemoji Project 🥳
Overall, the new design performed well in the usability tests, achieving an average success rate of 95.6% across all task flows. These promising results advanced the Handsfree Mode project to early stages of technical development. However, it was temporarily put on hold for the Voicemoji Project 🥳