Journey To Insight
For every startup moving from zero to one, there comes a time when we've reached stage one and are transitioning to the next level. This raises an intriguing question: now that we've built a fully functional product, how do we make it better?
This question goes beyond the product or design teams. It requires us to step back, examine the overall system, and find ways to enhance the user experience.
This is the exercise I undertook at Mudrex. We needed a plan for what comes next. This case study outlines my journey generating ideas to create the ultimate user experience. This was also my final project at Mudrex, marking an important milestone in my journey with the company.
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EXERCISE DURATION: 5 DAYS
STEP1
Why Users Do what they Do?
Just like any other product, the Mudrex user journey has several stages: Finding the Right Product, Onboarding, Getting Familiar, Exploring, Performing Tasks, Accessing Help, Gaining Proficiency, Becoming a Regular User, and Promoting. But since we have a diverse user base, there are tons of different expectations and opinions. So, I started by breaking down the whole journey into these steps and jotting down potential expectations. And by jotting down, I mean I tried to cover even the most random things anyone could think of.
STEP2
Mapping User Expectations and Emotions
Users have diverse expectations, but if you look closer, you'll see these expectations stem from specific emotions at different stages. So, I took each expectation and gave it a form—emotion! I always believed that designing for emotions in mind goes beyond just creating interactions; it’s about tapping into the core of user experiences to create meaningful and impactful solutions.
STEP3
Creating Buckets of Opportunities
Once the expectations and emotions are closely mapped, they naturally highlight potential areas for improvement. This insight then led me to compare our current practices with new ideas, aiming to enhance the overall user experience
STEP4
Ideas, Ideas, Ideas!
I often hear that generating ideas can get tough after a while, but I believe that’s natural. When you're looking at a problem from just one or two angles, it can be limiting. However, with multiple perspectives, the possibilities are endless. This exercise allowed me to come up with a range of ideas for the team, giving them a pool of options to explore and develop over the next year.
These are too many ideas to fit in here. So, below is a link if you want to look in detail
Takeaways &
Learnings
Outcomes Aren’t Limited by Time
You can achieve great results even under tight deadlines. It’s all about how you tackle the problem.
Deep Understanding Drives Impact
Truly grasping the user’s story, actions, and motivations enables you to create meaningful and impactful experiences. It's essential to align your design with the user's needs and emotions.
Joy in Lasting Impact
There’s immense satisfaction in seeing your ideas come to life and contribute to a company's growth. Even after moving on, knowing that your ideas continue to shape and benefit the organization is incredibly rewarding.