Phase 1: End-to-end project, from ideation to research, design to launch
Ever since I started my design journey, launching a product has always been an aspiration, driven by the belief that it would yield invaluable lessons. I wanted to solve a real-life problem by empathizing with users and focusing on a creative solution.
Note that this is an on-going project:
Phase 1: Context, Research, Design & Iterate, Launch
Phase 2 (Coming soon): User Feedback, Iteration
Over the last few years, a common voice I was receiving was the challenge of matching timezones for remote teams that collaborate across countries and timezones.
An easy and simple desktop app (macOS) that doesn't interrupt the flow of their work
Young professionals who are remotely contributing to teams and projects
Focus on simple designs and essential functions for a speedy launch
We went from ideation to launch in just 1 month:
Through competitive research, it became clear that timezone viewers out there not only show multiple cities and corresponding local timezones but also have 3 additional features on top, making them unique in their own way.
Time Zone Converter and Clock
Clocker
Overlap by Moleskine Studio
Multiple timezones
Customize availability
Drag and drop timezones
Slider feature
Rename timezone
Navigation bar widget
Price
$4.99
Free
Free
Add a secondary timezone with custom names next to your day/week calendar view
Add world clocks in sidebar:
By mapping out the user's interactions and experiences, I gained clarity and was able to filter out what's most crucial to the user's journey. This process ensured that the design remained user-centric, optimizing the app's functionality and enhancing the overall user experience.
bio
behaviors & habits
concerns
needs & goals
Created low-fi wireframes and developed to mid-fi to conduct user testing. I ran 3 quick unmoderated usability testings, looking for 2 main aspects: usability and navigation. What stood out during the usability testings was that I was often too focused on the users' happy path (e.g. adding a new city to customize c list) and paying little attention to other potential paths (e.g. users wanting to remote newly added cities, users wanting to quit the app completely, or if there's a typo when city-searching) Glad this was caught early on as it could lead to major confusion if users can only add without the option to remove cities.
Based on quick user feedback, I iterated and improved on my designs, focusing on simplicity and clarity. I proceeded with refining the user interface (UI) to align with other existing widgets, prioritizing seamless navigation and intuitive comprehension. My aim was to create a design that not only integrated well with the Apple ecosystem but also provided ample space for future expansion and enhancement.
Something I've learned in other projects that I wanted to make sure to implement into this end-to-end project is to keep my design area clean and organized. Figma componenets are a great help, offering efficient organization and consistency throughout my design process.
Iterating my design process was a collaborative effort that involved frequent communication with the developer. We project managed and communicated both through Figma and Notion.
For the logo design, I took inspiration from the main-view of the app: bubbles indicate the hours and the logo refers to the hours being matched!
We prepped all the information as required by Apple data submission, but at the same time, I wasn't expecting this to go through given it was my very first try. But wow! Within a few hours, our submission was accepted.
need to check local timezone for every team member
interrupt the your focus and flow
google "what time is it there when it's this time here?"
back to work
Taking on responsibilities of multiple key players is challenging but super rewarding as you get to oversee the product from the very start to the finish line and beyond. Having a comprehensive understanding of the entire process is inspiring, as it feels like a genuine opportunity to make a meaningful impact on users' experiences.
Iteration allows for continuous refinement of the app, addressing usability issues and incorporating user feedback at each stage of development. Excited to see this app take off and grow!
Gather user feedback:
conduct usability testing
Design ideas in consideration are:
animation