Project:
Nomadic app
This project was to address the misalignment between traditional employment structures and the needs of digital nomads. Digital nomads, who rely on remote and independent work, face significant challenges within rigid, location-dependent job models. These traditional roles do not support the flexible, project-based work that digital nomads thrive on, leading to difficulties in finding consistent and fulfilling opportunities.
For : Exam Noroff School of Technology and Digital Media
My Role
In this project, our team consisted of myself and my classmate, both UX students. Although we collaborated closely, each of us had distinct areas of focus. I assumed the responsibility for creating the mid and high fidelity prototypes, as well as designing the logo, while my teammate primarily handled the research aspect.
Our task
Our goal was to develop new employment app that offer greater flexibility, reliable work opportunities, and meaningful engagement for digital nomads, regardless of their location. By leveraging technology, we aim to create solutions that enhances the remote work experience and develop a space that is easily accessible for digital nomads.
The research approach
To kickstart our research journey, we've organized our approach using the 5W&H method to meticulously define our research objectives.
How do they manage to sustain themselves financially?
Who are the demographics of this app/website?
What distinguishes them from others?
Why do they opt for this work style?
How and where do freelancers connect with others freelancers and other potential clients?
Our research initiative was anchored by a comprehensive literature review, providing crucial context and insights into freelance app and their impacts on individuals, organizations, and the economy. By incorporating competitive research and feature analysis, we aimed to understand market dynamics, identify opportunities for differentiation, and establish a strategic design language for our app's success. To further understand freelancers and their needs, we created an online survey. Given our limited personal connections with freelancers and the short survey duration, we anticipate a modest number of responses.
Our research revealed some key themes. Freelancing offers unique opportunities and challenges compared to traditional 9-5 employment. The flexibility and potential for higher earnings are appealing, but the volatility can significantly impact monthly income. Unlike conventional jobs with benefits like union representation and paid sick days, freelancers face uncertainties independently, making networking crucial.
Freelancing also provides a safety net for those facing job loss or seeking alternatives due to disabilities or mental health challenges. Understanding the cyclical nature of freelancing, marked by periods of abundance and scarcity, this introduction sets the stage for a deeper exploration of freelancing dynamics and their broader implications.
The ideation stage
Our personas represented two distinct types, each with unique backgrounds and aspirations. Despite their differences, they shared one common trait: both were freelancers navigating the diverse and challenging world of independent work.
Sara Johnson is a former carpenter transitioning into a career as a freelance writer. After a serious injury made her previous job untenable, Sara decided to pursue her passion for writing to avoid further physical strain. Despite her determination and hard work, Sara faces significant challenges due to her lack of connections in the writing field. Although her spouse provides financial support during this transition, she feels the pressure of entering an unfamiliar industry and the guilt of not contributing financially as much as before.
John Pratchett, on the other hand, is an experienced freelancer with over five years in art, graphic design, and UX design. While he is well-established and skilled in his fields, John struggles with organizing his work efficiently. His current system leaves him feeling overworked and overwhelmed, sometimes to the point of affecting his sleep. John seeks a more streamlined and effective way to manage his workload, hoping that a better organizational tool can alleviate his stress and enhance his productivity.
We then created a mind map and embraced a "mobile first" approach. Key features like a robust rating system, calendar exporting, and a "Freelancer of the Week" enhance usability. Balancing advanced features with user-friendliness is vital. Additional features like job listings and suggested freelancers streamline hiring, promoting efficiency. In our discussion, we'll explore these features' impact on the freelancing experience and app functionality.
In the process of crafting our freelancing app, we also embraced various tools like "How Might We" statements (HMWs). They framed our features, tackled design challenges, and guided brainstorming, empowering iterative refinement of our concepts.
The creation of Nomadic app
we started off by creating some low fidelity wireframes, just to get an Idea of how the app should function.
After pinpointing some of the app's functionality, we proceeded to develop the information architecture, along with user and task flows. This process aimed to deepen our understanding of the targeted user base and guide our next steps effectively.
With the main points in the app's architecture done, I mapped out some pathways our personas would take within the app. Developing user flows for each persona provided a clear framework to conceptualize and organize the proposed content and features. Considering specific usage scenarios, I explored the potential opportunities and envisioned how interface elements could best reach the user's goal.
Following the user flows, the next task was to create task flows. Task flow is a fundamental component of app design, orchestrating the sequence of actions users take to accomplish specific goals within the app and identify pain points in the user flows. This also ensures consistency and can lead to a better user experience.
The next step
With the groundwork completed, we started creating the mid-fidelity wireframes. Unlike the earlier wireframes, these had more details and included some interactions. These mid-fidelity wireframes served as the main guide for the app's design moving forward.
we chose to go simplistic, yet a familiar design language.
Our focus was to make The important UI elements reachable and the icons easily recognisable without sacrificing efficiency.
We selected typography with a focus on clarity and readability, aligning seamlessly with the colours intended for the final design.
Introducing... Nomadic
The last stage before potential release.
Down below are the high-fidelity prototypes crafted for this app. In these prototypes, we emphasized both the graphical elements and the interactions.
