UX Designer & Project Control
2022-12 - 2023-03 (4 months)
UX/UI Design, Interaction Design, Wireframe, Prototyping by Using miro and Figma
Living alone has become a widely adopted lifestyle around the world. According to a report by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the number of people living alone globally has increased from 153 million in 1990 to 277 million in 2020, marking a growth rate of over 80%.
The situation in Taiwan is also noteworthy. According to a 2021 survey conducted by the General Accounting Office, the number of single-person homes in Taiwan has exceeded 3 million, representing 34% of all household types. This indicates the rise of the single-person society and the associated economic demand and business opportunities.
We endeavored to explore technological tools that could assist individuals living alone using their daily experiences. Our research involved conducting demand interviews, which revealed that most people resort to online searches, reaching out to friends and family, or scheduling separate time to tackle the challenges that come with living alone.
As a result, our objective was to create a service that offers assistance to people living alone and delivers a user-friendly experience that allows them to quickly and effortlessly submit a request and find a nearby helper who can resolve their issue.
The Simppl product resulting from this design project was accomplished through a four-stage process: Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver, utilizing a double-diamond design model.
To explore the experiences of individuals who live alone, we conducted a small sample survey (77 respondents) to identify the challenges they encounter in everyday life.
Regarding the willingness of individuals living alone to pay for help, 50% were open to paying for assistance. Of those surveyed, 36% would decide based on the type of problem, while 14% were unwilling to pay.
Also, our findings showed that 73% were unable to solve the problem alone, 53% needed urgent assistance, 34% didn't want to waste time resolving the issue, and 22% couldn't get help from friends or family.
These findings shed light on the daily struggles faced by those living independently and highlight areas where additional support or resources may be needed to improve their quality of life.
After understanding the obstacles that individuals living alone experience, we interviewed six eligible respondents about their daily struggles, motivation and means of seeking support, and the techniques they used to address their issues. As a result, three main key findings developed:
Furthermore, we analyzed the features and interfaces of direct, indirect, and parallel competitors in the market to identify product opportunities.
Furthermore, we analyzed the features and interfaces of direct, indirect, and parallel competitors in the market to identify product opportunities.
"How can we create a service that
enables individuals who live alone to promptly locate a nearby handyman to
address both urgent and non-urgent matters they encounter
in their day-to-day lives with ease and effectiveness?"
We narrowed our focus to the three most common scenarios where individuals living alone may require assistance, including the following tasks. The handyman is considered an indirect user, as they play a more passive role compared to individuals living alone who actively seek help in the MVP scenario.
Following our discussion, we finalized a list of MVP functions based on the user task flow that enables individuals living alone to perform the necessary operations from help-seeking to problem-solving.
After confirming that all the necessary steps, design logic, and feasibility were included, we finalized the wireframes into hi-fi prototypes by using Figma.
Divide three sections on the homepage: Task Types, Favorite Simppl, and Near By. When confronted with an urgent situation, this may assist the user in solving it in a variety of ways.
To submit a request, by providing a detailed explanation of the problem, specify the location, set a date and time, and establish a price range.
Find and choose the most suitable handyman to solve the issue and monitor the progress of the work.
Rate the handyman and add them to your list of favorites for future reference.
Also, we finished the usability testing (6 participants) and proceeded to iterate on the product. Here are the changes:
Due to inconsistencies in the interface design, users felt overwhelmed when first entering a page, so clear guidelines are necessary to help prevent users from frustrated.
We found that users required more options to schedule periodic requests for help from Simmpl. Thus, we add a "Repeat" option at the bottom of the wall calendar to schedule future appointments in advance.
Firstly, the process of searching for another Simmpl after finding one is too lengthy, requiring users to click an additional button and spend more time waiting. Secondly, only one Simmpl appears at a time, giving the impression that there are no other options available to the user.
As users' criteria for finding handymen rely on ratings and professional certifications, we should provide more comprehensive information for users to reference. We've added a service breakdown to Simppl’s professional certification so users can see if their problems can be handled effectively.
This project is based on the Unicorn Designer event organized by Unblock, an online career service for designers. The event brought together a team of mentors with extensive experience in product management, UI/UX design, user research, and branding from renowned companies around the world. After participating in the event and completing their work, we received valuable feedback and suggestions from the Unblock mentors.
