Why?
Authentic
Users are able to practice their chosen language with native speakers and gain an authentic speaking experience.
Culture
Users are learning not just the language, but also the culture it represents.
Connection
Users can stay motivated throughout their learning journey and connect with both other like-minded learners and native speakers.
Business Goals
To design a language learning app that helps people connect through practicing the languages with native speakers and learning their beautiful culture.
Some of the unique features users can benefit from by using Tich Box include:
+ Find study groups through the app’s learning community
+ Practice languages and ask questions to the native speakers of their chosen language
+ Learn the traditions and connect with people to fully immerse themselves in the local culture
Competitive Analysis
I performed a comprehensive competitive analysis on three chosen competitors’ products by focusing on their apps’ key objectives, overall strategy and market advantage. Based on the research finding, I came up with the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ of each app and targeted the potential improvements shared across all apps as these findings can help inform the design of Tick Box.
1. Lack of opportunities to practice with native speakers in a conversation
2. Sentences taught are rather textbook-based, slang and idioms are not taught enough
3. No platform where learners can connect with the locals
4. The cultural study isn't included as part of the language learning
User
Interviews
I conducted both remote and in-person user interviews with participants that share similar characteristics with my target users, my research goals for conducting the interviews are:
+ To learn about the participants' daily lifestyles and how they utilise technology devices to obtain information or complete daily tasks?
+ To understand what difficulties the participants have faced when learning new vocabulary?
+ To learn if the participants have used vocabulary learning apps before and how the experiences were like?
+ To learn about what expectations the participants would have when using a vocabulary learning app?
1. All five participants have had experience using language apps
2. Participants chose to learn a language because they were travelling/relocating to a foreign country, they hope to integrate into the culture there
3. The ability to interact with native speakers is crucial for learning a language
4. Participants feel motivated when they are rewarded for their learning outcome
User
Persona
After thoroughly integrating all the interview feedback, I create a persona that best represents the lifestyle, needs and goals of my target users. The app is going to be designed based on the hypothesis statement, the goal is to create a product that provides a fun and interactive learning experience with which users can connect to an online and/or local community.
Problem Statement
Dakota needs to learn German as she wishes to move to Berlin, she wants to have the ability to communicate with the locals and fit into the culture and society there.
We will know this to be true when she successfully extends her social circle in the city and is able to explore her interests in architecture and food easily.
Hypothesis Statement
we believe that by creating an app that provides a fun, interactive and personalised learning plan connected with an online learning community and local community (of the chosen country, in this case, Berlin) for Dakota, she will be able to able to achieve positive learning outcome that best prepares for her work and life in Berlin.
Information Architecture
Three user flows are presented here to explore possible solutions for three of the most common tasks that need to be completed while using the app. This will help formulate smooth navigation of the app at a later stage.
Wireframing
Below are series of wireframes that show how users can navigate the app in order to complete the tasks previously mentioned in the three user flows above.
Usability Tests
& Revision
The usability tests were conducted by using a mid-fidelity prototype, the 3 selected participants have a similar background to Dakota (persona). Jakob Nielsen’s rating scale is used to define the severity of some of the major issues raised during the tests.
Tasks
1. Set up a new account with TICK BOX
2. Add member(s) to the study group of your study set
3. Add a new study schedule and turn on the alarm for it
4. Access to your written vocabulary words
1.Jakob Nielsen’s rating scale:
0 = I don’t agree that this is a usability problem at all
1 = Cosmetic problem only: Need not be fixed unless extra time is available on project
2 = Minor usability problem: fixing this should be given low priority
3 = Major usability problem: important to fix, so should be given high priority
4 = Usability catastrophe: imperative to fix this before product can be released
Metrics
The chart below presents some of the main usability issues the participants experienced while completing the given tasks, some recommendations are made, and they will be implemented in the next round of iteration.
UI Style Guide
The design goals are creating a clean interface design for reducing cognitive load, as well as using a bold colour combination to create ‘energy’, yellow and Navy, which are the main colours used in the UI design, the strong contrast between these two colours creates a fun and vivid visual effect, this is to provide a fun learning experience and attract users to interact with the app.
High-fidelity Wireframes
