PandaPal
case study
PandaPal is a mobile app and responsive website project designed to raise awareness about pandas and their conservation needs. The app is aimed at animal lovers, conservationists, and anyone interested in learning more about these iconic creatures. One of the key features of PandaPal is the ability to make donations to support panda conservation efforts directly through the app. PandaPal also includes a social sharing feature that allows users to share content with their followers on social media, helping to spread awareness about pandas and their conservation needs to a wider audience.
Project Overview
The goal: The goal of PandaPal is to empower individuals to make a positive impact on the conservation of pandas by providing them with a user-friendly and engaging platform to learn about panda conservation efforts, donate to support those efforts, and connect with a community of like-minded individuals.
My role: UX designer designing an app and a responsive website for PandaPal from conception to delivery
Responsibilities:
Conducting user research to understand the needs and behaviors of the app's target audience.
Creating user personas, user flows, wireframes, and prototypes to visualize the app's design and functionality.
Conducting usability testing to evaluate the effectiveness of design solutions and identify areas for improvement.
Incorporating feedback from user testing and iterating on design solutions to improve the overall user experience.
Persona 1: Sarah Kim
Sarah is an animal lover who wants to easily & conveniently contribute to conservation efforts because she determines to make a difference in protecting the endangered species.
Persona 2: Mark Green
Mark is an adult who needs a clear and concise information about the state of endangered species because he wants to raise awareness and make positive impact in the conservation
User research: summary
PandaPal is an app and responsive website designed to promote panda conservation efforts and raise awareness about the threats facing the species. User research was conducted to gain insights into how to improve the app's user experience and engagement with the target audience. Overall, the user research highlighted the need to improve the donation process, simplify the user interface, and add more interactive features to enhance user engagement and promote the app's visibility.
Paper wireframes
Drafting multiple iterations of each app screen on paper helped ensure that the final digital wireframes effectively addressed user pain points.
When designing the home screen, my priority was to provide users with a simple and speedy way to donate and explore the news
Digital wireframes
Throughout the initial design phase, I ensured that the screen designs were based on the feedback and discoveries obtained from the user research.
Low-Fidelity Prototype
Upon completion of the digital wireframes, I developed a low-fidelity prototype that focused on the primary user flow of making a donation and reading a news. This prototype was specifically designed to be utilized in a usability study.
View the app’s low-fidelity
Usability study: parameters
Study type: Unmoderated usability study
Location: Remote
Participants: 5 participants
Length: 10 minutes
Usability study: findings
Donation Process: Participants mentioned that they would like to see more transparency in how their donations are being used and the impact they are making.
App design and layout: Participants identified issues with the font size and color contrast, making it difficult to read text on the app.
Social Sharing: Participants wants social sharing buttons that allow users to share news articles or conservation tips on social media
Mockups:
Based on the insights of the study, I made some changes to improve the app experience.
One of the changes I made was replacing the "Home" button with the "Donate" one and adding the "Share Article" button for user to easily share the cause on social media with their friends and family.
Key Mockups:
High-Fidelity Prototype
The high-fidelity prototype that was eventually developed featured cleaner user flows, particularly when it came to donating and reading news. It also has a confirmation pop-up to provide reassurance that donation had been received.
View the app’s high-fidelity
Accessibility considerations
Alternative Text: Provide alternative text descriptions for all images in the app, so that visually impaired users can use screen readers to understand the content.
Clear Text and Typography: Use clear, easy-to-read text and typography throughout the app.
Consistent Layout and Navigation: Maintain a consistent layout and navigation structure throughout the app, to help users with cognitive or memory impairments find and use features consistently.
Responsive Design
The designs for screen size variation included mobile, tablet, and desktop. I optimized the designs to fit specific user needs of each device and screen size.
Impact:
Improved Donation Process: By simplifying and streamlining the donation process, PandaPal can improve user satisfaction and encourage more donations.
Enhanced Social Sharing: Making it easier for users to share their support for the cause through social media can increase brand awareness and attract new users.
User-Friendly App Design and Layout: A well-designed and intuitive app can make it easier for users to navigate, increasing engagement and encouraging more frequent use.
What I learned:
As I work on the PandaPal project, I realize the importance of being receptive to feedback and open to making necessary changes based on user insights. Additionally, seeking feedback from peers helps to refine the app's design, incorporating features and functionalities that better address users' needs and challenges. In essence, this project has reinforced that the design process is a continuous and collaborative effort that requires constant improvement and refinement.