Project Overview
Project Overview
Project Overview
Notion has amassed over 4 million loyal users who use their app to plan their daily tasks. The desktop and web version is preferred by users and has great online reviews. However, the mobile experience is difficult to use intuitively.
Notion has amassed over 4 million loyal users who use their app to plan their daily tasks. The desktop and web version is preferred by users and has great online reviews. However, the mobile experience is difficult to use intuitively.
How did I add value?
How did I add value?
How did I add value?
The goal of this passion project was to redesign the mobile app to be more user friendly.
The goal of this passion project was to redesign the mobile app to be more user friendly.
Timeline
Timeline
Timeline
July 2023 - March 2024
July 2023 - March 2024
Skills
Skills
Skills
User Research
Rapid Prototyping
Mobile-first Design
User Research
Rapid Prototyping
Mobile-first Design
Thus, I asked…
Thus, I asked…
Thus, I asked…
How might we discover and implement features to improve the current experience for users?
How might we discover and implement features to improve the current experience for users?
What was the final solution?
What was the final solution?
What was the final solution?
The most meticulous process was ensuring the data visuals were relevant and easy to understand. I decided to have three rounds of client feedback and daily stand up withs the developers to ensure the designs were optimized.
The most meticulous process was ensuring the data visuals were relevant and easy to understand. I decided to have three rounds of client feedback and daily stand up withs the developers to ensure the designs were optimized.
Improving the education and transparency on product features
Improving the education and transparency on product features
Rather than assuming desktop users understand the mobile app, consistent onboarding is provided for all users. Product tours and tooltips highlight unfamiliar features.
Rather than assuming desktop users understand the mobile app, consistent onboarding is provided for all users. Product tours and tooltips highlight unfamiliar features.
Inclusion of useful shortcuts to reference documents on-the-go
Inclusion of useful shortcuts to reference documents on-the-go
Users mainly use the mobile app to read important documents on-the-go. To simplify access, notes have accessible shortcuts, can be locked to prevent edits, and can be added to the homepage for quick referencing.
Users mainly use the mobile app to read important documents on-the-go. To simplify access, notes have accessible shortcuts, can be locked to prevent edits, and can be added to the homepage for quick referencing.
Scheduling, documentation, and reminders made simple
Scheduling, documentation, and reminders made simple
To reduce the need for multiple task management apps, users can now access an integrated calendar with weekly and hourly views, allowing one-click creation of reminders, events, and quick notes.
To reduce the need for multiple task management apps, users can now access an integrated calendar with weekly and hourly views, allowing one-click creation of reminders, events, and quick notes.
Reliable notifications and new shortcuts on the home page
Reliable notifications and new shortcuts on the home page
To enhance the mobile experience, notifications, reminders, and editing is now made easy. Users can easily keep track of new items in an inbox.
To enhance the mobile experience, notifications, reminders, and editing is now made easy. Users can easily keep track of new items in an inbox.
What did our users look like?
What did our users look like?
What did our users look like?
Through interviews, I found that there were different types of individuals who were attracted to Notion for different reasons related mainly to occupation, extent of their resource documentation needs, and customization options.
Through interviews, I found that there were different types of individuals who were attracted to Notion for different reasons related mainly to occupation, extent of their resource documentation needs, and customization options.
What do our users want & need?
What do our users want & need?
What do our users want & need?
Based on 16 user interviews and an analysis of 50 iOS app reviews, I found the following:
Based on 16 user interviews and an analysis of 50 iOS app reviews, I found the following:
A demand of simplicity
A demand of simplicity
People already use multiple apps on a daily basis and often come back to platforms that are the most accessible and intuitive.
People already use multiple apps on a daily basis and often come back to platforms that are the most accessible and intuitive.
Too many under-utilized tools
Too many under-utilized tools
Notion stands out for its robust customization but many users don't know how to access or use these features.
Notion stands out for its robust customization but many users don't know how to access or use these features.
Error-prone experiences
Error-prone experiences
The mobile app is tedious to use because of accidental edits, deletions, and difficulty sifting to find relevant documents.
The mobile app is tedious to use because of accidental edits, deletions, and difficulty sifting to find relevant documents.
What could be improved with the current solution?
What could be improved with the current solution?
What could be improved with the current solution?
Before brainstorming on possible solutions, it was important for me to perform a design critique to identify any heuristic violations, major pain points, and similar competitors. This would allow me to create a new app design that not only solves major user pain points but also provides features that might not be found in other products.
Before brainstorming on possible solutions, it was important for me to perform a design critique to identify any heuristic violations, major pain points, and similar competitors.
This would allow me to create a new app design that not only solves major user pain points but also provides features that might not be found in other products.
Findings from competitors
Findings from competitors
Notion stands out for its robust customization features, clean UI design, and attractive templates, which are all available at a low cost.
Notion stands out for its robust customization features, clean UI design, and attractive templates, which are all available at a low cost.
What did I find from my heuristic evaluation?
What did I find from my heuristic evaluation?
What did I find from my heuristic evaluation?
I performed a heuristic evaluation based on Jacob Nielsen's Laws on heuristic violations. I then consolidated my analysis on the current app with the major issues identified from users during interviews.
I performed a heuristic evaluation based on Jacob Nielsen's Laws on heuristic violations. I then consolidated my analysis on the current app with the major issues identified from users during interviews.
Product features lack context
Product features lack context
Users receive no onboarding for the mobile app, making it difficult to know how to take action.
Users receive no onboarding for the mobile app, making it difficult to know how to take action.
Desktop shortcuts are hidden or altered, creating an inconsistent experience when switching devices
Desktop shortcuts are hidden or altered, creating an inconsistent experience when switching devices
Lack of education on integration features hide scheduling, reminders, and notifications from users.
Lack of education on integration features hide scheduling, reminders, and notifications from users.
Note-taking is intimidating
Note-taking is intimidating
Breadcrumb logic is not always obvious, making it difficult to track categorization of different notes.
Breadcrumb logic is not always obvious, making it difficult to track categorization of different notes.
Lack of education on how to use the toolbar makes it difficult to edit documents without making errors.
Lack of education on how to use the toolbar makes it difficult to edit documents without making errors.
Hidden templates discourage users from properly formatting or creating notes that require complexity.
Hidden templates discourage users from properly formatting or creating notes that require complexity.
Attractive use cases excluded
Attractive use cases excluded
Scheduling events on a calendar is not intuitive to users, despite it being a priority for users.
Scheduling events on a calendar is not intuitive to users, despite it being a priority for users.
Shortcuts to create reminders lack transparency, driving users to seek out competitors that make this simpler.
Shortcuts to create reminders lack transparency, driving users to seek out competitors that make this simpler.
Quickly referencing notes is a top priority for users, but lack of shortcuts and risk of accidental edits deter them.
Quickly referencing notes is a top priority for users, but lack of shortcuts and risk of accidental edits deter them.
What did the brainstorming and ideation process look like?
What did the brainstorming and ideation process look like?
What did the brainstorming and ideation process look like?
I started by mapping the user flow to identify friction points in the existing design and consolidated insights from the first usability test. Collaborating with two other designers, we held a brainstorming session to generate a wide range of solutions. Finally, I conducted a SWOT analysis to refine a list of implementable solutions for the final design.
I started by mapping the user flow to identify friction points in the existing design and consolidated insights from the first usability test. Collaborating with two other designers, we held a brainstorming session to generate a wide range of solutions. Finally, I conducted a SWOT analysis to refine a list of implementable solutions for the final design.
What did the final solution look like?
What did the final solution look like?
What did the final solution look like?
I performed a heuristic evaluation based on Jacob Nielsen's Laws on heuristic violations. I then consolidated my analysis on the current app with the major issues identified from users during interviews.
I performed a heuristic evaluation based on Jacob Nielsen's Laws on heuristic violations. I then consolidated my analysis on the current app with the major issues identified from users during interviews.
Current experience
Current experience
Limited introduction to product features
Limited introduction to product features
Lack of incorporation of common use cases
Lack of incorporation of common use cases
Difficulty accessing specific notes
Difficulty accessing specific notes
Proposed Solution
Proposed Solution
Inclusion of product tours to introduce features
Inclusion of product tours to introduce features
Quick notes section for documentation
Quick notes section for documentation
Shortcuts to add important pages to home screen
Shortcuts to add important pages to home screen
Current experience
Current experience
Separate app for Notion calendar
Separate app for Notion calendar
Hidden integration to other calendar apps
Hidden integration to other calendar apps
Reminders and notifications hidden
Reminders and notifications hidden
Proposed Solution
Proposed Solution
Inclusion of scheduling options
Inclusion of scheduling options
Easily editable reminders and events
Easily editable reminders and events
Integration to email and notifications
Integration to email and notifications
Current experience
Current experience
No barrier to editing, increasing risk of errors
No barrier to editing, increasing risk of errors
Hidden access to templates
Hidden access to templates
No offline editing mode, resulting in lost changes
No offline editing mode, resulting in lost changes
Proposed Solution
Proposed Solution
Automated locked note feature to prevent accidents
Automated locked note feature to prevent accidents
Templates made available in toolbar for access
Templates made available in toolbar for access
Offline editing available for documenting on-the-go
Offline editing available for documenting on-the-go
How did I measure success in our users?
How did I measure success in our users?
How did I measure success in our users?
Conducting user testing sessions
Conducting user testing sessions
To avoid bias, I tested the solutions with 7 new Notion users unfamiliar with the mobile app. In these testing sessions, I measured task completion time, tracked any errors in using the prototypes, and assessed their ability to retain information.
To avoid bias, I tested the solutions with 7 new Notion users unfamiliar with the mobile app. In these testing sessions, I measured task completion time, tracked any errors in using the prototypes, and assessed their ability to retain information.
90% of users satisfied
90% of users satisfied
Post-survey results indicated that the majority of users preferred the improved designs compared to the original ones
Post-survey results indicated that the majority of users preferred the improved designs compared to the original ones
Retention improved by 70%
Retention improved by 70%
New users were able to remember how to use product features 70% more accurately compared to new users navigating the original app.
New users were able to remember how to use product features 70% more accurately compared to new users navigating the original app.
70% more likely to recommend
70% more likely to recommend
Users were more inclined to recommend the proposed solutions compared to the original experience.
Users were more inclined to recommend the proposed solutions compared to the original experience.
What are some next steps?
What are some next steps?
What are some next steps?
This case study was highly research-intensive, and I enjoyed working with users on an app I use daily. I learned that understanding user feedback can spark creativity in brainstorming. Accurately defining areas for improvement was essential for direction. With further testing, I’d like to enhance more features to better integrate the app into people’s daily lives.
This case study was highly research-intensive, and I enjoyed working with users on an app I use daily. I learned that understanding user feedback can spark creativity in brainstorming. Accurately defining areas for improvement was essential for direction. With further testing, I’d like to enhance more features to better integrate the app into people’s daily lives.
Since many users transition from the desktop app to mobile, how can we make the onboarding process more seamless?
Since many users transition from the desktop app to mobile, how can we make the onboarding process more seamless?
What further testing can be done to understand what specific templates, features, and customizations users like?
What further testing can be done to understand what specific templates, features, and customizations users like?
How can we incorporate additional features of interest, like widget integrations and AI capabilities?
How can we incorporate additional features of interest, like widget integrations and AI capabilities?
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© celine keomany
thanks for stopping by
© celine keomany
thanks for stopping by
© celine keomany