Enhance communication and work management efficiency for startups

Sponsor

Smidige

Advisor

Ruslan Valiyev, Roger Mader, Criswell Lappin

Team

4 Product Designers

Timeline

Sep 2023 - Dec 2023

Tools

Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premiere

My Contribution

  • Participated in brainstorming sessions to generate and refine project concepts.

  • Conducted thorough secondary research and user interviews, using the findings to inform design decisions with user-centric insights.

  • Iteratively improved user flows, wireframes, and overall UX/UI design, utilizing user testing feedback to enhance usability.

  • Developed a brand identity for our product, including logo design.

ACHEIVEMENT

  • 1st Place in Strategic Innovation in Product & Service Design class



Takeaways

During this sponsored project, I participated in an end-to-end process from research to MVP development, experiencing a meaningful time filled with deep contemplation and problem-solving. Over this 15-week journey, I gained three key lessons:

The Importance of Collaboration: Working closely with team members and stakeholders, I deeply understood the methods and significance of smooth collaboration. This proved essential for the successful progression of the project.

Expanding Understanding of User-Centric Approach and Business Models: Beyond focusing on solving users' problems, I broadened my understanding of business models and overall product design. This played a crucial role in integrating user issues into societal problem-solving and business perspectives. This process was instrumental in clearly understanding why the company developed the initial MVP.

Experiencing Various Roles: Performing diverse roles such as a designer, product manager (PM), and researcher, I gained a multifaceted understanding and approach to the project. This helped me grasp the various aspects of the project.

The most challenging part of the project was defining its scope and looking for solutions by viewing the problems from a broader perspective. Initially, I focused only on the present issues, but through extensive research and interviews, I learned to redefine and solve problems from a larger viewpoint. This experience was a valuable learning opportunity, allowing me to develop a perspective that goes beyond simple problem-solving.