BlendIn

Project Overview

Problem Space

672,000 immigrants arrived in the UK in 2023. Many find the new environment overwhelming and struggle to fit into the local culture.
Young immigrants are eager to adapt and connect with fellow newcomers, but resources to help them do so are lacking.

Project Goals

01. Help connect young UK immigrants
02. Make participating in local festivals easy for young immigrants.
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Constraints

01. Limited Time
I managed this project alongside other projects, using prioritisation and time management to deliver high-quality work on time.

02. Few interviewees
With limited time, I conducted 10 user interviews asking open-minded yet relevant questions to draw as much information as possible about the users' pain points, motivations, and goals.

The Solution - A meetup app designed to connect young UK immigrants

To help young UK immigrants adapt to local culture and feel at home, I designed an all-in-one meetup app. It promotes local events, keeps users informed about upcoming meetups, and facilitates connections between the immigrants before and after events to foster a sense of belonging.

SEE PROTOTYPE

Results

Though the app was not launched, I invited 30 participants to test out the prototype and compare their experience in navigating tradition events before and now with my solution - BlendIn.

Design Process

Although the design process may seem linear at a glance, there was a lot of iteration and revisiting of earlier stages throughout.
This aimed to create a better user experience that truly addresses users' pain points and helps them reach their goals.

Research

Quantitative research

Challenges Faced by New UK Immigrants: 33% Seek Assistance

USER INTERVIEW

Key Obstacles : Language Barrier, Cultural Differences, and Information Overload

I interviewed 10 young immigrants to understand the immigrants' challenges and identify opportunities to improve their integration experience.

They said...

Key Interview Insights

Analysing the interview data revealed cultural differences as the most significant challenge faced by immigrants adapting to life in the UK. This was particularly evident when attempting to participate in traditional events on their own.

COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS

Current apps fall short for immigrant integration

I compared the functionality of the leading meetup apps, which helped me identify features I could incorporate into my design solution.

Define

PERSONA

Targeting Young UK Immigrants (25-35)who are craving cultural connection

To ensure my design resonates with my target audience (young UK immigrants aged 25-35), I developed a user persona named Lucas. Based on user interview insights, Lucas embodies the key pain points, goals, and motivations of my target users.

USER JOURNEY MAP

Going solo to traditions fuels isolation (craving connection & support)

Understanding user pain points, goals, and motivations, I mapped their current journey. This visual revealed the sequence of steps and pinpointed challenges. With these insights, I brainstormed solutions that address these hurdles at the right moment, empowering users to achieve their goals.

Opportunities Highlights: All-in-one Meetup App

Identifying a gap, I saw an opportunity to create an all-in-one meetup app for my users. This platform would empower immigrants to explore events, connect with others beforehand, and join with ease. By fostering a seamless experience, the app empowers immigrants to navigate traditional events with reduced stress and isolation, ultimately fostering a sense of belonging and easing their cultural adaptation."

TASK FLOW DIAGRAM

Streamlining the User Flow: From Event Search to Connection

Building upon the user journey map and identified opportunities, I created a task flow diagram. This visual roadmap outlines the key screens users will encounter, from event search to attendee connection. It ensures a smooth user experience by aligning the solution with the user journey at each touchpoint.

Design

SKETCHES

Brainstorming Features with Rapid Sketching

With the user flow established, I began sketching potential features and necessary information for each screen. This rapid ideation process helped me brainstorm functionalities and ensure a smooth progression between screens.

LOW FIDELITY WIREFRAMES

Turning sketches into Low Fidelity Wireframes: Visualising Users Interactions

Turning the chosen sketches of each screen into Low-fidelity wireframes allowed me to see how users interact with the interfaces and ensure clarity of primary CTAs at each step before user testing.

UsaBILITY TEST

The Sooner I Test, the Better the User Experience

I know it too well.

After I have worked on this design for a few weeks, I couldn’t see it freshly anymore. To truly assess its effectiveness, I needed to see how my target users interacted with it.

Test result

Uncovering Usability Issues (2 Rounds, 30 Participants)

To identify potential usability issues and refine the user experience, I conducted two rounds of usability testing with a total of 30 participants. This process yielded valuable feedback that informed further improvements.

Opportunities Highlights: Connect Young UK immigrants

 Add elements that would lead users to desired actions.
Consistent Designs for elements such as cards.
Make CTA buttons more accessible and visible.

PRIORITISATION MATRIX

Making the Most of Time: Prioritising Improvements

With a wealth of user feedback in hand, but limited project time, I created a prioritisation matrix. This tool helped me identify the most impactful changes for the user experience, focusing on adjustments that offered high impact with minimal development effort.

PRIORITISATION MATRIX

Kept iterating until I found something that worked: 5 Major Improvements

User testing fueled this design's evolution. These prototypes showcase the journey, with the initial iteration on the left and the final, improved version on the right. Each change reflects valuable insights gathered from user feedback.

design system

Bringing Out Bright and Positive Vibes via Accessible Colours and Commonly Used Typeface

Many users initially feel isolated and out of place when adapting to a new culture, therefore, I prioritised user experience by incorporating a bright and positive colour palette to create a welcoming and approachable atmosphere and utilised a familiar typeface commonly used in iOS.

Final UI Screens

Onboarding Screens

These screens offer a helpful introduction to BlendIn, guiding users through the app's features before they get started.

Home Screens

The Home Screen conveniently displays BlendIn's event suggestions at a glance, helping users discover new events.  Users can also browse upcoming events presented in a clear, chronological view for easy planning.

Event Information Screens

This screen offers essential event information like location and time and background story.

Meetup Information screen

This screen offers essential event information like location and time and background story.

Confirmation Screen

This screen provides users with a confirmation of their successful meetup registration, along with key event details as a handy reminder.

Suggested For You Screen

This screen suggests attendees to connect with after confirming attendance. This proactive approach fosters connections and reduces feelings of isolation before and during the events. For added privacy, users can restrict other users' access to their profile through the three-dot menu on the user's profile.

Attendees List Screen

This screen displays a comprehensive list of event attendees, allowing users to join the group chat or connect with individuals directly.

Group Chat Screen

This screen empowers users to chat with other attendees, share event details, and organize pre-meetups. This fosters connections and combats feelings of isolation before the event.

Key Learnings & Next Steps

KEY LEARNINGS

Continuous Learning: User Feedback, Iteration, & Design Inspiration

Embrace User Feedback

Actively incorporating user feedback throughout the design process leads to more user-centric solutions and improved overall satisfaction.

Embrace Iteration

Embracing iteration allows for refinement and enhancement of designs, ensuring they evolve to meet user needs and business goals over time.

Learn from other designers

Studying and collaborating with fellow designers fosters a culture of continuous learning, inspiring fresh ideas and innovative approaches.

NEXT STEPS

What would I do if I had more time?

Product Sustainability: Sustaining user engagement post-cultural adaptation, enabling event organisation and influencer roles

Privacy Protection: Actively addressing Privacy and GDPR concerns

Security: Ensuring event legitimacy and security

Artificial Intelligence Technologies: Exploring AI integration for enhanced user experiences

BlendIn - Meetup app