2021
None
UX, UI, Product Design
UX/UI Designer
MuSchool was created for learners and creators. Those striving to reach their potential and access the inaccessible for one-on-one feedback, advice, and mentorship. The true die hards who know you cant replace expert persepective and connection with static content. MuSchool makes access to personalized feedback from leaders, creators, experts, and innovators possible like never before.
Specialized feedback and one-on-one mentorship is inaccessible and costly for most. Millenial and Gen-Z learners and professionals alike are able to access troves of content but rarely are they able to get personalized feedback, advice, or mentorship from individuals they cannot typically access, for problems they are uniquely experiencing. While there are apps that aim to solve this problem, none successfully provide users with a simple and flexibe means of having a meaningful engagement with individuals they actually aspire to interact with. Instead, they search through countless pages of content, and rarely receive a quality and percise answer.
MuSchool integrates and improves upon the most used features of competing products to solve user pain points. But allows for a more pop culture "Cameo" like experience, and makes for more flexible interaction for the Consumer and Supply. Simplifying the process of finding reputable expert information, and changing peoples perspectives and lives.
UX research, UX/UI design, brand identity
Initial research focused on better understanding user’s needs related to seeking expert advice as well as measuring the extent to which these needs are held among their peers. Likewise, research was conducted as to the motivations for the expert - what are they looking to achieve, to what degree can they invest their time, and to what degree do they feel safe engaging with their communities.
What products exist to find, connect and exchange messages with experts?
How do users interact with existing products?
What are users current pain points with existing products?
Which features are essential to fasciliitate this process?
A survey was conducted of 20 participants to identify which products and features people are currently using and determine which features are essential from both a learner and expert perspective.
A series of in-depth interviews were then conducted on 4 Experts and 4 consumer participants to further identify pain points, frustrations, needs, and desires with existing products to determine how MuSchool could improve this experience.
Experts receive a surplus of DMs to their social media profiles but have no means or incentive to respond to them
Users value the ability to engage on their own terms, without needles friction and rails
Major products in the market lack desirable features and feel too ed-tech oriented, outdated, or untrustworthy
A simple solution to accessing talent/experts and the assurance of a response is valuable and needed
Too much information on screen makes users feel overwhelmed, they'd like a more curated experience
Current solutions do not comprehensively solve users pain points, and focus on too narrow of a use case
A competitive analysis was conducted in order to identify various competitor's strengths and weaknesses which would inform MuSchool's features and information structure.
After conducting user interviews, all the participants responses were synthesized to identify themes, opportunities, and features that MuSchool could focus and improve upon. Most of all, we dug deep into the questions, "What constitutes a meaningful interaction?" and "What is a whole and complete exchange?"
Due to the volume of feedback and interviews conducted, an affinity map was created to identify high level themes and group similar insights gained from the user interviews.
Interview data was then synthesized further into a number of tables for us to keep track of for future sprints, and throughout the continued customer research and design process.
A persona was built based on the data collected to help drive decision making and keep the product focused on solving users pain points, frustrations, and goals.
Wire framing was conducted in order to define a starting point. A low fidelity prototype was then created for initial user testing.
MuSchools primary user flow includes searching, selecting an expert, and beginning a conversation.
MuSchool's simple information structure makes it easy to navigate and move through tasks.
Using the feedback and insights gained from research, analysis and sketching, a low-fidelity prototype was created to begin user testing.
A usability study was conducted to determine where improvements could be made and identify new ideas to satisfy user expectations, needs, and desires.
The extent of the exchange they were purchasing was unclear
Tags in V1 were not clickable and seemed pointless as they were
Not enough content types present on creator profiles
Add a clear description of the exchange on the creators profile to make onboarding a conversation easy
Make all tags clickable to fascilitate sorting and searching, add links from other social accounts
Adding intro videos for every profile and also having them present on the marketplace, add reviews.
Inspiration was drawn from popular social apps but with a focus on minimal yet functional simplicity, rooted in a creative-centric aesthetic. The UI design reflects the user's desire to have a clutter free, curated, and friendly look and feel.
MuSchool makes the process of connecting with top experts and talent both simple and engaging. Connecting audiences and making the experience flexible and uniquely valuable.
Intro screen and sign in/create an account
Upon logging in, Users are walked through a short animated onboarding sequence. Early on in usability testing we learned that descriptive and friction-less onboarding would be essential due to the apps new market.
After signing in or opening the app, users arrive at the Home/marketplace screen. Scrolling and searching is made quick and easy with a intuitive and familiar design.
After finding an expert, users are walked through the process of initiating and continuing a conversation.
Users can edit their profiles and upload video content for their profile wall. Experts can check their finances and refer friends for rewards.
MuSchool uses an intuitive video recording and sharing flow. Making quick asynchronous messaging easy and seamless.
Seamlessly connect and have conversations with experts
Get personalized responses to your questions and unique obstacles
Supports social connection and engagement
Easily redirect your audience to a safe, trusted, app for connecting
Address and monetize your audience flexibly and on your terms
Allow both parties to engage in a familiar, "Cameo" and "Snapchat" style interaction.
