- Chamli Tennakoon
AimChat - A New Way To Network
Bridges the gap between the digital world and real-world connections.
Project
Team
UXD: Jundi Fu, Ali Paryas
SWEs: Abel Linares, Mikhail Nazarov, Alexander Polyanskiy, Maksim Ovechkin
Duration
May 2023 - Oct 2023
Release Date
2023
Problem
In today's fast-paced world, where people are increasingly glued to their phones and busy schedules, meaningful in-person connections have become rare. The fear of awkwardness and rejection often prevents individuals from initiating interactions with strangers, leading to missed opportunities for friendships, networking, and even potential relationships. This social barrier needed to be addressed to foster genuine in-person connections.
My Role
As a UX designer, I built AimChat from the ground up (0 to 1), designing the user experience to facilitate safe and convenient connections in the real world. To ensure a smooth experience, I collaborated closely with developers and conducted multiple rounds of usability testing. This ensured the app addressed user needs and fostered genuine interactions.
Our Goal
AimChat was designed to bridge the gap between strangers, helping users overcome the fear of awkwardness and rejection when trying to meet new people.
Distance Filter and Incognito Mode
AimChat offers a distance filter allowing users to prioritize connections within a specific radius (e.g., 150ft to 600ft).
Discreet "Aim" Feature with Personalized Messages
AimChat introduces the concept of sending an "Aim" (notification) instead of directly approaching someone. Wireframes depict the user interface, with a button to send an Aim upon "pointing" the phone at someone interesting.
Secure Chat with Optional Profile Sharing
If the recipient accepts the Aim, a secure chat interface is established within the app. Users can message in real-time, fostering conversation without compromising anonymity.
To gain a baseline understanding of public sentiment, I conducted semi-structured interviews with 32 individuals on the streets of New York City and secondary research. The findings revealed a significant yearning for more real-world connections:
60%
Missed Opportunities
Spark Regret
of participants recounted instances where they regretted not reaching out to someone they found intriguing. This suggests a missed opportunity for connection.
85%
Demand for Discreet Communication
of interviewees expressed a preference for a more subtle way to initiate conversations. This emphasizes the desire for a less forward approach.
46%
The Rise of Heavy Smartphone Users
of American smartphone users spend an average of 4-5 hours glued to their devices daily.
Visualizing the Journey
Based on these insights, I created a storyboard to help internal stakeholders visualize the user journey.
From Concept to Collaboration
My journey wasn’t a solo act; close collaboration with our UX Lead and development team (4 SWEs) was crucial. My initial sketches and wireframes provided the foundation for the app's structure and user flows. These wireframes allowed for early feedback and iterations on core functionalities.
Testing the Waters
I conducted an initial round with 20 individuals to evaluate AimChat's core functionalities - sending discreet notifications and initiating chats.
Before
Users point their phone at someone and tap the "Aim Me" button. The notification gets sent immediately without any confirmation step. This raises concerns for users who might accidentally send an Aim they didn't intend to.
After
Instead of sending the notification directly, a confirmation screen will pop up. A text box with a clear label "Send". This allows users to personalize their Aim notification with a short message.
Before
I found that the chat list didn't display the last chatting time, and chats weren't ordered to show the latest messages at the top. If users wanted to continue a chat with the most recent person, they had to scroll to the very bottom.
After
To resolve this, I added a time feature and reorganized the chat list to display the most recent chats at the top, making it easier for users to pick up where they left off.
Taking the Helm
With the UX Design Lead's unexpectedly quit, all the responsibilities fell on me. The engineering team flagged critical issues, including missing features like account deletion and user blocking, required for app store approval. I scrutinized the entire user flow, identified these gaps, and redesigned the flow to include these crucial features.
User Flow Before
Incomplete user flow lacking essential features.
Users were unable to delete their accounts, deleter contacts or block others.
High risk of the app being rejected by the app store due to non-compliance with required features.
After
Redesigned user flow with added account deletion, contact deletion and user blocking features.
Enhanced user control and compliance with app store requirements.
Improved overall user experience, aligning with best practices and user expectations.
Edge Case
After implementing the necessary changes, I conducted a final round of testing with 150 users. This larger, diverse group provided comprehensive feedback:
Before
Users can view other users' avatars on a map, but the zoom level might be limited, making it difficult to distinguish individual users, especially in areas with high user density.
After
Implement a zoom function on the map, allowing users to zoom in to a level where they can clearly see individual user avatars to improved user targeting.
Crafting the Identity
Beyond functionality, I spearheaded the creation of a comprehensive brand guideline kit. This kit served as a blueprint for AimChat’s visual identity and brand voice, ensuring a cohesive user experience across all touchpoints.
Reflection
Adaptability in Crisis
When the unexpected happens, such as a key team member leaving, it's crucial to step up and adapt quickly. Taking full responsibility for the design process taught me the importance of staying flexible and solution-focused under pressure.
The Impact & A Look Forward:
The successful launch of the MVP for AimChat, achieving a usability scale score of over 70 and an NPS of 50, demonstrated that the app effectively meets user needs. However, the NPS score also indicates that there's room for improvement, particularly in converting passive users into active promoters. Moving forward, a key focus will be on tracking additional success metrics, such as the conversion rate—the percentage of users who take desired actions, like successfully aiming at other users and engaging in conversations. This will help identify opportunities to enhance user engagement and satisfaction, driving the app's continued growth and success.
