Context

This was a project completed during UW Protothon 2021. The prompt was to design an enterprise Real Time Engagement mobile or web application that showcases how Agora’s video conferencing, voice, streaming, and messaging solutions can be used.

The inspiration stemmed from observing my older brother, a recent graduate, facing challenges in networking and building connections at his new workplace.

The problem:

How do we mimic real networking virtually?

Target customer:

Tech Companies

What are the target customer's goal?

Team Collaboration
Enable teams to hold regular meetings, brainstorming sessions, and project discussions in a seamless and interactive manner. This can enhance team cohesion and productivity, especially for distributed or remote teams.

Virtual Social Hub
Create a dedicated virtual space within the company that serves as a hub for hosting a variety of social activities, from meetings to networking events. This ensures that employees can continue to connect and engage with their colleagues, even in the absence of in-person interactions.‍

User Research

As begin my research, I asked myself who will be the one using this product? Since the employees are the end users, I decided to interview 2 new grad employees. I wanted to understand what they were feeling and problems they were facing as they transition into their new remote role.

Questions I asked:

How would you describe your experience transitioning into a remote work environment?
What are your typical challenges when trying to connect with other employees virtually?
How do you currently stay connected with your colleagues and build professional relationships in a remote setting?

Here is what I heard:

"It's hard to meet other professionals working remotely since you don't see anyone while you're working unless there is a meeting." -Steve
"Networking has been a pain virtually. With things being online I miss the spontaneous connection in the office." -Lena

Based on the responses from Lena and Steve, I drew out several key insights:

Lack of Casual Interactions in Remote Work
Steve points out that in a remote work setup, there's a distinct lack of casual interactions with other professionals. This emphasizes the need for intentional efforts to foster casual socialization and networking opportunities.
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Professional Visibility
‍Both responses acknowledge that networking, especially in a remote setting, can be challenging.

Problem Statement

How might we design a digital platform that replicates spontaneous in-person interactions?

Guiding Principles

After completing my initial user research, I crafted a set of design guidelines for my initial design. The primary objective was to create an interface that proficiently emulates spontaneous in-person interactions.

Intuitive Navigation
Design an intuitive and easily navigable interface. Users should be able to find and access key features with minimal effort.

Microinteractions
Incorporate subtle animations and interactions to enhance the user experience and provide feedback on user actions.

Ideation

After understanding the problem and my users, I started to sketch out my ideas of possible concepts would achieve my design goals. Even the wildest ones. Throughout my brainstorming process, I made an effort to envision what it feels like to network and “bump” into people in real life.

Next, I developed distinct low-fidelity wireframes for my main feature. One iteration maintains the anonymity of the conference room until you enter, while the other provides a view of all participants, indicating who is listening or speaking in each conference room.

By leveraging my key findings from user research of being able to gain professional visibility, I chose to move forward with the public version as it promotes each users presence in the space.

Note:
Due to the short turn around of this project I wasn't able to conduct a usability testing. If I had more time, I would conduct usability testings on 4-5 entry or new grad remote employees to test these different variations in order to make data driven decision.

Style Guide

In the design process, I examined Agora's design guidelines and adhered to their prescribed color palette. Additionally, I ensured seamless compatibility by incorporating a font that aligns with their specifications into my design. This approach ensured a cohesive and harmonious visual identity for the project.

User Flow

In order to work more efficiently and have a clear idea of my product, I created a user flow.

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Access a rich repository of health and fitness resources. Users gain valuable insights into exercise benefits and best practices. Each learning achievement earns points towards PTO, seamlessly blending education with motivation.

Check out my interactive prototype below!

Results

I won first place in the Enterprise Track for Design! Woohooo! :D

Reflection

Overall, this project was a rewarding experience! It was my first time participating in a protothon solo, and while it did get quite stressful at times, moments like these underscored the value of a collaborative environment. In the tight time frame, I had to efficiently decide which design features to prioritize, showcasing my proficiency in time management and focus on core functionalities for a functional prototype.
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What went well:

Being able to make quick and informed decisions under the 48-hour timeline
Have a clear plan and manage my tasks in timely manner
Challenging myself to think outside the box

Opportunities for improvement:

Conduct thorough user testing to gather valuable feedback and insights
I would expand on the user flows, creating a more detailed and comprehensive framework to guide users through various scenarios and interactions within the application

03 / bump

How might we design a digital platform that replicates spontaneous in-person interactions?