USABILITY USER-CENTERED UI/UX VISUAL DESIGN INTERACTIVE DESIGN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROTOTYPE/WIREFRAMING APP DEVELOPMENT DESIGN CONSULTING USER RESEARCH
creativity meets functionality.
date: Spring 2021
duration: 16 week individual project
focus: UI/UX research/design, app development
tools: Illustrator, Photoshop, Figma
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Your messages. Purely delivered.
Introducing the brand new translation service designed to fit your best needs whenever you feel troubled with English
research phase
design statement
"Designing a new translation app that provides variations of translation services to assist non-native speakers for English in everyday struggles with language."
user interviews
competitive market research
surveys and mind mapping
discovering insights
The discovery research phase is divided into 3 main research methods of user interviews, competitive market research, and surveys and mind mapping to find the design opportunities for the problem.
People whose native language is not English and need assistance
People who often help people with English language barrier
People who are professionally certified translators (will interview)
People who does not need translator nor help people with language barrier
user interviews
Interviewed 4 different groups of people who are involved in the problem
questionnaire for interview
1. How often do you use a translating app? What type of app or service do you use?
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2. Have you ever experienced situations where you had a language barrier? What was challenging about it?
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3. How do you deal with situations where you need an urgent translator?
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4. If you could change one thing about existing translating services (apps, companies, online translators), what would it be?
1. How often do you help someone with language?
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2. What are some situations where someone needed you urgently for emergency situations related to language barrier?
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3. What are the hardships or challenges as a translator for someone?
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4. Do you use a translating app? What are some challenges while suing the app or service?
1. How often do you help someone with language?
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2. What are some situations where someone needed you urgently for emergency situations related to language barrier?
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3. How would it be possible to identify if someone can actually speak a certain language? What would be a good way to test people?
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4. Any suggestion on what I should include in the app?
surveys
- Google translator #1
- Incorrect translation and awkward sentence flow using translating app
- Urgent situations with language barrier
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- Car accident, small and big everyday problems
- During argument with someone
- Hospital visit with no translator
- Contract signing
- Situations when difference in one word could result in big difference
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- Takes too long to type phrases during conversation
- The translator on the phone cannot hear clearly when there are more than 2 people in conversation
- Opponents might not be willing to talk to the phone or physically cannot because there are too many people
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- Problems
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- Solution to urgent situations
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- Use translating app
- Contact friends and family who have time
- Just ignore
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- Situations for helping with translation
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- At market looking for an item
- Car accidents, government, utility calls
- Hospital visits, ER visits
- Explaining service to clients
- Car deal, contract issues
- Helping parents
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- Hardships with helping people with language
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- No time
- Hard to understand context of situation through phone call and cannot hear clearly
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insights from two main groups
pain points
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1. Limits on current translating apps
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2. Frustrating and unfair situations due to language barrier
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3. In need of translator vs. No time to translate
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4. People may have no one to ask for help
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design opportunities
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Design an app that provides the service of physically bringing a translator to user’s need.
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Create translation service that helps with urgent and unexpected everyday situations.
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Provide assistance to users who struggle with language barrier and also provide part-time job opportunity for translators.
directional research
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developing concepts for further exploration and design discussion guide for in-depth interviews on each concept
discussion guide
Overarching design idea of the topic: Create a service that helps people with language barrier during unexpected everyday situation
For each concept, ask:
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What do you think about each concept? Which highlighted feature is the best and the worst?
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What do you think would work the best if included in this concept?
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What would you change if you could make the concept better or improve it?
If you would rank the concepts….
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Overall concept (concept that would help solve the overarching theme the best)
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Best feature and worst feature out of all concepts combined
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Easy access and usability of concepts
4 final concepts
A mobile app with video/phone call with available translators
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A mobile app that provides services of physical translators nearby
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A dictionary app that helps with certain situations
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Platform (mobile app) where user can search for translation of certain situations or phrases
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concept .01
insights after interviews
concept .02
insights after interviews
concept .03
insights after interviews
concept .04
insights after interviews
ranking concepts
final insights
Focus on fast and easy usability
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Target for simple interface for older users
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Importance of understanding context of situation and translating emotions
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Searching through threads vs. Human translator
Fast and easy accessibility
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Simple UI navigation
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Match translation service to the needs of the user
- Providing customized service
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Clean and calm interface for older users
design criteria
final insights and researches narrowed down to 4 main design criteria
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basic wireframe
two main users:
Users for translation purposes vs. Users who provide translation (translators)
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user wireframe
translator wireframe
final product: Nuol
Introducing the brand new translation service designed to fit your best needs
01. variation in translation service
Choose the type of translation service you want and choose your language so we can assist you in your needs
Customers can choose from 3 different translation services that suits their situation
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In-person translation
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Video translation
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Phone call translation
After selecting the type of service you want, go ahead and choose main situation to match you with the experts in the related field
Next, choose details of your situation so we can assist you with best quality service
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Not seeing your situation from the list?
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No worries, you can always type in your specific situation to let us know how to help you.
02. finding your perfect match
After choosing the type of service and your situation, NuoL helps you to find you the best translator
Based on your keywords and situations, NuoL scans nearby translators who are available and are ready to serve you
There are two types of translators
Regular Translators
Regular translators are people who are multilingual with fluent speaking and reading skills, but does not own professional certification in translation
Premium Translators
Premium translators are professionally certified translator who are much more experienced in translation services than regular translators
Advantage: -Cheaper price per time
-High availability as a group
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Disadvantage: -Lower professionalism
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Advantage: -High professionalism
- Experienced and trained
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Disadvantage: -Lower availability as group
-Higher price per time
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rating/reviews
Pick your own translator based on his/her ratings and reviews
03.a fast, EASY, AFFORDABLE
NuoL provides a fast and quick translation services
In an emergency situation and need a translator as quick as possible?
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No worries, NuoL got your back.
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You can always fast-forward to a typing page to explain your situation briefly without completing the list part. Also, there are options of fast video or phone call with a matched translator for a fast and quick service.
03.b FAST, easy, AFFORDABLE
Easy and simple navigation through the app for high usability and accessibility for older customers
Login Page
Menu Bar
Map Page
03.c FAST, EASY, affordable
With NuoL, you can choose between two types of translators to match their price limit
Initial payment (first 15 minutes of service) + Charges after 15 minutes
You want quick translation for everyday purpose?
Get yourself a regular translator for lower pay.
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You want expert translator for professional purpose?
Get yourself a premium translator for a higher pay.
04.a MAKING APPOINTMENTS
CUSTOMER VIEW
Need to plan ahead for important event? You can make appointments with our trusted translators anytime
Let us know how, when, and where we need to help you and we will find you skilled translators who are available
Customers can book an appointment prior to big events
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NuoL suggests you based on your previous translators as well as new ones!
04.b MAKING APPOINTMENTS
TRANSLATOR VIEW
Translators can accept and deny appointments, and view their booked appointments.
Hover over the dates to see who booked you for certain dates
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Different colored circles represent the type of service
- In-Person
- Video Call
- Phone Call
Customer's profile, location, time, date, and needs are shown for translators so they can help the customer in best ways
Translators can select days that they are available for different types of services
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Purple = In-Person
Blue = Video Call
Red = Phone Call
05. unlock premium for forum
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You can unlock premium mode for forum platform where one can search situations and find helpful answers
Search for a specific situation or look through popular topics and trends for studying and referencing
Ask about use of certain English phrases or how to react to different situations, and our professionally hired translators will provide best solutions
Branding of nuol
Story behind branding logo, color, name, and vibe of NuoL
Use of pastel tones for easiness on eye along with emphasis on branding calm and gentle vibe for welcoming wide range of users
pantone 11-0601 TPX bright white
pantone 12-2907 TPG pink marshmallow
pantone 7443 C lavender
pantone 2707 sky
pantone 2985 C
Waves representing waves of connections created through NuoL
simple and clean
Main theme of the brand design
name originates from Korean word meaning ocean wave created by wind
pantone 11-0601 TPX bright white
pantone 2707 sky
Logo design with gentle wave representing how NuoL will create wave of change
storyboard
How and when do you use NuoL?
Getting into arguments or high level conversation with someone in English
Signing contracts or agreements and need translation
Small car accidents or troubles
Let's take the first example of our customer getting into a verbal argument with someone at a market
Customer
NuoL Translator
Person who got into an argument with customer
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Can choose between in-person, video, or phone call
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