Project Overview
The Product
This is a cusom business account app for a butcher shop owner. He used one of the big business apps and found them to be to complicated and above his and his staffs skill level. He wants an app that’s user friendly, intuitive and includes support documentation that easy to read and follow.
Duration
April 2021 - October 2021
The Problem
Business Accounting apps are combersome, complicated and difficult navigate
Support documentation is incomprehensible
The Goal
To building user-friendly, uncomplicated intuitive business accounting app for a small business owner.
My Role
This project is a course assignment. I am the sole designer of this project.
Responsibilities
I was responsible for research, design, wireframes, mockups, usability testing, prototypes and the hand-off to production.
Understanding the User
Research Summary
I interviewed small business owners regarding their use of business account apps and how they keep their accounting records.
I found that most use excel spreadsheets because they have no time to learn new technology. They find business account apps to be a bit complicated for their purposes and find the excel sheet to be more streamlined and straight forward. These small business owners are not very computer literate and don’t want to be.
Pain Points
1
Complicated
Bussiness apps are loaded with features and complicated to figure out.
2
Support
The suport for the app is not helpful. Calling could mean being passed around to get an answer. Documentation is incomprehensible. No video tutorials.
3
Not intuitive
The apps is not easy to navigate. Not user friendly. Appears to be designed for accountants not business owners.
4
Slow Syncing
External account syncing can take 2 to 3 days. There’s no apparent way to speed the process up.
Persona
| Age: | 59 |
| Education: | BA in Business Admin |
| Location: | Easton, PA |
| Family: | Wife, 5 children |
| Occupation: | Butcher Shop Owner |
Emory is a business owner who needs a simple, user friendly business accounting app to track his business finances, transactions and payroll without complicating features.
Journey Map
Reviewing Emory’s user map made me realize the app should be simple, streamlined, easy to use and have detailed support packed in.
The Design
Paper Wireframes
Digital Wireframes
Low Fidelity Prototype
Usability Study Findings
In both rounds of tesing users found the app inituitive and user friendly. First round issues highlighted by participants included inconsistent element placement and text that was to light and small. The second-round participants favored the link search method over the input method and wanted better page identification (too light).
Round 1
- Menu location needs to be consistent
- Menu should inlcude links to all app pages
- Support search method results may be biased
Round 2
- Page indicator is to light (we had lightened the navbar link to indicate the page)
- Support link search methods was a clear winner
- Users were able to complete all task in under 10 minutes
Refining the Design
Mockups
High Fidelity Prototype
Accessiblity Considerations
1
- Font-size and weight are critical to creating a good experience for users with disability.
- All interactive elements should be keyboard accessible.
2
- Color contrast should meet industry standards.
- Adding icons and labels makes the app more accessible across different cultures.
3
- Add transcript for audio and and aria-labels to visual elements.
- Make sure links/buttons are consistent and large enough for users with mobility issues to click on.
Going Forward
Takeaways
Impact:
For small businesses, a premium business accounting app can be cumbersome. A customized, streamlined, user friendly app is a viable alternative.
My computer skill level didn't affect my ability to all complete tasks.
Participant C
What I learned:
The biggest take away for me was the role that reseach plays in forming a good user experience.
It also pays to create a design systems. The system keeps the design consistent, makes it easy to work across teams and helps onboard new team members.
Next Steps
View Case Study Slide DeckThank You
About Me
My love of all things front-end started back in 2013. With no funds to partake in a formal web design education, I began training via MOOCs. As the world of web develop is ever changing, I have continued and expanded my studies. Recently earning a Google UX Design Professional Certificate.
My mission is to build modern, scalable, user-centric web sites. Using best web practices, css frameworks, js libraries, prototyping tools and as many open sourced resources as possible.
Transitioning from a legal secretary to a web/ux designer at first glance seems tricky. However, my legal secretary career included working on a computer 7 - 9 hours a day. I have always been a look under-the-hood type and got to know Microsoft office pretty well. Learning and incorporating VBA and macros into my every day work product. Which made the leap to web design seamless. I'm using the same skills, but a more precise level. It's a good thing.