Skill Learning Case Study

Brief

The skill learning case study describes the design process of a website that would help people build their sense of competency and improve their self-esteem by providing them a way to learn or build a skill. This case study was done as the first big project of the university course, UX Research Methods for Design. The solution includes a suggestion quiz to assist people in finding a skill to build, and a dashboard that allows people to post their own progress and view other people's progress. Due to time constraints, the project ended after usability testing.

Project Goals

• Understand what motivates people to work towards a goal the most.
• Understand why people quit doing one thing but not another.
• Understand how feedback plays into helping people build and learn new skills.

Primary Research

I interviewed college students in the United States and sent out a survey to collect responses from them.

Survey

• Qualtrics
• 20 responses
• Sample questions:
  • How motivated/productive were you before the pandemic?
  • How motivated/productive were you after the pandemic?
  • Have you ever tried learning a new skill or developing an existing skill?
  • If you have experience developing/practicing a skill, how do you find time for it?
  • If you have stopped developing/practicing a skill, why did you stop?

Interview

• 30 minutes zoom calls
• 4 interviews
• Sample questions:
  • Do you feel more or less productive as a result of this pandemic? Explain.
  • How does your level of motivation before the pandemic compare to your level of motivation after the pandemic?
  • What kind of things usually keep you motivated to work towards something?
  • Have you ever tried to learn something new or work on something you already know.
  • Have you tried using a product that helps you be more productive? For example, an app that helps you study or an app that helps you get into a habit of doing something.

Secondary Research

I researched and analyzed similar products on the market using the 10 usability heuristics.

Affinity Mapping

I created an affinity map to consolidate findings from the interviews and surveys.

Below are my key findings:

• Personal interest in the topic is important.
• People are generally less motivated and productive after the onset of the pandemic.
• Social interactions play a big role in level of motivation and productivity.
• Learning a skill is not prioritized.
• Efficiency is important.
• The more people invest in a skill, the less likely they’ll quit.

Personas & Journey maps

I created two unique personas with their own respective journey map in the context of learning/developing a skill.

Problem Statements

After creating the personas and journey maps, I wrote problem statements for each of them.

Brainstorming

I used an 8-box brainstorm to create potential solutions.

Prioritization Matrix

I analyzed the potential solutions and organized them on a 2-dimensional graph based on their user value and effort required.

Storyboards

I created a storyboard for each persona to illustrate how they would use different features of the product to solve their respective problems.

Suggestion Quiz

Dashboard

Sketches

I created sketches for the suggestion quiz and dashboard features of the product.

Suggestion quiz

Dashboard

Wireframes

I created different wireframes for the home screen, suggestion quiz and dashboard features of the product.

Home Screen

Suggestion Quiz

Dashboard

Usability Testing

I conducted usability testing on the wireframes using the think-aloud protocol and A/B testing. The primary participants of these tests are college students.

Think-Aloud Protocol Sample Questions

• What are some things that come to mind when you see this page?
• What catches your attention the most on this screen?
• What actions would you most likely take on this page?
• What are some things you like and dislike about this page?

A/B Testing

Test + Results

Affinity Map + Key Findings

Takeaways & Future Directions

Takeaways

• Ask follow-up questions in interviews when applicable.
• Use interviews to ask questions that you can’t ask on surveys.
• Affinity maps are super helpful for both primary research and usability testing.

Future Directions

• Narrow down topic and audience
• More interviews and surveys