What is Manatee?
The Manatee mobile app is a child therapy app used by parents, children, and therapists to improve the behavior and habits of children. Parents and therapists can both set goals and give rewards to children while keeping track of their progress.
Problem Statement
The app’s current navigation scheme frustrated users' ability to use the app. Web analytics showed that users were abandoning tasks before successfully completing them.
Where to start?
As a user-focused professional, I began the design by conducting interviews with clients. The data I uncovered gave me the basis for developing some personas. Using personas through my design iterations helped me remain focused on who the product is for.
Customer Focused Research
Various user research activities were utilized to ensure a customer-focused product. Some of the methods included were contextual inquiry, affinity mapping, and card sorting.
Contextual inquiry yielded some very insightful information. Here are some of the most relevant and useful findings:
A. 90% of testers clicked on labels expecting something other than what they found.
B. 80% of testers were searching for add buttons at the bottom of the screen.
C. 100% of testers blamed themselves for not understanding terminology used in the app
Wireframing
Having a greater understanding of the problems I was solving, I began sketching possible solutions. Ideally, I spend as much time wireframing as possible because it allows time to explore lots of options. In my early explorations for this app, I was primarily focused on raising the visibility of existing functionality and improving iconography.
Information Architecture
The original site map for Manatee was very confusing. Navigation was of primary concern due to it not being located in a single spot. While conducting user research, I was able to craft a more fluent customer mental model.
Design Iterations
From my original sketch, I developed and iterated further on the menu design. Each new iteration brought opportunities to go back and test with users and validate. This ensured critical customer insights were driving the design. It was also
Focusing in on Usability
Final Design
Measuring Success
80% time reduction to complete measured tasks (add goals/rewards, mark complete)
90% of testers felt confident in their ability to navigate the app
The metrics showed great improvement to the app's organization and flow making for an easier experience for parents and children.
