Long Distance Relationships
UX Research Project
Roles & responsibilities
Development of design principles Research question & hypothesis
Research plan
Interview questions
User interviews
Task oriented usability evaluation
Final research presentation
Methods
Surveys
Diary Studies
User Interviews
Team
Dave Kennedy
Corynne Umeda
Roy Luo
Zirui Wang
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Executive Summary
Long Distance Relationships — Time Machine:
This assignment focused on the problem space of long distance communication with the intent of exploring the design question: “How might we make long distance communication with time differences an
exciting, motivating, and smooth experience?”
We generated rich data through survey’s, interviews, and diaries that users kept as they communicated over long distances. Our research helped us gain quite a bit of knowledge and empathy for our users:
• Through this process we learned that the lack of physical presence is often replaced by a physical representation like a photo.
• We also found that most of our subjects preferred having interactive activities like online games or a shared diary.
• Time difference was an issue that we had predicted with the results of our research emphasizing the effort it takes to maintain a relationship while on different time zones.
• There was a great desire to create shared topics of conversation and intimate details.
Low Fidelity Prototype
Design Solution:
We designed a visual representation of a timeline that allows users to graphically compare their life events with close personal relationships. The design allows you to add pictures and icons that represent events, as well as, schedule posts and responses forward and backward in time. Our Summary of Findings represent our users response to a paper prototype we created of this mobile application.
Time Machine Design Layout
Design Findings:
• Most of our users expressed the need for an option for group discussions and a way to see multiple timelines at once.
• Users responded positively to the timeline GUI which visualizes their information.
• Users noted that they would be more inclined to use our app for larger time differences since they could easily call those that that are on shorter time differences.
• Users would like to customize privacy settings for different people they communicate with.
•Scheduling messages and responses forward and backward in time was a stand out feature.
•Users would like a graphical solution that makes it obvious when their connections are available.
• Users would like to be able to link their social media accounts to Fb, IG, etc.
View My Research on Virginia Mason's Prototyping dept. →
Documents created:
Design Principles
Personas
Findings & Recommendations
Final presentation
Lo-Fi Prototype (in use)