UX Hackathon Award Project · UX Research · UI/UX Design
One Iota Mobile is a mobile app that expands One Iota’s current website to help golfers track their key performance data while on course quickly and effectively.
Role
UX Design Lead
UI Designer
UX Researcher
Prototyper
Team
Jerry L.
Christina L.
Kasey L.
Period
Two-weeks UX design project for a real-world client - One Iota, which was assigned from UX Design Hackathon
Strategies
Research
Persona
Wireframing
Prototyping
User testing
Tools
After Effects
Figma
Award
Won the second class prize among 48 teams in Eunoia UX Design Hackathon
Client
One Iota Performance is a golf performance statistics tracking platform that aims to help golf athletes consistently improve their performance by providing analysis on key golf metrics. Currently One Iota Performance is a only-web platform with a intricate data analysis.
Problem Space
Iota’s current software is only available on a web platform, which are more likely to be accessed after the game ends. However, we found that 0% of the players use a website to track their golf statistics and 82% of them track their performance while they play*
*Based on a survey conducted in the Vancouver Formosan Golf Club consisted of golfers with varying skill levels. By the Team, April 2023.
Framing
How might we streamline the process of inputting data for competitive amateurs golfers to make golf performance tracking more efficient?
Opportunity
We looked into portable technology because it allows golfers to input their golf performance more efficient during the play. We identified four opportunities from recording the golfers' performance with portable devices:
1. Allow golfers to efficiently enter data and voice note
2. Preloads all the default golf course information to cut off golfers input time
3. Measure golfers' mental health at the end of each hole
4. Notify golfers and remind them to track their stats after they leave the current hole
Challenge
Forgetting document the statistics during the golf round has been a common issue for golfers, while the competitive golfers need to track their performance for improvement. Trying to solve this problem, our ideas were more ambitious at the brainstorming stage, such as create a smartwatch App to track their performance on the course. After conducting a survey with some competitive golfer and interviewing with the client, we acknowledged some critical challenges that we could be facing if we only design the smartwatch App for golfers. The challenges are ranging from different perspectives:
1. Balance the needs of the client and users
2. Limited golf knowledge and experience
3. Requires users to complete a tedious mental assessment in current website
To achieve a high degree of completion within a limited time, I suggested to shift our focus from creating a smartwatch app to developing a mobile application that match client's needs. One significant decision we have made is to keep the app user-friendly with general mental assessment rather than tedious mental diagnosis.
Before
After
Research Process
Apart from Christina, golf was a relatively obscure topic for us. Our team invested four days in observing Christina's family play golf, interviewing key stakeholders, and conducting online and field research on golf. Through our research, we gained clarity on the rules of golf and the process of playing the sport.
We kicked off the process with a comprehensive research phase - gathering quantitative data from online surveys. Surveys of 66 participants were conducted survey virtually.
Participant
Participants from age 19 to 50+ competitive amateurs golfers in the Vancouver Formosan golf club
Data Collection
Gathered 66 responses to understand golfers' habits, methods of tracking golf performance, and which data is important for them to keep track of
Key Decision
After carefully analyzing the information provided by our client and considering the feedback obtained from our survey, we made a crucial design decision to simplify and clarify the visual representation of the golf app. This involved condensing the information into a more efficient, accessible, and portable version that met the needs of our participants. Moreover, based on this finding, we decided to shift our focus from creating a smartwatch app to developing a mobile app that offers greater accessibility.
Solution
One Iota Mobile
Our solutions is to create a user-friendly and streamlined mobile app that prioritized ease-of-use and accessibility for golf enthusiasts of all skill levels to track their key performance data while on course quickly and effectively.
Feature 1: GPS Tracking
When users want to add a round, the app automatically locates the golf course they are current at and preloads all the default information to cut off their input time.
GPS also allows the app to position users’ location while on course, providing them a map feature that let them know their progress as well as certain data such as Approach Distance or Distance from Tee to Hole.
Users’ Pain-point: Golfers require a lot of prep time for their equipment. Therefore, by the time they start a round of golf, they have limited time to type out all the pre-game information.
Feature 2: Prioritize Data
74% of the survey participants track or want to track their fairway and par each round. 65% of the survey participants track or want to track the number of putts each round. Therefore, I suggested that we should condense the amount of data users need to input by prioritizing the key statistics of each golf round. The app designed for optimizing input time by using click and tap as the main method of interaction, inputs that require keyboard are optional if users want a more advanced analysis.
Users’ Pain-point: Golfers reported to have only 5 minutes after each hole to use smart phones*
*Based on a survey conducted in the Vancouver Formosan Golf Club consisted of golfers with varying skill levels.
By the Team, April 2023.
Feature 3: Voice Note
Voice recording is the feature for users to easily make note pre-game and after each hole, as well as quickly record other statistics they personally want to track that are not included in the app that will be stored and available for later access.
Feature 4: Simplified Summary
This feature offers users a concise and comprehensive interface that is logically structured and simple to navigate. It includes separate analyses for the Front 9 and Back 9. The primary aim of this interface is to condense all essential information onto a single page, minimizing the need for multiple clicks. The 'View Detail' button directs users seeking more advanced analysis to access the service on the client’s website.
Feature 5: Tracking Reminder
Leveraging GPS functionality, the app will alert users and prompt them to track their statistics once they move away from the current hole.
Users’ Pain-point: 70% of surveyed golfers admitted that they do forget to track the golf performance*
*Based on a survey conducted in the Vancouver Formosan Golf Club consisted of golfers with varying skill levels. By the Team, April 2023.
Prototyping and User testing
After finishing the initial mockup, I made a simple prototype with Figma for user testing. Christina recruited golfers from Vancouver Formosan Golf Club to finish user testing. All participants appreciated that they were able to experience a similar flow to what they currently play in the golf round. The user testing also encouraged them to give more details about their user flow and habits for us to optimize the customization and functionality in One Iota Mobile.
1. Showing users quick analysis after the round, and direct them to the website for a more detailed version
2. Allow easy access with effective filter system for users to track their data after the round
3. Create an effective way to transfer recorded voice note from the mobile app to One Iota’s website
Extend Solution After the Hackathon
One Iota Smartwatch
Since we only had a week to complete the whole process, we chose the mobile app as our solution since majority golfers would like to use phone during the round. However, after this UX Design Hackathon, I decided to design a smartwatch version, which are easier for golfers to carry around the golf course.
Reflections
1. Future Improvement: Reflecting on this project, given more time, I would have explored additional strategies to enhance golfer engagement. A potential enhancement could involve integrating a feature allowing users to personalize their own user experience.
2. Encountered Challenges: Engaging in this project posed both challenges and valuable lessons. During the project, I encountered the need to compromise on design due to differing perspectives within the team. Embracing a collaborative approach, we navigated through conflicting design ideas by openly presenting and discussing our rationale, culminating in a compromise.
3. Key Takeaways: This project highlighted the crucial balance between meeting user and client needs in UX design. While addressing client demands is essential, I've come to understand as a UX designer that a human-centered approach takes precedence. Prioritizing user needs allowed us to align with the client's objectives effectively. Fortunately, our user research revealed a convergence between user and client needs, facilitating seamless collaboration and the prompt completion of the project.