Delivering location-based events for last-minute after-work fun
My Role
Hired as a UX designer, I played a pivotal role in achieving Product-Market Fit by conducting user research and iteratively refining the product. I led three iterations based on beta testing feedback, culminating in a final round with a 100% user satisfaction rate.
Duration
1yr (2023.2 - 2024.04)
Team
Visual Designer X1
Developer X4
Product Manager X1
Impact
First time as the sole product designer to develop an MVP product from scratch
I led the design and implementation of an MVP, handling user research and UX/UI design. Through iterative alpha and beta testing, I significantly increased the conversion rate and improved our Net Promoter Score (NPS), earning over 300 users in the first week.
Challenge
Newcomers struggle to build social networks without the support of established local connections
Based on early-stage user research, newcomers are usually restricted by their existing connections while settling in a new city. Imagine if you have to relocate to the Bay Area—think about how challenging it can be to meet new local friends without relying on established local connections.
So How might we...
Explore Nearby Events to Address Young People's Instant Social Needs?
User Interview Insights
Targeting newcomers unfamiliar with local activities.
We organized an online focus group comprising 10 individuals from GenZers to gain insights into the needs of the.
Pivoted Product Strategy
Pivoted from club events to local activities based on insights from user interviews and competitive analysis
Nextdoor and Meetup are our direct competitors and there are 6 popular social media as our indirect competitors. Both of them seek to address the challenges of social isolation, limited local connections, and community engagement.
With this insight, I recapped the discussion with the CEO, CTO, and Head of Design to categorize use cases when users create new tasks. I need to learn more about the workflow and necessary information
Rapid Prototype
Quickly assessed the usability of Marlo V.1 in a month
I conducted usability tests with 15+ diverse users (influencers, college students, etc.) and derived 5 valuable insights from their feedback.Every test interview lasted approximately 45 minutes, during which we received valuable feedback and made necessary iterations based on it.
For more complex tasks like creating models, datatables, databases, and ML engines, I designed a progressive disclosure wizard—a more optimized solution than a linear wizard to address personalized or specific management needs.
Revision 1
Empower users for targeted offline social exploration
Allows users to choose their preferred participants and search for users in a specific range, which is more adaptable to temporary social needs.
Revision 2
Online chats build trust, leading to real-life friendships
According to user research and testing feedback, I designed Marlo to facilitate quick offline socialization and foster trust in the short term.
