NICHA CHAO
WideWorks
Explore your ideal worksapces
with your personality and interested
Overview
WideWork is a mobile app for remote workers to simplifiles the workspace search and builds a supportive community for remote workers. It helps they find ideal workspaces using a fitter tool based on their personality traits and interests. Users can also rely on reviews from fellow remote workers for trustworthy recommendations.
Role
Solo project : UX, UI designer
Ficma
Tool
Duration
4 Weeks (May - June 2023)
Goal
The way people work has experienced a significant transformation, impacting both employees and organizations worldwide. To support the new work arrangement trends in the future, the goal of this project is to assist remote workers in finding their ideal workspaces. Additionally, it aims to support the revival of workspace businesses that are adapting to the emerging future of work.
Current situation
The year since 2020 has changed work, impacting every person and organization across the globe. Remote and hybrid work arrangement have emerged as new and growing phenomena. Flexible hour work is here to stay and the talent landscape has experienced a significant and fundamental change.
The way people work : According to a recent monthly online survey conducted by SWAA research in June 2023, it was found that 12% of U.S. residents were working fully remotely by May 2023.
Lack of face-to-face interactions : A significant number, around 30%, of fully remote workers have never had the opportunity to meet their colleagues in person.
Remote work not only affects individual remote workers but also has a significant impact on businesses. According to Remote workers in US statistics, 71.5% of co-working space users plan to return, and 54.9% of remote workers are considering trying co-working spaces for the first time.
The number of co-working spaces worldwide is projected to reach 20,000 in 2020 and is expected to more than double by 2024, highlighting the increasing demand and popularity of such spaces.
71.5%
54.9%
Percentage of co-working space users who plan to return
Percentage of remote workers who plan to try working at a co-working space for the first time
Understand user
In addition to conducting surveys to gather information, I also conducted in-depth interviews with remote workers. Through video meetings, I allowed them to express and explain their work experiences before and after becoming remote workers.
It became evident that a stable work environment is essential for all workers, especially those who frequently change locations. A steady workspace not only motivates their work but also instills a sense of assurance before deciding to work in a particular setting.
Findings
One of the key insights I discovered is that remote workers often work in isolation, lacking the presence of colleagues. As a result, their work environment plays a crucial role in their productivity and overall well-being. It is essential for remote workers to explore and find a workspace that provides a peaceful and conducive atmosphere that aligns with their specific needs. Creating a suitable work environment becomes a vital condition for their success.
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Solution
Ideate
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Initial sketches
The inclusion of a filter feature allows users to easily find workspaces that align with their preferences. The results are presented with a matching percentage, indicating the level of compatibility. The platform categorizes digital nomad reviews based on their matching needs and personality traits, providing users with a comprehensive list of relevant insights.
My initials idea are Intuitive filters for selecting user needs, followed by presenting top matching workspace information.
Problem statement
How might we design a direct and efficient navigation system for remote workers to find workspaces that meet their specific needs, enabling them to explore with confidence and make clearly decisions?
Personalized filtering for informed decision-making
Categorized reviews by remote workers for tailored insights
User flow
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Exiting user flow
After understanding users and find solution, I have recapped the way how people searching workspace. Based on the existing user flow, the typical process for people searching for a workspace involves starting a search based on their needs, reading information from different options, and rechecking to make the best decision. To enhance this process
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New user flow
I have designed a new user flow that allows users to filter their search criteria upfront. This approach aims to provide the most relevant and matching results, reducing the need for extensive reading and decision-making from numerous choices. The intention is to streamline the search process and facilitate quicker and more informed decision-making for users.
Storyboard
To better understand how users interact and navigate through the session flow, I begin by sketching a storyboard. This visual representation helps me observe and analyze user behavior.
Art direction
I have chosen blue and green as the primary colors, representing the earth and its connection to remote workers who live and travel around the world. These colors symbolize the freedom of remote work, allowing individuals to work from any location, whether it be on land or across the vast oceans.
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WideWorks is derived from the word "work," symbolizing its importance to remote workers, and "wide," representing the extensive range of workspace locations, job opportunities, and collaborative possibilities.
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The concept of "working widely" is a key aspect for remote workers, and it inspired me to design a logo that symbolizes the harmony between these two words. The logo represents a reflection that signifies the perfect lifestyle of remote workers, where they can work freely and expansively.
​I have designed a Lo-fi prototype with a focus on prioritizing user flow steps based on user needs to ensure finding matching results. The design takes into account the user's requirements and aims to provide a seamless experience in achieving their desired outcome.
Lo-fi prototype
Hi-fi prototype
The welcome page begins by addressing a problem, progresses towards a defined goal, and concludes with a solution to exhibit empathy towards users and motivate them to initiate app usage.
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Analysis user
The filtering feature allows for the analysis of users based on their personality traits and behavior.In addition to being aware of user needs, I have also incorporated an environment section that addresses the main challenge of remote work. This section focuses on providing workspace types and amenities that cater to specific job requirements. Furthermore, I have emphasized the importance of technology equipment support, as it is a crucial consideration for remote workers.
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The goal is to ensure that users have a comprehensive understanding of their workspace options and are equipped with the necessary tools to thrive in their remote work journey.
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Trustworthy remote workers review
The friend's review filter enhances user trust by showcasing genuine experiences shared by real individuals
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Categorize users
The calculation derived from the filter is used to categorize users into specific groups based on their characteristics as digital nomads. This information is then represented by icons displayed under the profiles of others, indicating a potential match in their digital nomad type.
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This feature aims to foster a sense of trustworthiness among users. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that the presence of a significant remote workers population serves to reassure users that they are not alone and that there are numerous like-minded individuals within their network. Individuals.
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Show the best matching
The result information includes a matching percentage, enabling users to identify their best choice of match. Additionally, it displays the chosen needs and preferences that are not currently available in the provided options.
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The inclusion of call, map, share, and see detail buttons allows users to efficiently access additional information and make informed decisions when reviewing primary information about a place.
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Including feedback from friends of remote workers.
To instill a sense of trust and conciseness, the reviews displayed on the platform showcase highlight wordings specifically relevant to the user's applied filters. This approach ensures that users can quickly grasp the key aspects of each review while maintaining facilitating easy comprehension.
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Re-filter
The re-filter feature grants users the freedom to explore new workspaces based on their specific circumstances at any time they desire.
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Create album
Given the frequent relocation of remote workers, the app incorporates an album list feature that enables users to create and name albums, making it easier for them to remember and organize their experiences in various places, countries, states, and more.
Prototype and test
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Usability testing
​To assess the effectiveness of the design, I conduct usability testing after completing the prototype. During this testing phase, I inform the users that they will be testing my application, emphasizing that there are no right or wrong answers and encouraging them to think out loud.
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I create a scenario where users imagine themselves as remote workers in a new country, seeking a workspace without any prior knowledge. Throughout the testing session, I observe how users interact with the prototype and note any issues, feedback, or suggestions they express.
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While I am unable to answer their questions during the session, after finished testing I encourage users to share their experiences, thoughts, and any questions they may have for improvement.
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Findings
The usability testing results indicated that users found the application easy to use and navigate, with a clear understanding of its functionality. However, some users encountered confusion on the 'result page', as there was no evident clickable sign to guide them to the next step.
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Improvement
To enhance the result page, I plan to provide more detailed information that will allow users to have a clearer understanding of the basis and make informed decisions.
Final design
What I learned
This is my first UX/UI project, and it has been overwhelming to solve the diverse range of problems related to a worldwide topic. Conducting research and iterating through various topics helped me identify the main problem to focus on. This project has allowed me to learn the design process, including research, user interviews, usability testing, and creating UI designs from scratch.
What I can build on next
For the next step my comprehensive approach aims to identify and implement the best solution that genuinely addresses user needs and effectively solves their problems. By following a systematic and process, I aim to ensure that the final result is user-centric and meets the highest standards of quality and usability.
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