Collab Pro

Collab Pro

Collaborate with no confusion !

Collab pro

Collaborate with no confusion !

A UX case study focused on optimizing collaboration and communication features for google -workspace.

A UX case study focused on optimizing collaboration and communication features for google -workspace.

CONTEXT

CONTEXT

Collaborating effectively is often a challenge, especially when it comes to maintaining healthy teamwork. Freelancers, in particular, face unique difficulties in managing client relationships, ensuring effective communication, and balancing time commitments. Inspired by these research findings, I pursued this as a portfolio project at Lollypop Design Academy to address these challenges.

Collaborating effectively is often a challenge, especially when it comes to maintaining healthy teamwork. Freelancers, in particular, face unique difficulties in managing client relationships, ensuring effective communication, and balancing time commitments. Inspired by these research findings, I pursued this as a portfolio project at Lollypop Design Academy to address these challenges.

PROBLEM OVERVIEW

PROBLEM OVERVIEW

Struggling to say 'no'? That can be a challenge in a professional setting.

Struggling to say 'no'? That can be a challenge in a professional setting.

THE PROCESS

THE PROCESS

RESEARCH

RESEARCH

The initial phase of the project involved desk research, conducting interviews, and gathering insights by talking to people and learning from their experiences.

The initial phase of the project involved desk research, conducting interviews, and gathering insights by talking to people and learning from their experiences.

Freelancers

Freelancers

A freelancer is a self-employed person who works on a project-by-project basis, offering their services to clients. I found the user group of freelancers interesting as I could personally relate to many of the struggles they face through my own freelancing experiences.

A freelancer is a self-employed person who works on a project-by-project basis, offering their services to clients. I found the user group of freelancers interesting as I could personally relate to many of the struggles they face through my own freelancing experiences.

Interviews were conducted with 9 individuals, including both full-time and part-time freelancers, as well as 5 clients, to gain deeper insights into the challenges faced during project completion.

Interviews were conducted with 9 individuals, including both full-time and part-time freelancers, as well as 5 clients, to gain deeper insights into the challenges faced during project completion.

DOCUMENTATION AND FORMING INSIGHTS

DOCUMENTATION AND FORMING INSIGHTS

Freelancer persona:

Freelancer persona:

Client persona:

Client persona:

UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM

UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM

To dig deeper into the problem, let's understand the process involved in a project collaboration involving a freelancer and a client.

To dig deeper into the problem, let's understand the process involved in a project collaboration involving a freelancer and a client.

User journey mapping:

User journey mapping:

Freelancers often encounter unique challenges when collaborating with clients, particularly in areas that affect communication, clarity, and time management. Communication gaps can arise when freelancers struggle to articulate their design ideas effectively, especially if clients are unfamiliar with design concepts. Additionally, project ambiguity due to unclear briefs can result in misunderstandings, requiring freelancers to spend extra time clarifying expectations and objectives, while frequent revisions consume valuable time, impacting productivity and project timelines.

Freelancers often encounter unique challenges when collaborating with clients, particularly in areas that affect communication, clarity, and time management. Communication gaps can arise when freelancers struggle to articulate their design ideas effectively, especially if clients are unfamiliar with design concepts. Additionally, project ambiguity due to unclear briefs can result in misunderstandings, requiring freelancers to spend extra time clarifying expectations and objectives, while frequent revisions consume valuable time, impacting productivity and project timelines.

“I have difficulty in communicating and articulating my ideas with clients.”

“I have difficulty in communicating and articulating my ideas with clients.”

“Sometimes client doesn’t provide clear
project briefs”
“Corrections take up most of my time”

“At times, we need to educate the client"!

“At times, we need to educate the client"!

“Sometimes client doesn’t provide clear project briefs”
“Corrections take up most of my time”

HOW'S THIS A PROBLEM ?

HOW'S THIS A PROBLEM ?

• Meeting client expectations 🤼🏼

• Meeting client expectations 🤼🏼

When client expectations are unclear or constantly changing, freelancers face setbacks like extended timelines, overworked hours, and reduced focus on other tasks.

When client expectations are unclear or constantly changing, freelancers face setbacks like extended timelines, overworked hours, and reduced focus on other tasks.

• Conversational void 🤔💭

• Conversational void 🤔💭

Gaps in communication, or conversational voids, between a client and freelancer poses challenges for collaboration, leading to confusion and unclear objectives. These challenges can lead to delays, increased rework, and a loss of trust, ultimately impacting the project's timely execution and quality.

Gaps in communication, or conversational voids, between a client and freelancer poses challenges for collaboration, leading to confusion and unclear objectives. These challenges can lead to delays, increased rework, and a loss of trust, ultimately impacting the project's timely execution and quality.

• Unacknowledged effort 🔇

• Unacknowledged effort 🔇

A lack of motivation can significantly impact freelancers' productivity in collaborative work by reducing engagement and enthusiasm. Freelancers can face a lack of motivation due to various factors. Overlooking successes and the lessons they offer, leading to missed growth opportunities.

A lack of motivation can significantly impact freelancers' productivity in collaborative work by reducing engagement and enthusiasm. Freelancers can face a lack of motivation due to various factors. Overlooking successes and the lessons they offer, leading to missed growth opportunities.

Freelancers who work in creative fields, struggle with effective communication with clients. Implementing a collaborative platform with transparency features, to their daily task completion apps, by providing communication aids, would help both parties to work in a proactive workspace.

Freelancers who work in creative fields, struggle with effective communication with clients. Implementing a collaborative platform with transparency features, to their daily task completion apps, by providing communication aids, would help both parties to work in a proactive workspace.

APPROACH

APPROACH

Most freelancers use Google Workspace for easier communication with clients, as it offers a seamless suite of collaborative tools that enhance real-time collaboration, file sharing, and project management. Considering “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” principle, the approach make use of existing google workspace and adding a the collaborative feature to it.

Most freelancers use Google Workspace for easier communication with clients, as it offers a seamless suite of collaborative tools that enhance real-time collaboration, file sharing, and project management. Considering “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” principle, the approach make use of existing google workspace and adding a the collaborative feature to it.

FINDING THE OPPORTUNITY

FINDING THE OPPORTUNITY

Why do people enjoy freelancing?
Interview insights suggest that freelancers like the their working style since they can be their own boss and are in control of their work. They appreciate the flexibility that comes with their job since it gives them the freedom to structure their routine. Freelancers like the creative freedom since they can create and work in their own style.

Why do people enjoy freelancing?
Interview insights suggest that freelancers like the their working style since they can be their own boss and are in control of their work. They appreciate the flexibility that comes with their job since it gives them the freedom to structure their routine. Freelancers like the creative freedom since they can create and work in their own style.

Let’s explore the motivations and goals of the users.

Let’s explore the motivations and goals of the users.

Here lies the opportunity to build on something that’s already existing!
Presenting a collaborative feature to the google workspace - g chat that aligns with it’s existing structure.

Here lies the opportunity to build on something that’s already existing!
Presenting a collaborative feature to the google workspace - g chat that aligns with it’s existing structure.

Google Chat as a Medium to Communicate:
Google Chat integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace, allowing real-time communication, file sharing, and collaboration within the same ecosystem. This streamlines discussions about tasks, minimizes context switching, and ensures that team members stay aligned during the project.

Google Chat as a Medium to Communicate:
Google Chat integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace, allowing real-time communication, file sharing, and collaboration within the same ecosystem. This streamlines discussions about tasks, minimizes context switching, and ensures that team members stay aligned during the project.

Existing Google-chat structure
The existing Google Workspace screen flow was analysed to understand the task flow.

Existing Google-chat structure
The existing Google Workspace screen flow was analysed to understand the task flow.

INTRODUCING COLLAB-PRO (drum rolls)

INTRODUCING COLLAB-PRO (🥁drum rolls..)

The "Create Space" welcoming screen introduces the Collab Pro feature as a toggle option. Users can enable it if desired or proceed with the default Google Chat settings. This design provides users with the flexibility to customize their setup while easily returning to the default functionality if needed.

Wireframes

With 'Collab-pro' feature:

With 'Collab-pro' feature:

To ensure a clear understanding of the feature, wireframes were created. These served as a visual guide, transforming task flows into detailed screens for better clarity.

To ensure a clear understanding of the feature, wireframes were created. These served as a visual guide, transforming task flows into detailed screens for better clarity.

FEATURES

FEATURES

  1. Milestone tracker - Accomodate and Educate
    Milestone tracker is a simplified version of the informal project brief discussed between freelancer and the client to ensure transparency in project progress.
    A wizard flow from ‘get started’ action in the welcoming screen leads user to set milestones in the ‘task’ tab.

  1. Milestone tracker - Accomodate and Educate

Milestone tracker is a simplified version of the informal project brief discussed between freelancer and the client to ensure transparency in project progress.
A wizard flow from ‘get started’ action in the welcoming screen leads user to set milestones in the ‘task’ tab.

  1. Beyond Feedback - Helpful prompts
    “Every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration.

    Constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought.”

    - Margaret Chase Smith (1972).


    •Giving helpful prompts, smart replies structuring conversations for building stronger Freelancer-Client Connections
    •Specificity,objectivity,action-ability.
    •Actionable suggestions.

  1. Beyond Feedback - Helpful prompts

“Every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration.

Constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought.”

- Margaret Chase Smith (1972).


•Giving helpful prompts, smart replies structuring conversations for building stronger Freelancer-Client Connections
•Specificity,objectivity,action-ability.
•Actionable suggestions.

  1. ‘Wrapped up space journey’- Don’t keep quiet about it!
    This feature aims at celebrating and getting insightful about efforts.
    Appreciate your clients for their collaboration, their trust, and their success.
    By celebrating and acknowledging your clients, you can strengthen your relationship, enhance your reputation, and create repeat customers.

  1. ‘Wrapped up space journey’- Don’t keep quiet about it!

This feature aims at celebrating and getting insightful about efforts.
Appreciate your clients for their collaboration, their trust, and their success.
By celebrating and acknowledging your clients, you can strengthen your relationship, enhance your reputation, and create repeat customers.

THE P.O.V POWER!

THE P.O.V POWER!

Though the design process began by addressing the challenges faced by freelancers, the solution empowers anyone to collaborate seamlessly using Collab Pro, which was the cherry on top!

Though the design process began by addressing the challenges faced by freelancers, the solution empowers anyone to collaborate seamlessly using Collab Pro, which was the cherry on top!

The "Create Space" welcoming screen introduces the Collab Pro feature as a toggle option. Users can enable it if desired or proceed with the default Google Chat settings. This design provides users with the flexibility to customize their setup while easily returning to the default functionality if needed.

HMM..DOES IT SOLVE?

HMM..DOES IT SOLVE?

The overall impact of the project was positive. Nevertheless, there were tons of learning and a lot of areas to improve upon.

The overall impact of the project was positive. Nevertheless, there were tons of learning and a lot of areas to improve upon.

LEARNINGS

LEARNINGS

This case study has strengthened my design skills, especially in consistency, structure, and prototyping. My biggest growth has been in design thinking, focusing on identifying areas for improvement and incorporating UX principles before diving into solutions. I eagerly anticipate the next project I undertake!

This case study has strengthened my design skills, especially in consistency, structure, and prototyping. My biggest growth has been in design thinking, focusing on identifying areas for improvement and incorporating UX principles before diving into solutions. I eagerly anticipate the next project I undertake!

View detailed Design Process

View detailed Design Process

View detailed Design Process

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Learnings and Insights

Design Detective-Observation book

Learnings and Insights

Design Detective-Observation book

Learnings and Insights

Design Detective-Observation book