Spanish in the Air App

Spanish in the Air App (SITA) is my first project using the design thinking framework, where I took up the challenge to go from research to the first iteration of a language app in about one month time. The idea was to take a deep dive into the design thinking process while embracing the spirit of the Lean UX methodology – flexibility to adapt, iterate, and evolve my design solutions in both an informed and effective manner. In the process, I focused on the challenge of learning a new language and more specifically, vocabulary acquisition in Spanish. The result is what would have been the first iteration in a cycle of many.

Understanding the Problem

What current digital products are helping travellers connect to the place they are visiting?

An important part of language learning is acquiring new vocabulary. There are many tools out on the market to help Spanish students. To understand what techniques can be used to tackle this problem I decided to make an analysis to some of the many vocabulary learning apps out there.

The analysis covered:
→ Pros and cons of each app in
→ Onboarding/Sign up/Login
→ Learning
→ Navigation
→ Product success and possible improvements

All 4 apps are in matured phase, so it was a challenge to find the cons. In order to do so, I really had to nitpick at the smallest of things and try to take the perspective of all sorts of users, in particular the audience that I felt the app was aimed towards.

This competitor analysis has helped me identify how the design approaches were supporting each differentiated learning approaches. By highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of every app, I was able to break down the apps to their basic components.

The short period to execute on this project forced me to lay these guiding principles for the work ahead:
→ Involve users early on
→ Develop user-centric features
→ Keep documentation minimum and keep waste at bay.
→ Fail early and often

Early Insights from the Field

Who needs the SITA app?

Next step was to define the user and the most important use cases. I chose 4 different people for my interview whose ages range from 29-47 years old:

→ 2 who have studied a language at a tertiary level

→ 2 who are currently using an app to self-study

The 2 variations might allow me to understand if these different learning styles would affect potential users’ behaviour when using a web-based app.

Research Goals

- Understand the strategies used to memorise new vocabulary when learning a foreign language.

- Identify different strategies people use in their learning and their effectiveness

- Understand what sort of daily dynamics these people have and how they fit their language learning into their lifestyle.

Research Results

Some of the main takeaway points from the interview were:

- People would spend at least 10mins but only up to 1hr per day at the most

- All the people mentioned immersive learning is the best way for them to learn

- 3/4 mentioned that interactive learning would improve their learning

- The main reason for learning a language was for communication when they travel

- Everyone said that the hardest aspect of learning a new language is retention

Empathising with the User

Who needs the SITA app?

Next step was to define the user and the most important use cases. I chose 4 different people for my interview whose ages range from 29-47 years old:

→ 2 who have studied a language at a tertiary level

→ 2 who are currently using an app to self-study

The 2 variations might allow me to understand if these different learning styles would affect potential users’ behaviour when using a web-based app.

Problem Statement

Francis needs structured and context-based learning to retain better new and past vocabulary so that he can expand his vocabulary and enhance recall of past vocabulary.

Hypothesis Statement

We believe that making a vocabulary app that focuses on 2 layered learning practices: acquisition and retention; will allow Francis to future-proof his knowledge.

User Stories

After brainstorming through different use cases, I prioritised the most important ones for the first iteration and seemed the most crucial to our objective.

The thing that stands out, when learning a language, is that vocabulary acquisition is a quite daunting and unforgiving task. Spaced repetition is a technique that can help Francis increase the rate of learning quite effectively.

Francis

Structure seeker

Needs

→ I need to recreate the immersive experience of being in a native country.I need to be able to put sentences and dialogue together not words.
→ It needs to be fun and meaningful, but guidance is essential.

Goals

→ Being able to achieve fluency in a new language to engage with natives in a normal conversation.
→ Extend the knowledge in the new language as well as being able to retain and practice existing knowledge.
→ Learn in an efficient and structured manner.
→ Build confidence to be able to face any type of situation during my travel interactions.

Behaviours

→ Limited time to study due to a very busy life.
→ Makes flashcards with personalized hints (to trigger memory) or grammar explanations.
→ Need to keep practising vocabulary otherwise, it will be forgotten.
→ Search other audiovisual resources — podcasts, movies, videos, series, radios, news, learn buddy — to support and supplement their learning.

How to deliver on Francis expectations?

I identified 2 main tasks that Francis, my proto-persona, would have to complete with Spanish in the Air the first use:

→ Add new vocabulary

→ Completing a lesson

→ A task analysis was written step-by-step and then I drew out a user flow for​ each task

Letting the Ideas Flow.

Connecting the puzzle pieces together

Based on the user stories generated from Francis insights, my proto-persona, I started exploring solutions through sketching. The flexibility of sketching allowed me to lay the foundational design patterns for the app. The result was a set low fidelity wireframes that were rapidly prototyped using Prottapp.

These prototypes were also used to test with the users early on and make necessary changes.

 Putting Ideas to the test.

Am I getting close yet?

To access I decided to do the usability testing. The purpose of the test is to observe users’ first impression, general attitudes/emotions towards Spanish in the Air. Also, to find out if the users find it difficult to perform key features, and the time it takes them to perform those tasks.

Issue 1

The Splash screen low-fidelity did provide a bit of confusion as to what exactly was being displayed.

Solution

Improve clarity and content in the next iteration by adding realistic content and relevant pictures.

Issue 2

By starting the flow of the flashcard creation app with the categorisation (putting it to a deck) creates a lot of friction and confusion.

Solution

Organising and categorising flashcards should be move to the end of the flow, as opposed to the first step.

Issue 3

It’s hard to know the exact purpose of the app and what can be done after the first login.

Solution

Use the onboarding to educate what can be achieved on each section of the menu on the dashboard.

Takeaways for the future

What went well?

Find out the whys in user research
I was able to facilitate good, 2-way conversations during my interviews and was able to uncover deep insights from the responses I received. I tried not to interrupt and always asked follow-up questions to understand the whys behind each remark.

Move fast and achieve quick wins 
In one month I was able to uncover some insights that allowed me to create a low-fi prototype so I could validate the concept and the first hypothesis

Tapping into my past experience
Many skills and/or past experience came to be a big help throughout this process. The fact that I have video recorded qual interviews allowed me to be familiar with the format and be in tune with the interviewees’ needs

What didn't go so well?

The CTAs weren’t clear
My experience with micro copywriting is limited, as it became clear when I tested my prototypes.
Solution
Take the time necessary to write the copy appropriate copy for each placeholder. Sometimes when producing paper wireframes it’s better to keep ideas flowing and not allow the copy to get in the way. But after that, it’s always good to revisit the CTAs before testing.

Recruitment took a lot of time
Recruitment is an essential part of the UX process, but it’s not easy to get it right, as there are many moving parts.
Solution
I think in the future recruitment has to start even before there is something to test. Another idea is to build a small network of testers between friends and family that are happy to give a hand with initial testing, just to make sure when the recruits walk in I can make the most out of their test

Haven’t run a Project Retrospective
I’ve been pretty good on documenting the process and collecting all the assets into presentations and video, but I haven’t conducted a project retrospective exercise when finished the project.
Solution
Moving forward, as soon as I finish a big block of work it would be easier to conduct a project retrospective exercise as the information is was more top of mind and the insights are more relevant

What can be improved?

Agility when conducting user research
Every time you conduct a user test you face many types of personalities and you should be able to adapt to the person you are interviewing. I found that I was very focused on following my interview plan and script and I didn’t focus so much my energy on trying to engage the person I had in front of me.

Not be self-aware when sketching
Sketching on paper has a huge return on investment given that takes no time and you can quickly put ideas to the test. Although my traumatic drawing classes past sometimes takes over and I slow down my thought process, so I feel better about my scribbles. I felt that every time I timed myself I was to achieve results that I wanted.

Test different prototypes when in doubt
I was able to generate many ideas via rapid sketching but sometimes was hard to tell which one would work the best. I believe that with time this sensibility can be refined with experience, but I also felt that testing 2 solutions (kind of A/B testing) can be a great to have an informed decision.

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