The
Story
Get to Know It
Together with a team we decided to create a website through which Junior UX/UI Designers can communicate and grow together. This website is account based and it offers a variety of verified UX/UI services offered by specialized Seniors.
The Steps
Interviews & Surveys
We have sent out surveys to select people and received 50 answers from which we chose 30 that best fit our interest.
A number of 13 interviews were held and all the informative data was collected.
Identifying the Problem
After analyzing the survey responses and interview notes I have conducted the conclusion that UX/UI Juniors lack feedback from Seniors.
Creating the Prototype
After identifying the core of the problem what was left was solving it; and that was my aim through creating a prototype.
Interviews & Surveys
Addressing open-ended questions allowed us to receive a wider insight to choose adequate information from.
The goal was to create a comfortable environment and receive honest and helpful questions for our research.
It was difficult to find people that fit in our specific criteria and to collect relevant answers for our end-goal research questions.
The interview script was done and re-done until it was perfected and consistent.
Interview questions and answers
Overall Results
Identifying the Problem
User Persona
The next step was to create a User Persona to fit the
user's criteria for the website prototype. After studying and selecting the necessary data from the interviews and
surveys, it was discovered that the most commonly met struggles for UX Juniors are the lack of feedback/ no mentor to guide them; therefore these two main elements allow us to create the User Personas.
User Persona Research
I have decided to add the research part of
discovering our User Persona because it plays an important role in the website prototype; the website contains a profile/account through which UX Juniors express themselves.
User Persona
Male, 31.
Creative, likes learning on his own.
Needs a mentor/ senior to review his work.
Robert Paulmer, Junior Product Designer
Creating the Prototype
1
Lo-Fi Prototypes
After identifying the problem
and the user's needs, the next step was to plan out a prototype for a website. Having all things considered I planed on using as much data collected as possible to benefit future users. I came to the conclusion that the main problem my website can solve is going to be "Lack of Feedback from Seniors".
2
Hi-Fi Prototypes
After having a strategy laid down and possible ideas to include in this prototype, it was time to decide on what to keep and what to give up on. The functionality of the prototype was the first priority, followed by the ability to help future users.
3
Final Prototype
The final prototype consisted of fixing all the mistakes and modifying everything I have received feedback on from usability testers.
Before even brainstorming the prototype sketches I laid down every idea I had that I would like to include in the final prototype. I attacked the solution from the problem and from the question "How might we?"
Home screen prototype ideas; included basic must-have elements.
First design/prototype ideas were brainstormed and drawn on paper. Random pages layout and possible final prototype ideas are included in some of
the sketches.
1
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
Hi-Fi Prototype
2
The prototype concept was created with the goal to aid Junior UX/UI Designers with their projects, questions and whatever else they might require; therefore the account-based website is the space where Juniors can search and find Seniors/Mentors based on their personal requirements.
The Mentors have their own reviews, given by the users, and their own prices; they all have their own services.
Usability Testing
After having done multiple (5) usability tests I have gathered all the relevant feedback and applied the necessary changes to the prototype.
 The reading was incomprehensible due to the font. |  Back button misplacement. |  The overall position of the buttons needed to change. |
|---|
Color Palette
I have decided to go with a pleasant dark blue background color for the prototype. I considered this color suitable for the theme of the website.
Difficulties and Obstacles
Finding the right community to help with the research process.
Creating equally balanced surveys for possible users. (comfortable to complete and helpful for the research)
Learning Figma from scratch by myself.
Understanding the user.
Conclusions
Overall the first-hand experience in the UX/UI Industry proved to be a new passion discovered but also a road that could not have been traversed without gaining lots of new knowledge and adapting a versatile attitude.
All the challenges that had to be conquered made the whole experience more interesting and enjoyable. It is something that I look forward to experience again.