UI/UX Competition — Coworkly (Integrated Work Support Platform)
Coworkly is a project that my team and I created for the National UNITY 2021 competition in the UI/UX Competition category
Summary
Coworkly platform serves as a provider of integrated work and online learning solutions (teleconferencing and office suite). Previously, there have been numerous providers of office suites and video conferencing tools such as Google. However, the available features were still separate from one another. It could be quite inconvenient for users who are multitasking. Therefore, Coworkly strives to offer a different experience to users, making online work or learning activities more seamless and comfortable.
The intended positive impact of the Coworkly platform’s presence is to provide workers, students, and learners with the ability to multitask more comfortably and easily, allowing them to complete their tasks effectively while still being conducted online
Background of the Problem
Working and collaborating online have become alternative methods amid the current pandemic situation. Leveraging office services that connect users with colleagues virtually and can be carried out simultaneously. Users of these office services include students, office workers, and even government institutions. This is evidenced by statistical data reported on www.bloombergquint.com, which states that the user base of Google Suite increased from 90 million in 2019 to 120 million in 2020.
Based on a simple survey we conducted to validate the idea, 16 respondents, all of whom are students, stated that they are required to multitask due to the implementation of online learning. Moreover, they mentioned that having multiple tabs open in their browser for multitasking is considered ineffective. To address these issues, we took the initiative to design an alternative platform that can accommodate the multitasking needs of both work and online learning within a single tab. This platform is named Coworkly.
Coworkly emerges as an integrated online work support platform that caters to the needs of multitasking users. Enhanced by its accessibility, Coworkly can be accessed via smartphones and web pages.
Design Method
We have employed the user-centered design (UCD) methodology for the Coworkly project. The UCD approach prioritizes user needs as the foundation for the design process. Just as the design of the Coworkly platform is created based on user requirements and formulated to produce a design that can address user challenges.
Identification of Potential Users
The Coworkly platform is aimed at potential users ranging from 15 to 45 years old, equivalent to high school students to office employees. The reason for this selection is based on the prospective users’ needs and their ability to use the application effectively.
Identification of User Needs
To address this stage, we conducted interviews with five university students who frequently engage in organizational activities and online learning while multitasking. From these interviews, we gathered information about the habits, challenges, and expectations of potential users regarding the Coworkly platform.
Interface Design
The interface design, tailored to the needs and habits of potential users, is then executed. The first step of execution involves translating the design into wireframes (low-fidelity and high-fidelity), followed by creating prototypes using a design application named Figma.
Interface Evaluation by Users
The assembled prototypes are then tested by potential users for evaluation. User testing is conducted remotely, allowing testers and users to engage in video conferences. This is done to align the needs of potential users with the design, ensuring that the Coworkly interface effectively addresses user issues. If there are any deficiencies or flaws in the design prototypes, improvements will be made based on the evaluation results from potential users. The majority of these improvements focus on the layout of application components. Once the design is deemed satisfactory, the process advances to the next stage of the design method.
Prototype Implementation into the Platform
The final stage of the Coworkly design process is to implement the interface into a platform ready for use by users.
Information Architecture
Wireframe Low Fidelity
Signup & Splash Screen
Dashboard Menu
Landing Page
Dashboard
Chat & Group
Wireframe High Fidelity
Signup & Splash Screen
Dashboard Menu
Landing page
Dashboard
Chat & Group
Product usage scenarios
Method and User Testing Results
The method used in the user testing process for the interface design of Coworkly is remote user testing. This method was chosen due to various considerations, such as ease and simplicity. Especially considering the ongoing pandemic, it is advisable to minimize direct contact. Furthermore, for the evaluation method of the user testing process, we employed the QUIM (Quality in Use Integrated Measurement) method. There are 10 consolidation factors in the QUIM method, as follows:
- Efficiency: This refers to the product’s capability to allow users to expend appropriate resources.
- Effectiveness: The product’s ability to enable users to achieve specified tasks accurately and comprehensively.
- Productivity: The level of effectiveness attained in relation to resources (task completion time, user effort, cost, etc.), associated with the amount of output when using the product.
- Satisfaction: Refers to the subjective responses users provide about their feelings when using the product.
- Learnability: Refers to the product’s ease of use and features that facilitate goal attainment and easy mastery by users.
- Safety: Concerns whether the product limits the risk of harm to individuals or other sources of information.
- Trustfulness: Provides users with confidence that the product they are using offers benefits and good functionality.
- Accessibility: The product’s ability to accommodate the limitations of the target user.
- Universality: The product’s ability to accommodate user diversity based on behavior, culture, and background.
- Usefulness: The product’s ability to provide solutions to real problems that are easily accepted by users.
The tools we used in this user testing process included Google Meet, the Figma platform, Maze.co, and Notepad. We tested and interviewed five users, consisting of one high school student, three university students, and one working university student.
The first step of the interview was to introduce ourselves and explain the interview process. Then, we asked about the users’ backgrounds and how their activities had changed before and after the pandemic. Finally, users were guided to complete the interface design testing with the assistance of the Maze.co platform.
Here are the results of the user testing for the Coworkly interface design.
Conclution
The user testing results obtained average scores for each consolidation factor of the QUIM method for Coworkly as follows: Efficiency 92.6%, Effectiveness 93%, Satisfaction 90.6%, Productivity 92.2%, Learnability 91.6%, Safety 89.4%, Trustfulness 91.6%, Accessibility 94.6%, Universality 91.8%, and Usefulness 95.6%.
From the data, it is evident that the QUIM factor with the highest average value in Coworkly is Usefulness, at 95.6%. The second highest average score is Accessibility at 94.6%, and the third highest is Effectiveness at 93%. On the other hand, the QUIM consolidation factor with the lowest average score for the Coworkly application is Safety, with a score of 89.4%.
Thus, it can be concluded that the goal of designing Coworkly to enhance the user experience in remote working and learning has been achieved, as indicated by the average scores of the QUIM method consolidation factors at 92.3%. However, the Coworkly design still needs further improvement, especially on the web platform, which is often used for extended periods due to user habits of multitasking with PCs or laptops.
Documentation:
Our Team :
Hasymi Alhamdi
Mitaful Yudha Pratama
Titan Bagus Bramantyo
