Overview
The Locale app aims to address the growing sense of disconnection and isolation within communities resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. With an increasing number of people working remotely and spending more time at home, Locale seeks to bridge the gap by providing a comprehensive platform that informs users about local events and resources tailored to their specific preferences through a granular filtering system.
Goal
The goal of this project is to create an intuitive and user-friendly mobile application that empowers individuals to regain a sense of connection and engagement with their local communities. By providing a rich selection of events and resources and offering users the ability to specify their preferences through granular filters, Locale aims to enhance users' overall well-being, foster community involvement, and promote a sense of belonging in these challenging times.
User
Research
Through interviews with 6 individuals and analysis of survey data from 28 participants, Ana and I discovered that the primary reasons for reduced outings were the reluctance to spend excessive money and the lack of awareness about available events.
Participants primarily relied on word-of-mouth or social media for event information, but encountered issues such as last-minute notices and limited details from word-of-mouth, and predominantly found larger, pricier events on social media instead of local gatherings.
Notably, participants expressed interest in exploring resources like farmers markets, community gardens, donation drop-offs, and volunteer opportunities.
User Flow
I created a user flow that shows the steps of browsing through events on the homepage and having the options to either like the event, add it to your calendar, or share the event with a friend, all in a few simple clicks.
Sketches
Low-Fidelity Prototype
Usability Testing
I conducted usability testing using UsabilityHub on six people and asked them to complete 3 tasks:
1) Select an event = 83% success
2) Add event to calendar = 67% success rate
3) Like and Share an event = 100% success rate
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It became apparent that the confusion came from the layout of events and unfamiliar icons that were used for certain tasks. I kept this feedback in mind when moving forward with the mid-fidelity prototype and made sure to add labels to avoid any further confusion.
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Mid-Fidelity
