Event-ive
Overview
Event-ive is a web-based platform that allows local experts, teachers, and event hosts / organizers to host in-person classes and workshops.
Our goal was to to create an educational community marketplace via an event-planning platform and not forgetting that E-learning has caused a decrease in In-Person learning events. This is intended to be a two-sided platform that serves both attendees and event host/organizers, my team and I has been asked to focus only on the host/organizer side!
Introduction Name: Event-ive.
Platform: Native iPadOS app.
Timeframe: 5 weeks.
My team: The Fabpak2 (2 UX Design students from Flatiron School located in Austin, TX).
Problem Statement:
“Host needs a better way to plan and track progress of events, efficiently communicate with team members, and access vendors for their events, because the current methods are overwhelming and time consuming.”
Let’s start the Research!
Learning from our competitors is the key to understanding the market.
Each competitor brings interesting ideas and solutions for users. For that we decided starting to analyze 5 direct and 2 indirect competitors.
During the research we found several features unique to each product like meeting group (networking), creating a beautiful event list page with built-in payment processing and possibility to build your own app. It was also very helpful for us to see how competitive apps are managing their designs.
We will have to understand and familiarise ourselves with the target audience, get to know their needs and objectives. For that we will go through a list of outcomes (Survey, Interviews).
Creating a better and easy to use platform for them to feel comfortable sharing their skills without difficulties!
Survey (38 responses)
Through this survey, we are challenging the assumption that there is a need for in-Person (non-digital) learning events. Our goals was one to determine which platform made the most sense to use and if people are preferring In-learning or In person learning.
We published the survey online, Facebook, LinkedIn, WeWork and FlatIron School.
85 % users prefer in person learning events as opposed to online (virtual).
78.4 % of the users prefer using
portable devices instead of Desktop.
Interview (7 interviewees)
Our interview objectives were to understand from our interviewees:
How do hosts organize their events?
What is the process?
What are their needs?
What roadblocks do they face?
““Sometimes we have to hire a 3rd party to assist us in finding a venue because doing it ourselves would take up too much time away from the project.” - Kelsey H.”
We decided to make an Affinity Diagram with Miro based on our interviewees insights that we got during our 7 interviews.
We finally got great insights like:
Need for a platform where team members can hold each other accountable for completing tasks on time.
Tasks can be detailed and may require subtasks.
Finding a perfect vendor is a tedious and time consuming task.
And very great key words that we saved during our interviews that we judge very important for our future app like:
Organization (listing).
Vision.
Creativity.
Communication.
Research Artifacts
Based on our initial research, we started making 3 Research Artifacts, reflecting Yelitza Mora.
1) Persona
All of our user interviews are been represented to one unique person named Yelitza Mora!
She is a young professional, working as an Executive Assistant in a busy company.
2) Empathy Map
This artifact is showing all of what Yelitza is doing, thinking, feeling and saying at work
3) Storyboard
This artifact represents every frustration that Yelitza Mora is confronting at work. It was our favorite artifact to work on because it allowed me to use my creativity and love for drawing!
Design Principales
Communication
Allows hosts to build a detailed structure which enables them to strategically execute event planning.
Simplicity
Making the experience easy and straightforward for all the users to navigate through.
Organization
Allows hosts to build a detailed structure which enables them to strategically execute event planning.
Let’s get inspired now!
For the idealization stage of our project, we shared and brainstormed ideas.
This is one example of our “Charette” technique:
As a result, we created 3 divergent concepts!
Progress Tracker
When the user opens the app, there will be a list showing tasks that were due yesterday but are still left pending (not marked resolved).
The user will have the ability filter that lists their needs. So before you start the day, you make sure everything from yesterday is done.
Venue Finder
With this concept the users could have a better way of finding Venue locations around their cities in an easier and quicker way.
Event Diary
Through this app, the user will have the ability to save the event that they created and that can work as a template for the future.
If it is a recurring event, the user can simply copy it, create a duplicate and edit dates etc.
Close to the final concept!
As a method to simplify, we used. one evaluation artifact. Thanks to that we were able to see clearly which features my team I wanted to keep:
List tasks.
Vendors database.
Find and make a reservation for venues.
Dot-Voting Technique
Bringing all ideas together.
10 voting dots.
Helps to simplify.
Once we knew which feature to keep, we decided to build an App Map that helped us visualize our final concept!
After our App map complete, it was time to build our final wireframes and prototypes.
And now let me introduce to you our final solution
Event-ive!
A iPadOS App for Event Host and Organizers
Usability Test Results
The aim of this study is to test our iPad application “Event-ive” at an early stage of development.
Our purpose is to provide event hosts and event organizers with a platform that helps them stay organized, is easy and simple to use and also allows them to effectively communicate with their team members.
Each participant was invented during the weekend of March 15th for testing our App. We tested on 4 users who gave us the following great insights.
Future Recommandations
During our very fast path with our school we had the time to do small changed!
Thinking about Replacing the ‘1’ notification with a message icon which clearly indicates that there is an “unread message”:
Also Including the 'Name of the venue’ on the Map:
Based on time constraints, we were not able to update our designs to the fullest of our wishes. However, here is the list of further changes we would like to have made based on our user feedback:
Creating a “Inbox” feature on the side
Adding list view in addition to map view for “Find Vendors”
Introduce a method of filtering options other than a drop down
Provide users with an In App chat section where they can communicate with their vendors
Ability to request for a quote