UGA Mobile App Notifications
The UGA Mobile App long needed a notification feature that would allow users to receive real time alerts for important events, deadlines, hazards, or changes on the University of Georgia’s campus. After working with a UX designer to put together a high fidelity prototype, I created a usability test and an online survey to identify any pain points experienced by users while observing or interacting with our prototype. From these findings, I compiled a comprehensive set of user focused recommendations in order to make any necessary adjustments to the app for an optimal user experience.
User Testing Methods
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In order to test the prototype, I created a specific plan and script to guide participants through a series of tasks that would test the interface’s usability.
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In addition to the user testing that focused on the app’s interaction design, I created an additional online survey that focused on the UI design of the app. This also helped increase our sample size to be more reflective of UGA’s student body.
User Testing Report
After conducting user testing, I analyzed all of the results and created a list of core problems that the user’s experienced or identified in both the user testing and digital survey. With these issues in mind, I found potential solutions for these problems. Using this report, our team was able to make changes to the app and ship a successful new feature!
Problems & Solutions
Problem #1 - Bell Icon
Participants had trouble locating the notifications and 42% of survey respondents noted that it was too small to identify.
Solution
Enlarge bell icon and add pop-up to call attention to the new feature when it is first released.
Problem #2 - Mark All As Read Button
39% of users did not use the “Mark All As Read Button” to clear their notifications and those that did struggled to find the button at the bottom.
Solution
Move “Mark All As Read Button” to top or change color to be more easily noticeable.
Problem #3 - Settings
Users frequently clicked the app’s home settings instead of the specific notification settings.
Solution
Add a link to the notification settings inside the home settings.
