CASE STUDY

Naborforce

Naborforce, a pioneering app that connects seniors with vetted gig economy workers for in-home or around-town assistance, sought my help to upgrade their client application's user interface and user experience. The project constraints included a tight deadline, a unique product without many direct competitors to reference, as well as the need to ensure usability for a predominantly senior userbase.

OVERVIEW

I worked closely with Naborforce’s Head of Product and Product Manager to develop an app to complement their existing web application. Their first-hand knowledge of the industry and userbase was extremely valuable in crafting the app in a way that would resonate with their users.

As the project had an aggressive timeline of only two months, I had to focus on the most impactful suggestions, and design solutions that didn't make life hard on the developers. ADA compliance, contrast and legibility were also extremely important due to Naborforce's senior clients. Though challenging, I enjoyed finding ways to make beautiful designs that met all of the project criteria.

ANALYSIS/PLANNING

The analysis phase was foundational, setting the stage for the entire project. I dove into researching Naborforce's market space to understand the competitive landscape, despite the unique position of Naborforce with few direct competitors. This involved evaluating existing applications within the senior care domain and identifying opportunities where Naborforce could differentiate and excel. Testing the current Naborforce applications myself, I gained insights into user experience strengths and areas for improvement, which informed the direction of the redesign.

Simultaneously, I engaged in detailed discussions with Naborforce stakeholders, absorbing the essence of the Naborforce brand and its mission to empower seniors through technology. Working closely with the Product Manager, I delved into the specifics of application flow and user needs, crafting a comprehensive understanding of the user experience required. This collaboration was crucial in aligning the redesign with the practical needs of users and the strategic objectives of Naborforce. Through this meticulous analysis, we laid the groundwork for design decisions that would enhance usability, accessibility, and overall user satisfaction.

DESIGN SYSTEM

The creation of a versatile design system marked a pivotal phase in the project. Starting with the basics, I compiled a concise brand guideline document detailing typography and color schemes to ensure visual consistency across the app. This document distinguished between primary and secondary palettes and outlined typography variants, providing a clear reference for maintaining brand integrity within the digital space, and helped to simplify the development process.

I then developed a comprehensive design system that was closely aligned with the Tailwind CSS framework, a choice influenced by the development team's familiarity. This system was meticulously crafted to include complex components featuring multiple layers, variants, and configurations. Although the initial setup of such a detailed design system was time-intensive, it proved invaluable for ensuring consistency across the app's user interface.

The design system was iteratively developed in conjunction with the high fidelity designs, and evolved quite a bit throughout the course of the project. The resulting system made developing designs for new features and making global changes much more efficient.

HIGH FIDELITY DESIGN

The path to finalizing the design was iterative, starting with numerous concepts and gradually refining them through feedback and practical considerations. This process was crucial not only for identifying a visually appealing design but also for ensuring it was feasible for the development team to implement. The goal was to merge aesthetic appeal with functionality, leading to a design that looked great and was technically achievable.

In the end, I designed over 200 unique screens, all while maintaining strict design and UX guidelines to ensure a coherent and user-friendly experience. Emphasizing ADA compliance, we prioritized designs that were highly legible and accessible, including high-contrast elements, large clickable areas, and sufficiently large and legible text. This balanced approach to design allowed us to meet the timeline goals and deliver a product that looks great and is highly modular.