The Challenge
The Challenge
Role
Lead Product Designer
Role
Lead Product Designer
Timeframe
March 2023 (4 weeks)
Timeframe
March 2023 (4 weeks)
In our digital age, preserving memories of those who have passed with the traditional methods of books at funerals are not as convenient. Instead, we can create online spaces where family and friends can honour, remember and share memories of there loved ones to be immortalised and preserved. Evaheld is developing a new product for users to memorialise loved ones.
In our digital age, preserving memories of those who have passed with the traditional methods of books at funerals are not as convenient. Instead, we can create online spaces where family and friends can honour, remember and share memories of there loved ones to be immortalised and preserved. Evaheld is developing a new product for users to memorialise loved ones.
The Objective
Redesign the current memorial concept and create an interactive prototype that showcases the core differentiating features of Evaheld Memorials for the CEO to present to a potential investor.
Background
Background
Evaheld is a UTS Start-up where under my university Innovation Internship, I interned as a product designer for 6 months where I worked closely with a team of designers, engineers, marketers, the Founders and CEO. I played a pivotal part in contributing to their official launch.
Evaheld Memorials was a pivotal project as it was to acquire our first investor and I was resulting promoted to the Lead Designer due to my work. I was brought onto this project near the start to provide provide a new perspective and takeover as the current designers were going on leave. User research and testing of the concept had already been undertaken with design ideation already in progress prior.
Evaheld is a UTS Start-up where under my university Innovation Internship, I interned as a product designer for 6 months where I worked closely with a team of designers, engineers, marketers, the Founders and CEO. I played a pivotal part in contributing to their official launch.
Evaheld Memorials was a pivotal project as it was to acquire our first investor and I was resulting promoted to the Lead Designer due to my work. I was brought onto this project near the start to provide provide a new perspective and takeover as the current designers were going on leave. User research and testing of the concept had already been undertaken with design ideation already in progress prior.
*This was an unpaid university internship and no NDA was issued or signed before or during the time of my role. Both parties signed documents under my university placement requirements prior to the internship with this knowledge in mind. Therefore, all work is my own IP. For privacy however, I will not disclose specific details that may go against Evaheld’s IP.
Approach
Approach
First Impression
First Impression
To get myself familiar with the concept of online memorials before assisting the team, I sought to understand how the memorial space was changing and transitioning to an online presence. Through market research, I was able to see how online memorials were slowly becoming more prevalent, due to the more convenient community sharing and eternal access, multimedia memories and customisation.
To get myself familiar with the concept of online memorials before assisting the team, I sought to understand how the memorial space was changing and transitioning to an online presence. Through market research, I was able to see how online memorials were slowly becoming more prevalent, due to the more convenient community sharing and eternal access, multimedia memories and customisation.
Research: Competitive Analysis
Research: Competitive Analysis
Competitive analysis on online memorial applications were conducted to identify the major strengths and reveal potential problem and opportunity areas. Creating content on the browser through different multimedia's such as written, video and audio with community in mind was at the core of these products. However, many lacked a modern aesthetic and depth of customisation.
Competitive analysis on online memorial applications were conducted to identify the major strengths and reveal potential problem and opportunity areas. Creating content on the browser through different multimedia's such as written, video and audio with community in mind was at the core of these products. However, many lacked a modern aesthetic and depth of customisation.
Existing Placeholder Concept
Existing Placeholder Concept
Preliminary concept designs were already made prior to starting on the project as this product had been in conception for a while. It served as an initial template that required refinement.
One of the key objectives for the presentation, was to demonstrate our new product through a mobile device rather than on a laptop or desktop. Due to this, we had to rethink how the design elements would translate on a smaller screen while refining the experience and features. Further, we wanted our product to stand out from other competitors and reflect the unique brand identity of Evaheld’s elements.
Preliminary concept designs were already made prior to starting on the project as this product had been in conception for a while. It served as an initial template that required refinement.
One of the key objectives for the presentation, was to demonstrate our new product through a mobile device rather than on a laptop or desktop. Due to this, we had to rethink how the design elements would translate on a smaller screen while refining the experience and features. Further, we wanted our product to stand out from other competitors and reflect the unique brand identity of Evaheld’s elements.
The new design will be optimised for viewing on mobile devices in tangent with Evaheld’s other products in a more convenient and modern experience.
Ideation
Ideation
With a better understanding of the concept and features, we began breaking down how these features would be realised. Collaboratively, we separated down Evaheld Memorials into two main components:
With a better understanding of the concept and features, we began breaking down how these features would be realised. Collaboratively, we separated down Evaheld Memorials into two main components:
Research: Planning Information Architecture and Content
Research: Planning Information Architecture and Content
To establish user flow and content layout, I sketched out wireframes for screens that users would interact with to view and add their own content. One of the biggest considerations was creating a hierarchy for different content sections for viewers.
To establish user flow and content layout, I sketched out wireframes for screens that users would interact with to view and add their own content. One of the biggest considerations was creating a hierarchy for different content sections for viewers.
Wireframing
Wireframing
I created wireframes of the rapid components within the two sections to put the hierarchy of features in practice to view it. After reviewing with the CEO, we made changes throughout, optimised for the presentation.
I created wireframes of the rapid components within the two sections to put the hierarchy of features in practice to view it. After reviewing with the CEO, we made changes throughout, optimised for the presentation.
Reviewing and refining
Reviewing and refining
After reviewing the flow and different heading features, we decided to remove some. It was important not to overwhelm users and viewers with too many options, especially if they were very similar in content. We narrowed and reduced them down to create a more cohesive page to share different forms of memories.
After reviewing the flow and different heading features, we decided to remove some. It was important not to overwhelm users and viewers with too many options, especially if they were very similar in content. We narrowed and reduced them down to create a more cohesive page to share different forms of memories.
Facing a setback
Facing a setback
A major setback occurred with the UX content itself. Originally, the design team planned on making a simple mock-up with placeholder content however after reviewing the initial work with the CEO, we received feedback. It wasn’t up to standard and was not authentic enough experience to present to an investor. So, we took a step back, retraced our steps and worked together to write content based off a real user and their family who we brought in.
Further, the other designers went on leave (this leave was planned and discussed well in advance prior to the project) leaving me as the sole designer on the task at it’s most critical point.
A major setback occurred with the UX content itself. Originally, the design team planned on making a simple mock-up with placeholder content however after reviewing the initial work with the CEO, we received feedback. It wasn’t up to standard and was not authentic enough experience to present to an investor. So, we took a step back, retraced our steps and worked together to write content based off a real user and their family who we brought in.
Further, the other designers went on leave (this leave was planned and discussed well in advance prior to the project) leaving me as the sole designer on the task at it’s most critical point.
Recovery
Recovery
Organising Content and management
Organising Content and management
After receiving new content, I went about implementing it into the mock-up. With a lot more content originally intended and designed for, I had to adjust the design accordingly. With the deadline closing in by the end of the week and all the work resting on me as the sole designer now, I immediately adapted and stayed back after hours to complete the new tasks. For the next few days, multiple rapid rounds of feedback followed to ensure everything was on track, the huge setback was behind us now.
After receiving new content, I went about implementing it into the mock-up. With a lot more content originally intended and designed for, I had to adjust the design accordingly. With the deadline closing in by the end of the week and all the work resting on me as the sole designer now, I immediately adapted and stayed back after hours to complete the new tasks. For the next few days, multiple rapid rounds of feedback followed to ensure everything was on track, the huge setback was behind us now.
Building a Family Tree
Building a Family Tree
The family tree was a sentimental way to display members of the loved one from different generations. However, the original design was created with a desktop display in mind. Further, the design did not cohesively adhere to Evaheld’s brand identity. We experimented and brainstormed with developing a more elegant look that was also more user friendly for mobile devices.
The family tree was a sentimental way to display members of the loved one from different generations. However, the original design was created with a desktop display in mind. Further, the design did not cohesively adhere to Evaheld’s brand identity. We experimented and brainstormed with developing a more elegant look that was also more user friendly for mobile devices.
Tributes
Tributes
While memories showed the loved one’s life how they wanted to be remembered, Tributes was a way for the community to do the same. Showing all the members was an initial idea, however, it took too much importance away from the tributes themself. Further, having the icons only themselves made it difficult for users to understand the differences between them. Therefore, I opted for a more minimal design that places emphasis on the different types of tributes.
While memories showed the loved one’s life how they wanted to be remembered, Tributes was a way for the community to do the same. Showing all the members was an initial idea, however, it took too much importance away from the tributes themself. Further, having the icons only themselves made it difficult for users to understand the differences between them. Therefore, I opted for a more minimal design that places emphasis on the different types of tributes.
Final Designs
Final Designs
Home Pages
Home Pages
Add a memory
Add a memory
Tributes
Tributes
User's Life
User's Life
Design Outcome
Design Outcome
Impact
Impact
I was able to design a functioning prototype before the deadline that showcased a concept of Evaheld Memorial Profiles in mobile form. Integrating with another of Evaheld’s products, a QR code was created that linked to the profile.
The CEO of Evaheld was able to present the product and successfully able to attain our first investor for the start-up.
With the Evaheld Memorial Profile concept completed, work was handed over to the other designers and developers to continue on the website component of Evaheld Memorials. While I continued with my other assigned projects, I helped mentor on Evaheld Memorials.
I was able to design a functioning prototype before the deadline that showcased a concept of Evaheld Memorial Profiles in mobile form. Integrating with another of Evaheld’s products, a QR code was created that linked to the profile.
The CEO of Evaheld was able to present the product and successfully able to attain our first investor for the start-up.
With the Evaheld Memorial Profile concept completed, work was handed over to the other designers and developers to continue on the website component of Evaheld Memorials. While I continued with my other assigned projects, I helped mentor on Evaheld Memorials.
Due to my efforts, I was promoted from Product Designer to the Lead Designer of Evaheld and began collaborating with the Co-Founder/ CEO to oversee several projects across design, development, marketing and future projects.
New Learnings
New Learnings
Working on this project was my first test in a professional setting for a high priority project. A lot of responsibilities, pressure and work was needed for this project’s success. It was a great opportunity for me to apply my understandings of UX design to improve design decisions while adhering to brand identity and maintaining the core messages of the start-up.
Owning feedback and criticism
Being adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced start-up environment is an extremely valuable skill when faced with realistic setbacks during the design process. There was a setback during the project that required me to redo some parts of the product and I was able to quickly recover in reaching the deadline.
Building confidence in speaking on design decisions
As I moved to the Lead Designer, I had more responsibility in oversight for the first time managing and corresponding with other departments.
Working on this project was my first test in a professional setting for a high priority project. A lot of responsibilities, pressure and work was needed for this project’s success. It was a great opportunity for me to apply my understandings of UX design to improve design decisions while adhering to brand identity and maintaining the core messages of the start-up.
Owning feedback and criticism
Being adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced start-up environment is an extremely valuable skill when faced with realistic setbacks during the design process. There was a setback during the project that required me to redo some parts of the product and I was able to quickly recover in reaching the deadline.
Building confidence in speaking on design decisions
As I moved to the Lead Designer, I had more responsibility in oversight for the first time managing and corresponding with other departments.
