Ghafase is a mobile app designed for buying and selling books, aimed at providing a seamless and trustworthy platform for book enthusiasts. As part of my internship at IRISA, I applied the design thinking process to create an intuitive and user-centered experience that addresses the needs of both buyers and sellers. By conducting thorough user research and iterative testing, I aimed to develop an app that simplifies the book trading process, making it accessible and enjoyable for all users.
Empathize: Understanding User Needs
To create an effective platform for buying and selling books, I started by understanding the needs of both sellers and buyers:
Interviews: Conducted interviews with book sellers and buyers to understand their motivations, challenges, and preferences when it comes to buying and selling books online.
Surveys: Distributed surveys to a broader audience to gather quantitative data on user behavior, preferred features, and pain points in existing book market platforms.
Define: Identifying the Problem and Understanding Users
Based on the insights gathered:
Empathy Map: Created an empathy map to capture what users say, think, do, and feel, providing a comprehensive understanding of their needs.
Affinity Diagram: Organized the data collected from interviews and surveys into an affinity diagram, identifying patterns and key insights.
User Pain Points: Highlighted common pain points, such as difficulty in finding desired books, lack of trust in sellers, and challenges in navigating existing platforms.
Persona Creation: Developed user personas representing typical buyers and sellers, capturing their goals, frustrations, and preferences.
Problem Definition: Defined the core problem as creating a seamless, trustworthy, and user-friendly platform that connects buyers and sellers effectively.
Ideate: Generating Creative Solutions
The ideation phase involved exploring various solutions to address the identified user needs:
Brainstorming Sessions: Facilitated brainstorming sessions to generate innovative ideas for the app’s features and functionalities.
Competitive Audit: Conducted a competitive audit to analyze similar platforms, identifying areas where Ghafase could differentiate itself.
User Journey Map: Mapped out the user journey for both buyers and sellers, ensuring a smooth and intuitive experience across the app.
User Flow: Developed user flows to outline the steps and interactions users would take to achieve their goals within the app.
Design: Bringing Ideas to Life
The design phase focused on transforming ideas into tangible prototypes:
Paper Wireframes: Created paper wireframes to quickly explore different layouts and design concepts.
Digital Wireframes: Developed digital wireframes, translating paper sketches into more refined digital versions, ensuring a logical flow of information.
Digital Mockups: Designed high-fidelity digital mockups, incorporating color schemes, typography, and branding elements.
Moodboard: Created a moodboard to establish the app's visual style, combining elements like color palettes, typography, and imagery.
Test: Refining the Design Through User Feedback
This phase was to test and iterate on the design:
Usability Testing: Conducted usability testing sessions with potential users to evaluate the app’s ease of use, identifying areas for improvement.
Card Sorting: Used card sorting techniques to refine the app’s information architecture, ensuring intuitive navigation and categorization.
Conclusion
The Ghafase project was an enriching experience that allowed me to apply the design thinking methodology to solve real-world challenges in the book market industry. By emphasizing user empathy, creative ideation, and continuous testing, I was able to design a functional and user-friendly platform that effectively connects buyers and sellers. This project strengthened my skills in UI/UX design and reinforced the importance of user feedback in creating solutions that truly meet user needs.
