House Keeper. A Clean Innovation.
Overview
The client owns a local cleaning company for a mid sized city. She noticed a lot of her clients would ask about a site or app where they could create an order in advance, that’s when the idea of the Doordash of cleaning companies occurred to her. A place where one can book in advance or in short notice. The issue was creating a digital experience from scratch as well as brand identity. Creating the experience from scratch meant creating a lesser known industry experience in an innovative and provoking manner. Creating trust was pivotal while also a sense of comfort. These were just some of the challenges faced in creating this app.
My Roles: Research, Analysis, User Flows, Information Architecture, Sketching, Wire framing, Prototype, UI Design, Case Study
Problem
The client Maria owns a local cleaning company for a mid sized city. She noticed a lot of her clients would ask about a site or app where they could create an order in advance, that’s when the idea of the Doordash of cleaning companies occurred to her. A place where one can book in advance or in short notice. The issue was creating a digital experience from scratch as well as brand identity. Creating the experience from scratch meant creating a lesser known industry experience in an innovative and provoking manner. Creating trust was pivotal while also a sense of comfort. These were just some of the challenges faced in creating this app.
Project Length: 1.5 Months
From: Feb-March 2023
Solution
Empower the user. Users want more control over their journey from start to finish. Housekeeping app was designed to give users the ability to clean their house when they desire. From booking in advance to booking within a short notice, Housekeeping will be there, even when you’re not there! Whether you’re away from town or just running errands, we’ve got you covered! All at a great price and completed at an expedite rate. There is a lack of innovation in the cleaning services industry, it has fallen and needs a cleaner innovation, hence HOUSEKEEPING.
Quantitative
I created a Google survey form and received significant statistical data. This allowed me to better understand user behaviors:
23 participants
Survey was taken by users on multiple social platforms and shared with my personal network
User Research
Understanding the user
Qualitative
Understanding bus rider’s emotions, expectations, desires and fears was also essential in the development of Busible. A series of 1 on 1 interviews allowed me to understand their behavior, experience, tendencies, likes and dislikes:
3 users interviewed
Use the bus to commute to work or don’t have car
Conducted over video calls
Discovery and takeaways
It was found that 72% of participants were over the age of 25
65% of all users have abandoned competitor apps due to complexity
App has to pass “grandma test”
10% of all US households paid for a professional cleaning service, demonstrating a large market
65% have abandoned a competitor app due to complexity
10% of households have used cleanings services at least once
Industry has a 7% YoY growth
Average home gets cleaned 6 times per month, indicating user need for service
User Research
User Personas
Frustrations:
Not having enough time for family or hobbies
Goals:
Get promoted , spend more time with family and travel more
Frustrations:
Not having enough time to do chores/run errands
Has a disability
Goals:
Keeping a tidy and sanitary space, more free time
Competitive Analysis
Current Market Standards
Thumbtack is a cleaning app that allows users to order multiple services. From cleaning to handyman work it has a UI similar to the rest of the cleaning apps. Simple colors, complex UI.
Taskrabbit is also a useful app for multiple purpose service needs. It still keeps a more complex architecture but simpler UI.
Doordash was looked at as a reference that influenced the UI and architecture in a lot of ways. Users don't call us the doorsash of cleaning apps for nothing!
Wireframes
Sketching the frames of solution
Define
Architecture
After usability testing it was found that the users appreciated the thought of live tracking their bus, but it was also found that they wanted a design system that could show them WHERE in the journey they were at. “How many stops away til the bus arrives at my station? While en route how many stops away am I from the destination?” . From professionals to students, this iteration was very well received. Not only can we add trust and reliability for when a user waits for their bus to pick them up, but they can also feel free to study, read, watch a movie, chat with friends, draw, nap, etc while en route to the destination with the comfort knowing that Busible will let them know when they are close to the destination and have arrived. This goes back to the early solution of empowering the user while creating trust and reliability.
Digital Wireframes
Low Fidelity Solution
Prototype
The Interface
Color Pallet, Style Guide and Typography
The Brand
Lessons Learned
Final Thoughts
Along the way you start getting many other ideas on how to create the perfect app, yet you have to focus on the reasons for why there was a problem in the first place and stick to the plan. Valuable time was lost due to random ideas that had no real value to the goal of the user, hence reminding one that this is focused on the user experience and how to make it easier.
Document everything. Not only does this help keep you organized, but can save a lot of time when referring back to flows, personas, etc. This is tremendously useful for when it comes time to gathering insights and for the case study!
Organization. This goes hand in hand with documenting everything. This can be particularly easy to forget when learning the ropes and being in the midst of the rush that creating a product can cause. Being organized in Figma can save many headaches and time as one is working with hundreds, even thousands of components and moving pieces.