Google Design Exercise 2021
Study Space Booking -
COMMAREA
This is a Google design exercise I completed as a side project. The exercise took me roughly 20hrs to finish, including the competitive analysis, secondary research, target group interview, ideation, hi-fi prototype, and iteration. Below you can find the design challenge brief, and the solutions I came up with.
My Role /
UX Designer
Timeline /
23 Feb 2021 - 28 Feb 2021
Skills /
Research | Interview | Rapid Prototype
Tools /
Adobe XD
Design Task
Your school wants to provide dedicated spaces for students to help them focus on their academic studies. Design an experience of checking availability, reserving the space, and reporting any issues.
HMW help university students with the study space booking process in libraries?
RESEARCH
Competitor Analysis:
Universities Library Booking System:
Clearly shows the facility condition, such as disabled-friendly; outlet, by using icons
Not mobile-friendly: Large space for time slots selection can be easily cropped on the phone screens
Universites Library Booking System:
The intention to show students the location of the seats/rooms they booked
A 2D format of maps can hardly do the navigation work. The map as a pop-up dialog only come out at the booking stage, cannot be used afterward
Coworking Software - Skedda:
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An Embedded calendar can help with organizing the upcoming study activities
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Internal navigation can guide the users to find their way when they are not familiar with the interior structure of buildings
Secondary Research:
1. Individual and Collaborative study spaces are both in demand
Students spend on average 13.5 hr/week studying alone on campus and 4.3 hr/week engaged in collaborative or group work
2. Private VS Open space is the key criteria
When asked what resources are most important to libraries today, “quiet & private space for students” ranks first.
3. Technology integration, such as computers, projectors, and mobile devices, is important for students
When asked what resources will be most important to the library of the future, the responses by students of and integrated technology top the list.
Target Group Interview
In order to find users’ needs, I interviewed the target group --- University Students at UMich. Based on the findings from the user interviews, I summarized the following pain points:
No Mobile Application Available for Booking Study Space
Cannot Collaboratively Choose Preferred Study Space for Group Meetings
Not Aware of Facility Information of the Study Spaces prior Booking
Hard to Find the Route to the Booked Study Space
DESIGN
Information Architecture
Bearing the research findings and the target users' key pain points in mind, I designed my solutions that are tailored to University Students and that can cover their needs:
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Mobile Application Availability
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Visual Information & Facility Information on the Study Spaces
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Group Members Vote on the Compared Study Spaces
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Navigation & 360 Degree Tour for the Study Places
Here is the Information Architecture that shows the key and optional interactions
Key Features
Searching Library
Type in the name of the library
Default location set as ‘All Libraries’
Home Page
Home Page
Primary Input Field: Search for the study space
Browse the places booked before to quickly choose
Browse the upcoming reservations
Searching Group Members
Setting Criteria
Add group members by searching their name associated with school email account
Trusted members for the activities in the App
Input all the criteria for the study space, including time, facility, capcity
Default is booking for one person
Add group members for booking group study space (optional)
Detail Information
360 Degree View
Available Options
Compare Result &
‘Making Poll’ Option
Detail information is listed side by side for user easily compare
Make a poll for all group members to choose the study space collaboratively
Selected similar or interested options to compare detailed information
Comparing Options
Selected similar or interested options to compare detailed information
Voting for the preferred option
Other Group members receive the message form the dominated user
Be invited to vote for the group study space
Vote for the preferred option through message
Group members’ View:
Message for Vote
View the Result and Reserve
the Winner
Dominated User’ View:
Poll Result
The dominated user receives the poll result through the system message
Review the poll result made by other group members
Reserve the winner room for the group meeting
Complete the Reservation
Booking Confirmed
View the Reservations in Calendar
View the Detail Info of Reservation in Calendar
Navigation Option
View the reservation of study activities in the calendar view
Cancel the activity at any time
Navigate to booked study place inside the library
EVALUATION
I tested my Hi-fi interactive prototype with the 5 students I interviewed before to collect their feedback. I gained 5 out of 5 positive feedback from them. I observed their usability issues and made interactions.
Positive Feedback from Users
5/5 users would love to use Commarea application to book their study space
5/5 users agree that Commarea application tackle their problems with study space booking
4/5 users are willing to pay for Commarea application
"This is exactly what I expected, I wish I can use this application"
-Sharni
"OMG! I'm so going to use it if it is published"
-Alex
Iterations
Compare button at the bottom: Users would ignore the function
Compare button on the top: User can access to the function more easily
View in 360 degree button as primary button: too dominated
View in 360 degree button as trinary button: proper level
FINAL SOLUTION
Study Space Booking Process for Individuals
Study Space Booking Process for Groups
Group Members Voting Study Space Process
Vote Result Confirm & Navigation Process
NEXT STEP
Incorporate other potential user groups in universities, such as professors and school staff
Completed multiple rounds of iterations before finalizing the design solutions
Consider on more complicated use cases, such as if group members don’t participate in voting how can we notify the dominant user to reserve
Spend more time on user research to dig into the facts and understand the users’ needs thoroughly