StudySphere
Finding the perfect study space can be a challenge, with every student having unique preferences for their ideal environment. StudySphere makes the search effortless by using UI/UX research and design tools to provide efficient, time-saving access to study spots that match each student’s needs.
/Challenge
Existing platforms like Google and Yelp overlook key details about study environments, forcing students to sift through irrelevant reviews—making it tedious to find spaces that truly fit their needs.
/Solution
A mobile app that highlights only the environment and amenities of study spaces, removing irrelevant details to save time and make finding the perfect spot simple, efficient, and user-friendly.
To understand users’ challenges, I conducted a series of interviews, analyzed the findings with an user empathy map, and supported insights with additional research to guide the project’s direction.
User Interviews
To understand our users' current pain points, I conducted a series of street interviews near college campuses.
These were the 4 most common storylines across 30 interviews.
User Empathy Map
To further break down these interviews, this user empathy map outlines other factors not mentioned above to understand the users' current pain points better.
Key Research Insights
With a good basis of what people are looking for, I started to look at scientific research to support my hypotheses of reducing browsing time and necessary factors for good study spots.
5
The number of essential factors for productive study environments.
Source: Patterson, “How to Create a Great Study Space (with Examples)”
How does this apply to our design solution?
Key factors like noise, outlets, lighting, WiFi, and furniture should be measured to help users find their ideal study space.
10
The average number of reviews needed before trusting a business.
Source: Vaghasiya, Krunal. “20 Google Review Statistics You Must Know in 2024.”
How does this apply to our design solution?
The information presented to users must be concise for easy processing while remaining accurate to their needs.
Here are the proposed user flows based on the research, with the final product being a mobile app.
Flow 1 is the onboarding journey for a first time user, which is not repeated unless the user is creating a new account or reinstalling the application. Flow 2 is what returning users will see.
Flow 1 - First Time User Flow (Onboarding)
Flow 2 - Returning User Flow
I started the design process off with Crazy 8 Sketches. Since this was part of a class, other class members were able to vote on the best sketches that they thought were best communicated. I was not allowed to discuss my sketch ideas, just the end goal solution. This method helped communicate which ideas were clearly intuitive for the solution, but also successful in aligning with the end goal.
Upon receiving feedback, I started designing the low fidelity prototype, and fine tuning with the professor and outside feedback over the following two weeks, developing the high fidelity prototype, ready for user testing.
Crazy 8 Sketches
Low Fidelity
High Fidelity
Testing Goal
Determine the satisfaction and efficacy of users finding a new study space to visit.
Methodology
Observe users completing a series of tasks and ask follow up questions. I requested users to talk through their thought process and talk out loud to see their reactions as well.
Tasks
Onboarding Set Up
Interface Interaction
Save 3 Locations
Edit Preferences
Follow Up Questions
Results & Insights
Faster Results
Users located study spots much quicker than with existing methods, even after onboarding, proving the solution’s overall efficiency.
Intuitive Navigation
The clear, intuitive layout allowed users to move seamlessly between pages, reducing repetitive tasks and browsing time.
Relevant Information
Survey-based parameters ensured results matched user interests, creating a more satisfying and trustworthy browsing experience.
Underused Detailed Pages
Users largely skipped detailed pages, relying instead on quick-glance icons. This suggests the detailed content lacked sufficient value or engagement.
Openness to Flexibility
While users favored tailored results, they also reacted positively to a few out-of-preference suggestions—showing that curated flexibility can enhance discovery.
/Understanding User Behavior
The project revealed gaps in understanding users’ browsing habits, emphasizing the need for research that goes beyond content presentation to explore task-specific behaviors and decision-making patterns. Gaining these insights will help craft a more intuitive and efficient user experience that truly aligns with how users interact with the product.
/Growing Through Reflection
Despite this oversight, the experience significantly deepened my understanding of UI/UX research and user-centered design. It reinforced the importance of tailoring solutions to meet unique user needs, testing assumptions through real-world observation, and leveraging diverse research methods to create designs that are both functional and meaningful.