iOS MOBILE APP
HEURISTICS EVALUATION
Overview
During my UX Design Bootcamp at Brainstation, my team was tasked with conducting a heuristic evaluation of an existing app of our choice and making design improvements based on the analysis. We reviewed Sunwing's mobile app against usability principles and identified areas for improvement, such as navigation and information architecture. We then implemented design changes to enhance the app's usability and user experience. The goal of the project was to make the Sunwing app more user-friendly and efficient for users.
Project Type:
Timeline:
Role:
Team:
Tools:
App Redesign
November 2022 (2 Weeks)
UX/UI Designer
Fiona Cheng & Tre Nicholson
Figma, Figjam
Problem Space
The trend of using mobile devices to book accommodations is on the rise as travelers seek fast experiences and better user experiences through apps. Sunwing's mobile app has not been updated and it has affected its reviews and ratings. We need to address this issue by conducting an evaluation of the app's design and functionality, identifying areas that need improvement, and making updates. This will improve user experience and retain customers.
Methodology
We applied Jakob Nielsen's 10 Usability Heuristics to evaluate the app's interface and determine its adherence to established usability standards. Each violation was rated on a scale from 0 (no usability issue) to 4 (major usability issue). We utilized a design prioritization matrix to determine which issues should be addressed first.
Task Selection
We performed a heuristic evaluation of the Sunwing iOS mobile app to pinpoint usability issues. Our main focus was to determine the source of user frustration and identify changes that could improve user satisfaction. Our examination revealed four main task flows, and we decided to concentrate on the hotel booking process since it had the most violations.
Visibility of System Status
- Systems should constantly keep users informed about the system's state by giving clear, appropriate, and timely feedback.
- Here, “No results found” appearing before entering any information provides inappropriate feedback.
Recommendation
- Provide a list of possible destinations.
Visibility of System Status
- The header doesn’t indicate the user is in the Hotels section and is inconsistent with the previous screen.
- A large logo is not needed.
Recommendation
- Add an indicator to navigation and keep consistent with the previous screen
- Remove unnecessary elements such as the logo and “FREE 1st checked bag”
- Map view, Filter, and Sort have different stylizations.
- Unclear if Map view is a button and there is not enough safe space surrounding
- Poor layout can impede users from refining their search efficiently.
Recommendation
- Define button style and add safe space
- Filter and Sort to have the same style of treatment
Flexibility & Efficiency of Use
- The header doesn’t indicate the user is in the Hotels section and is inconsistent with the previous screen.
- A large logo is not needed.
Recommendation
- Add an indicator to navigation and keep consistent with the previous screen
- Remove unnecessary elements such as the logo and “FREE 1st checked bag”
- Footer elements are not legible and clash with iOS Bottom Bar, unclear if "Continue" is a button.
Recommendation
- Improve spacing by shifting the footer up, allowing the user to click CTAs without any interference.
- Follow consistent button styles
Aesthetic & Minimalist Design
- The header doesn’t indicate the user is in the Hotels section and is inconsistent with the previous screen.
- A large logo is not needed.
Recommendation
- Add an indicator to navigation and keep consistent with the previous screen
- Remove unnecessary elements such as the logo and “FREE 1st checked bag”
Design Constraints
We decided it was important not to change specific elements of the Sunwing brand, such as colors, typography, and main components. We wanted to stay true to the personality of the Sunwing brand and ensure our redesigns aligned with the company image. As a group, our focus was on improving the user experience when booking a hotel rather than rebranding Sunwing.
Redesigned Wireframes
After carefully considering the constraints and established brand guidelines, we were able to move forward with redesigning the mobile app. This included incorporating all of the recommendations we had identified during our initial usability evaluation.
Key Learnings
- The trend of using mobile interfaces and apps is on the rise, and it's important for companies like Sunwing to keep up with this trend in order to remain competitive.
- Jakob Nielson's 10 Usability Heuristics can be useful guidelines for redesigning a mobile app.
- By redesigning the mobile app, we gained a deeper understanding of how an app should look and feel for users.
Next Steps
- Conduct user testing to validate the design improvements that we made to the mobile application
- Implement the redesign and monitor its impact on user satisfaction and ratings.
