case study

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Creative Soul

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"SERVIO"

This mobile app connects elder Canadians who need help with daily home tasks, like lawn mowing or snow removal, with international students seeking part-time jobs. It provides a user-friendly platform for elders to request services and track the student’s arrival in real time.

OVERVIEW

Deadline: The entire project was completed within a tight timeframe of 4 weeks.

Tools Used : Figma, Adobe Suit, Jira

My Role : Sole Designer - UX Research , UI Prototyping , Visual Interactions, Flows

Deadline: The entire project was completed within a tight timeframe of 4 weeks.

Tools Used : Figma, Adobe Suit, Jira

My Role : Sole Designer - UX Research , UI Prototyping , Visual Interactions, Flows

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Elderly Canadians often face physical limitations that hinder their ability to maintain their homes, while international students may struggle to find part-time work that aligns with their academic schedules and visa restrictions. Traditional job boards and classifieds can be time-consuming and inefficient for both parties, creating a gap in meeting the needs of both groups.

RESEARCH

Overview : Initial research for my design process.

OPP0RTUNITY

• A growing need for home services among the aging population.

• A large pool of international students seeking part-time work.

• A lack of efficient platforms connecting these two groups.

• A growing need for home services among the aging population.

• A large pool of international students seeking part-time work.

• A lack of efficient platforms connecting these two groups.

Why?

• Provides a reliable solution for both parties.

• Encourage community connections and social interaction.

• Supports the financial stability of international students.

• Provides a reliable solution for both parties.

• Encourage community connections and social interaction.

• Supports the financial stability of international students.

Benefit

• Elders get reliable, quick help with tasks

• Flexible work opportunities and income for students

• Simple interface and live tracking make the process smooth and secure

• Elders get reliable, quick help with tasks

• Flexible work opportunities and income for students

• Simple interface and live tracking make the process smooth and secure

DESIGN THINKING PROCESS

Methods : Competitive Audits, User Surveys, Current market trends

PROPOSAL STATEMENT

I am designing a mobile application that will connect elder citizens with international students to provide essential home services like lawn cutting and snow cleaning. This app, named SERVIO, aims to offer a simple, user-friendly platform that empowers elders to request trustworthy, reliable help, while giving students flexible part-time job opportunities. By combining convenience with real-time tracking and transparent communication, SERVIO ensures both parties can enjoy a stress-free, seamless experience.

DISCOVERY

For my discovery phase, I decided to grab some useful insights from 5 elder Canadians, potential users of this app through interview to understand their pain points and needs.

User Research & Insights

To gain valuable insights into the needs of both elderly Canadians and international students, I conducted in-depth user interviews and surveys with five participants from each target group.

Primary Research: Elderly Canadians

The research revealed that 60% of elderly users require biweekly home services, while 20% prefer weekly and another 20% monthly. Many elderly individuals struggle with existing service apps—40% found them difficult to navigate, emphasizing the need for a simple, intuitive design. Additionally, 60% of participants prioritized real-time tracking of service providers to ensure timely and reliable service. Safety and trust were major concerns, with 75% of users wanting a vetting system for service providers. Despite these concerns, 80% of elderly respondents were open to trying a user-friendly mobile app to manage their home service needs.

Primary Research: International Students

For international students, job flexibility was the key concern—78% needed adaptable work hours to fit their academic schedules. The research showed that 67% were open to home service jobs like lawn mowing and snow removal, and they preferred shorter shifts of 1-5 hours to maintain a balance between work and studies. Additionally, 55% expected to earn between $15-$20 per hour, and 45% expressed concerns about safety when working in unfamiliar environments, highlighting the need for secure work arrangements and proper job descriptions.

MARKET ANALYSIS

SERVIO stands out by offering a live tracking feature, a user-friendly interface similar to Uber, direct chat with service providers, and a secured payment gateway, making it a strong choice for elder citizens and international students. Unlike most competitors, SERVIO ensures real-time tracking and a streamlined

During the project, I was provided with detailed profiles of two personas, Mike and Sameer, which helped me understand their specific needs.

-Mike

-Says

• “I want a reliable, trustworthy source to help with home services like lawn cutting and snow removal.”

• “Finding a source that is easy to ask for tasks within the required timeframe, without complicated steps.”

-Thinks

• “I need help to maintain my home and stay independent.” • "I need help, but I don’t want to deal with difficult technology."

• "Can I trust the people who will come to my home?"

-Does

• Research different home service options or apps and assess their reliability.

• Explore different home service options and providers.

• Take feedbacks from family and friends about their experiences with home services.

-Feels

• His lawn or driveway needing maintenance, but he can’t physically manage the tasks anymore.

• Unsure about the quality and reliability of home service providers.

• Advertising or promotions for home service apps, but he feels unsure about which one to trust

-Sameer

-Says

• "I need to find a part-time job to help pay my bills."

• "I want a job that is flexible and allows me to balance my studies."

• "Home service work could be a good way to gain practical experience."

-Thinks

• "I need to find flexible work that fits around my classes."

• "Home service jobs sound good, but I hope the work is manageable."

• "I want to make sure I can handle both work and studies without getting overwhelmed."

-Does

• Searches for part-time job postings on online job boards.

• Scans college bulletin boards and social media for part-time job opportunities.

• Observes his friends who have used similar apps to find part-time work.

-Feels

• Anxious about managing finances and paying for living expenses.

• Uncertain about the best way to find a suitable part-time job.

• Apps or job platforms with part-time opportunities, but not always as per his availability.

Understanding that both Raj and Urvish are flat owners, I focused on identifying the features and functionalities that would cater to their specific concerns regarding visitor management. This involved ensuring that the system was not only secure but also user-friendly, allowing them to efficiently manage and monitor their visitors in a way that aligns with their busy lifestyles.

TARGETED AUDIENCE

Methods : Conceptual inquiry, Personas, User Analysis

Based on my Research, App primarily includes residents of mid to high-rise condominiums and gated communities who prioritize security and convenience in managing their daily household activities. This diverse group encompasses tech-savvy individuals who seek efficient digital solutions, as well as those who may be less familiar with technology but still value user-friendly and reliable tools. The app is designed to cater to a broad spectrum of users, from busy professionals and families to elderly residents and property managers, all of whom require a secure and straightforward way to manage pre-visitor registrations and ensure the safety of their living environments.

After conducting thorough research and analysis, I began crafting the user flow for the Servio app. This process involved mapping out each step a user would take—from signing in or browsing as a guest to selecting services, scheduling tasks, and managing their profile and rewards. The primary objective was to design an intuitive, streamlined experience tailored to users seeking household and maintenance services. Every interaction was thoughtfully designed to ensure ease of use while maintaining clarity and consistency. This user flow became a foundational element in shaping the app’s overall usability and service efficiency.

RESULTS

In my Servio app user flow, the process illustrates a smooth and efficient way for users to schedule home services. For example, when Ms. Ananya Sharma, a resident of the Maple Heights apartment complex, needs help with wall painting, she opens the Servio app. From the home page, she taps on the “Wall Painting” category under services. She selects a suitable time slot, fills in her address and preferences, and confirms the booking.

Once confirmed, a professional is assigned, and Ananya receives a real-time update with the service provider’s details. On the day of service, the provider arrives and checks in through the app, initiating the task. Ananya receives a live notification that the service has started and can track the progress. After completion, she’s prompted to rate the service and make a secure payment through her preferred mode.

This user flow emphasizes convenience, transparency, and reliability, ensuring that every step—from service selection to completion—is user-friendly and professional.

IDEATING AND SKETCHING