This Coming Weekend
The Design Process: Comparative and Competitive Analysis | Heuristic Evalution | Anonymous Surveys | Directed Storytelling | User Interviews | Usability (Think Aloud) Testing | Wireframing and Prototyping using Pen and Paper, Sketch, Craft PlugIn and InVision
Imagine…
You’ve recently begun listening to a new band and you’re really enjoying their music. You go online to see that they’re coming to town soon, but tickets are already sold out and you can’t afford scalper pricing.
Or, perhaps tickets are still available but the show is in a couple days and there’s no time to go from work while planning for dinner, parking, traffic and childcare.
These things don’t have to be an issue anymore with . THIS COMING WEEKEND, the mobile app I created for busy professionals who have families but still want to partake in some of the amazing events the Twin Cities area has to offer. Because of TCW, you no longer have to miss out!
To arrive at which elements to include in TCW, I researched existing apps like BandsInTown and SongKick, then talked to users of those apps to see what they would include and leave out. I then presented my own ideas of what I would find helpful as a user and surveyed folks anonymously as to which features they found important. Finally, I developed sketched wireframes which I converted to a digital and then an interactive format. During this process, it dawned on me that users need not just concert alerts with plenty of advance notice, but also ways to plan around the areas of their life that account for them having either a hectic or enjoyable experience.
EASE OF USE IS KEY
After a quick and easy initial integration process, This Coming Weekend will begin alerting the user well in advance of upcoming events so that they may plan ahead with plenty of time, allowing users to RELAX and ENJOY THE SHOW.
Within the app are options such as ticket purchasing, childcare planning, and real-time parking and restaurant / bar information - all based upon research findings - so that users can plan their time before the event wisely and make sure they’re comfy in their seat prior to showtime.
My user goal of creating a streamlined experience for each user so that they can remove stress from the equation of planning an outing has been achieved. With This Coming Weekend, users are able to focus more on enjoyment of the event and living in the moment.
Not only have I designed a better experience for users, but I’ve also developed a business case for this app: when more folks are attending events, promoters, bookers and venue owners benefit, as well as the artists themselves from higher ticket sales which equal more revenue. As a result, this will bring more performers into the area which only further benefits the users in a symbiotic relationship.
Photos by Via Klavetter
View the full set of interactive wireframes here.