Wrkspace
SECTOR: Co-Working Spaces GOAL: Mobile app ROLE: UX/UI/UXR/Strategy in team of 4
Wrkspace is an app that unites coworking spaces through a membership model by giving its members access to a variety of coworking brands and locations across the country.
Our primary goal for this project was to research and test the original designs for the app, and improve the UI. We focused on the Member Portal, from onboarding and booking, to confirmation and account management.
understanding the market
Understanding the world market and the global business climate was critical to the development of this app, and even bigger picture—to understand how the concept of a co-working space could thrive and survive in these times.
Work From Home
We found that as an increasing number of employees want their job to be
fully remote.
The Great Resignation
Research showed that workers would either quit or start looking for a new job if required to return full-time.
WORKplace stats
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Business offices are closing
As the pandemic continues, an increasing number businesses are closing their offices and transitioning their workforce online.
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The number of coworking spaces is projected to double by 2024
Studies show that the number of coworking spaces is projected to reach over 40,000 by 2024, which is double the number in 2021.
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COWORKING TRENDS​
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Corporate Coworking
The biggest trend shaping the industry is the rise of the corporate coworker. Increasingly, companies are leveraging coworking spaces to decentralize their office space and support employees that wish to work closer to home.
As a testament to this shift, more than half of WeWork’s clients in the first quarter
of 2021 are now big enterprises.
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Innovation and Workspace Necessities
To succeed with a coworking project in 2022, the demand for coworking spaces to have
an integrated wellness approach with catering, relaxation, and exercise areas. There is also
a demand for coworking spaces to be available outside of traditional office hours
.
discovering why​
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We interviewed 10 people about their current workspace and their history with coworking spaces. We were looking to:
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Learn if they have used a coworking space and how often they use them
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Find reasons why people would use a coworking space
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Understand what their experience with them was like
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Expose pain points associated with them
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Find out if people have a favorite coworking space and why
.
what they said
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We broke our insights down to 7 different “I” statements, that categorized the commonalities of what people said to better understand our user.
"​I want a workspace that has a variety of desk options."
"​I enjoy working from home but also enjoy coming into the office part time."
"​I want a convenient and comfortable workspace environment."
"​I’m looking for an affordable experience
that suits my needs."
"​I enjoy being able
to collaborate with my coworkers in person."
"​I want a more accessible way to book
a coworking space."
"​I want to use a coworking space because it provides me with a place
that allows me to focus."
Problems to solve
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Our research revealed 3 main problems:
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Users have problems locating details about the spaces
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Users have problems with finding a space that fits their practical, comfort and
emotional needs -
Booking process is difficult in general (technical issues etc.)
Problems to solve: from client
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Our client revealed 3 main problems:
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Coworking operations can lose money on unused space/repeat members
that use space frequently -
Users have frustrations that they can’t use different workspaces at once
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Design of other apps like popdesk or deskpass makes usability an issue
who they ARE
​Users fall into a wide range of categories: young, single workers looking for a space with
a community vibe, to Moms needing to take
a break from the kids, to teams and execs looking for larger meeting spaces.
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Between the ages of early 20’s - late 50’s
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Management, Entrepreneurs, Freelancers and PIVOTERS!
character development
We had not one, but TWO Personas emerge from our research!
Persona 1 john
​Users John works a hybrid job, splitting his time between
the office and WFH. He's looking for a convenient, comfortable co-working space.
​
Needs and Goals:
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Comfortable space that isn't a cubicle
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Looking for a open, energetic vibe and
sense of community
Frustrations:
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Spaces can often be cold—would love creature comforts like a break room, fridge, coffee, natural light and plants would be nice
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Feels claustrophobic, unproductive and distracted in small spaces
Persona 2 cheryl
As Director of Operations for a major ad agency. Since her agency is giving up their expensive lease due to the pandemic, Cheryl needs to book more cost-effective working spaces. She feels that what might be a temporary solve now, could potentially be a
permanent solution.
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Needs and Goals:
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Her agency's lease is too costly, so she's lookin'
for a bookin'! -
Needs office space for 100 employees, and there
should be a variety of room sizes -
Needs flexible terms for at least a year
due to the pandemic -
Needs a coworking app with legit inventory
in real time
Frustration:
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Ideal spaces are snapped up quickly as more and more corps end their leases
Problem statEment
Users need a better app to find and book
a coworking space so they can focus
while they work.
competitive analysis
For our competitive analysis, we did a deep dive on five other co-working space services to understand their navigation, features, layouts and amenities. A few things we found were a little surprising. Most apps did not have the option to favorite or save
a space. They also lacked an option to rebook a previous space and most lacked a list of COVID protocols for the user to review before booking.
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Findings:
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Most apps offered the ability to book a desk/space on their app
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Could not book for both a group and an individual
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Most apps did not have the ability to favorite or save a space
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Many coworking spaces do not have a list of COVID protocols for the user to review before booking a space
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comparative analysis
We looked at 5 different companies whose goal was to either provide you with a service or allow you to use peoples car/space for a rental fee. We found that although these companies had a different purpose than a coworking app, they provided the same thing—a location-based service to be booked online.
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We noticed that 4/5 companies had the same features and functions:
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Intuitive interfaces, similar steps to purchase/book, geo location trackers
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Saved preferences
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Booking history
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A few apps allowed you to talk with your hosts within the app itself
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survey said!
In order to gain more insights on User Preferences, we created a short survey for those who have previously booked lodging, car rentals, or co-working spaces online!
We asked questions about certain features like Reviews, Search method and Amenities—how important were these features and where would Users like to see them!
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Key takeaways and validations
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REVIEWS!
100% of Users wanted to see them–with more than a few noting how critical this was, especially with Wrkspace being new to market.
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SEARCH BY
A whopping 90% of Users wanted
to start their search by location.
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AMENITIES!
And who doesn’t love AMENITIES?! Nearly 73% of Users wanted to see them in at least 2 places—1) included on the filtered results page and 2) on the individual listing!
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Select frame!
let it flow!
With our research analyzed and synthesized, we got to work on our User Flows!
We tried a few and as a group, agreed to share this one with our client, Stephen, and back it up with comprehensive presentation including our research!
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We were holding our breath—as this was the way we decided to pitch the idea of the corporate path to our client, who had previously only mentioned the individual as the User.
The grey flow is for individuals and small groups—the orange path for larger groups and companies! Our direction was solidly based on Market and User Research, but we had no idea how he would respond.
We based on the number of steps on our Comparative Research, our goal was
to perform the task of booking a space in 8 easy steps!
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We were beyond thrilled that Stephen was not only in agreement, but became energized and was getting his mojo back for what seemed like an idea that almost faded away. The juice was worth the squeeze!
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Stephen Hargett
Founder of Wrkspace
client reaction:
"WOW!"
LET the prototyping begin!
Energized from our client's blessing, we got to work on our LoFi!
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All aboard!
There's a... place, for us...
And for larger groups, too!
testing the lo-fi and mid-fi!
We performed usability testing on our lo-fi wireframes, where we had users try and book a coworking space for both an individual user and a large company. We found that our testers like the flow, content and ease of use, but we were able to identify areas to improve!
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key iterations Lo-FI
How It Works page was not working! Users thought the
3 blocks were clickable options instead of steps
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Also, the tiny arrow was confusing
to users.
THE SOLVE We removed the blocks so that the copy would look more
like steps than a
clickable button.
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We also ended the Free Trial confusion by redirecting to
Get Started
Membership Page Users were again confused by the little arrow button, some thinking they should bypass the number of people.
THE SOLVE After rounds of testing we found the clearest way to the Free Trial was on this page, so we added the button here, replacing that pesky little arrow button.
Browsing as a Guest Many users wanted to be able to check the spaces, amenities first without having to Sign Up or Sign in
THE SOLVE In our iteration we added
a browse as guest option. We had the business in mind when we made this change, since the idea was to sign up for the app.
moving to MID-FI
Choose Location page map area was too large for Users
to see any of
the property listings. Users also wanted the option of having both list and
gallery views.
THE SOLVE We reduced the map area, so that Users could see the list view. We also added a Gallery View option and redesigned the header to make
it more clear for
the User.
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Member Portal
A client request that we gladly added in the MidFi phase.
THE ADD
We added a dashboard for general profile information, but
also a page which included Upcoming Reservations and Booking History, which would make
it easy for Users to rebook a favorite space.
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high time for the
HI-FI!
book any
size office
space
from
anywhere
whether you're
an individual
or a large group, it's 8 easy steps
the cherry on top
Our client was so thrilled with our work, he sent us each presents! He would love to continue working with us to further develop this app—when he is ready. As you can imagine, launching this type of business is a huge undertaking, but he made it clear that he wants to work with us in the future. And so do we!