AI-Powered App Concept to Maximize Research Potential
UX/UI Case Study
by Paprika Tokar
Case Study Header Image
Project Overview
Giide is an innovative AI-assisted research app that seamlessly blends technology and personal development. This cutting-edge app not only features an intuitive and engaging user interface but also places a strong emphasis on usability and personalized guidance. Giide stands out by providing tailored insights and recommendations based on users' queries, offering a unique and personalized approach to learning and self-improvement.
My Role:
PLATFORMS: IOS
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In 2024, I led the user experience research and development of the app concept Giide. My responsibilities included: user research, concept development, information architecture, UI design, interaction design, designing user flows, visual design, user testing, and prototyping.
Splash Screens
“I would definitely show Giide to my friends who
I know like exploring their brain and learning more”
How might we create a personalized and engaging platform for individuals seeking guidance and support in their personal growth journey, addressing the challenge of accessing research resources while fostering a sense of community and belonging?
Problem Statement
Home Screen
What can we solve for our users?
We all need a little guidance in life sometimes. With many people turning to the internet to research spiritual, religious,
or philosophical topics; I have found a sizable demographic of users that spend countless hours scrolling websites, videos, and articles to find the answers to their life’s quandaries. Giide seeks to utilize AI to index mass amounts of data on these topics and synthesize personal, search-based results to help guide the user on their spiritual and philosophical journeys through personalized content and community engagement.
Project Goals/ Business Requirements:
1. Develop an AI-powered personal growth platform.
2. Enhance user experience: prioritize user-friendly design.
3. Require user authorization to gather user's data and input choices; allowing AI to create algorithms for the app.
4. Curate diverse content: offer varied content types covering guides, articles, and exercises based on AI’s learning metrics
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Key Considerations:
-Ensure the app is interesting and curated for enhanced user engagement.
-Design an interactive interface that allows users to select their learning preferences, with each choice impacting their recommendations.
-Product should maintain MVP business requirements and remain helpful to end-users.
Our target audience is aimed to be accessible to a large demographic
age group 18-60
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Our user base consists of individuals passionate about personal growth and self-improvement, with a strong interest in exploring diverse topics. These proactive learners seek a platform that seamlessly integrates their quest for knowledge with personalized insights and recommendations. Giide is designed to meet this demand, providing an engaging environment where users can effortlessly access tailored guidance that reflects their unique interests, goals, and preferences.
How do users feel?
Information Overload:
Users often feel overwhelmed by the abundance of information available online, making it challenging to find reliable resources tailored to their specific needs.
Fragmented Experience:
Users may encounter difficulty in accessing diverse resources across various platforms, leading to a fragmented experience and inefficiency in their learning journey.
Limited Community Interaction:
Some individuals seek connection and support from like-minded individuals but find it challenging to engage in meaningful discussions and share experiences within their community.
User Survey Results
I conducted an online survey with 23 users who fall in our target demographic
Path Screen
Usability Interview Observations
For my UX case study on Giide, I conducted a series of twelve user interviews, employing a mix of in-person and remote sessions to ensure a diverse range of perspectives. All interviews were contextual, delving into users' experiences within their natural environment to gain authentic insights. Adopting a semi-structured approach, I utilized an interview script as a framework while allowing flexibility for spontaneous follow-up questions. This strategy aimed to extract nuanced responses and avoid introducing any bias into the participants' narratives. By posing open-ended questions, I sought to uncover rich, unfiltered insights into user behaviors, preferences, and pain points. The combination of in-person and remote interviews, along with a semi-structured format, provided a comprehensive understanding of user interactions with the Giide app.
Usability Interview
After interviewing the users with my first iteration of Giide, I found 14 changes that needed to be made in order for the second iteration to address and solve the issues my users had found. After making changes to the app, I found an outstanding increase in the user’s ability to understand and operate the app.
Before, only 4 out 8 users were able to complete the user flow
After the changes, I retested the second iteration, all 8 were able to successfully operate the app in accordance to the user flow desired. As well as 4 new users, for a total of 12 successful flow run-throughs.
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Check out the Iterative Design section to see the changes made!
Competitive Analyisis
Elicit AI
Giide
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Elicit AI focuses on providing users with research assistance based on their topics of interest, but it lacks the personalized guidance and interactive exercises that Giide offers.
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Engages users by focusing on topic-based research, fostering a connection between information and user interests.
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Offers topic-based assistance but lacks personalized guidance and interactive exercises tailored to individual needs.
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Simplifies the process with straightforward topic selection, reducing complexity but limiting the depth of personalization.
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Provides flexibility in choosing research topics but restricts users to general information rather than tailored insights.
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Seamlessly integrates with various information sources, ensuring a cohesive and familiar research experience.
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The Personalized Research Assistant on Giide allows users to link their research topics to curated resources and insights.
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Elevates user engagement by directly connecting real-world research topics to personalized guidance, offering a tangible and comprehensive experience.
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Achieves a deeper level of personalization by linking users' specific research needs to curate insights, reflecting individual interests and goals.
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Integrates real-world elements, allowing users to navigate their actual research projects, creating a more detailed and immersive user journey.
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Offers a broader spectrum of personal growth through users' unique research interests, allowing for more tailored recommendations and insights.
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Integrates topic-based research guidance seamlessly within the Giide app, enhancing the overall user experience.
For my competitive analysis, I examined three different products to understand their features, strengths, and weaknesses in relation to Giide. After a thorough evaluation, I identified Elicit as the primary competitor due to its similar target audience and functionalities. I conducted a detailed comparison of Elicit, focusing on aspects such as user experience, AI capabilities, and overall usability. This in-depth analysis highlighted areas where Giide could excel and differentiate itself.
*The image below the comparison between Giide and Elicit provides an overview of the other competitors analyzed, illustrating the competitive landscape and positioning of Giide within the market.*
Competitive Analysis
Design Process
The design process for Giide focused on creating a theme that promotes healing and growth through its visual and functional design. The UI elements were crafted with a focus on green tones to subconsciously inform the user of Giide’s commitment to well-being and personal development. This design approach harmonizes the concept of growth with a user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing interface, ensuring that users feel supported and encouraged throughout their journey with Giide.
Early Sketches
Accessibility
Ensuring inclusivity and accessibility, I adhered to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) throughout the design process of Giide. Using colorblind plugins and integrating WCAG guidelines, I prioritized features that accommodate users with diverse needs. Implementing color contrasts and patterns accessible to individuals with color vision deficiencies, I carefully fine-tuned the app's visual elements. These measures not only enhanced the overall user experience but also ensured that Giide surpassed accessibility requirements, creating an inclusive platform where everyone could seamlessly engage with the app’s personalized guides and exercises for personal growth and healing.
User Persona
Alex, my main user persona, embodies the intersection of personal growth and technology. As an academic researcher with a keen interest in philosophy, Alex navigates the intellectual landscape focusing on emerging trends in philosophical discussion and self-improvement. His deep passion for philosophical inquiry and personal development drives his need for a tool like Giide.
User Persona
User Flow
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In the user flow illustrated below, I integrated three distinct user stories. The primary story focuses on the app's main function: asking questions and receiving answers from the AI. The second and third user stories utilize the Path and Connect features and are incorporated into the flow.
User Flowchart
Iterative Design
Wireframes
Wireframes
Before After
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Before After
Prototype
So, what did we learn?
User Feedback Analysis:
Upon reviewing the insights gained from this case study, I have identified areas for further exploration and improvement.
I intend to dedicate additional time to developing alternative user flows and incorporating new features, such as a diary function. I am keen to investigate how these enhancements can be effectively integrated into the app to better meet user needs and expectations.
Positive Feedback
Areas for Improvement
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Users appreciated the concept of Giide as a personalized AI assistant for research and personal growth.
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Many users found the user interface visually appealing and intuitive to navigate.​
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The inclusion of personalized recommendations and tailored content received positive feedback from users.
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Users valued the community aspect of Giide, expressing in connecting with like-minded individuals and participating in discussions.
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Users requested additional features to enhance motivation and accountability, such as goal-setting tools and progress-tracking mechanisms.​
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Concerns were raised about the credibility and reliability of content within the app, highlighting the importance of verifying sources and ensuring accuracy.
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