PROJECT INFO
Google Calendar (add a note feature)
MY ROLE
User Research
UX/UI Design
Interaction Design
DURATION
3 weeks (May 2021)
A PAIN POINT FROM AN APP I USE
This project begins with a pain point I have as a user of the Google Calendar App. I am always a fan of handwritten planners, but I want to start using a mobile planner instead to be more eco-friendly and safe. After giving Google Calendar many chances, there is one reason I can never stick with the app, and it is not having a Note section. I love to take notes on the side of my planner, and I view that as an essential element of a planner. And wIth a frustration and pain point in mind, I thought adding a note feature would enhance the experience using the app.
A daily calendar is a must to help keep track of everyday work and to plan things. In an era where everyone is constantly on their phone, calendar apps are a must.
Though everyone is on their phone, why are people still carrying around notebook planners?
The Google Calendar app is a straightforward and efficient app to exercise. Still, it also lacks components that an actual handwritten planner has, like a note feature, preventing many people from using the app.
.png)
How might we bring forward a feature that provides users the same experience of a notebook planner when using the Google Calendar app?
.png)
High-level goals and objectives:
• Adding a new feature (Note) that matches with the app's original design and purpose
• Design fonts, icons, and layouts for the new feature
• Provide user a smooth flow when using the new feature
•Brainstorming
•Project Timeline
• Set Research Goals
•Competitive Analysis
• 1:1 Interviews
• Icon design
• High Fidelity Wireframes
• User Flow
• Usability Testing
• Feedback Review
• Iterations
I began by doing some research and looked at products that are already out there. I noted their strengths and weaknesses that can help me with my design.
PARTICIPANTS
4 participants
Age 23-25
NEEDS
• 1/4 does not use any sort of calendar
• 1/4 prefer handwritten calendar/planner
• 2/4 uses Google Calendar App
• 4/4 likes the idea for adding Notes to calendar apps
• 3/4 prefer taking notes digitally
• 2/4 wants list-making feature on the Notes section
FRUSTRATIONS
• Digital notes not linking to date created
• Digital calendar may be limited compare to handwritten planners
Since I am building a feature for an existing app, all my new designs have to be similar to Google Calendar's design system. Matching the app's design system is crucial because I want users to feel like it's an actual feature of the app during their user journey.
The inspiration for the new Note icon came from a simple notepad. And because the icons of the Google Calendar app are relatively minimal, I went with a similar approach.
Below is how the new Note feature icon button would look next to the existing Google Calendar icon buttons.
Behind heading into digital design, I sketched out screens that will help me get a better idea of the overall flow. I added annotations of things I need to work on later.
With the help of my sketches and with the already existing design system from the Google Calendar app, I jumped right into high-fidelity wireframes. This was a bit of a different experience because I am now working with already designed screens. The challenge to this is to amalgamate the new designs with the existing ones.
The goal of the user flow is to make sure that the functionality of the design is apparent to the users. I have created a user flow with high-fidelity wireframes to provide a more vivid view.
Average Time to finish the flow: 50 seconds
Participants: 6 people (Age 22-25)
Given Task: Starting from the home screen, go to the Note feature and write down a heading and notes for a meeting. Then, click save to have the new notes saved for the day.
Key takeaways
Users want more enhanced note-taking because they do not feel like it's enough with the current design. And jumping back to the How might we question, is the feature we have now better than note-taking on handwritten planners? And concluding feedback from the usability test, I have included additional features for note-taking.
I measure success through the feedback I got from the usability testing and the completion rate of the task flow. Another way that I measure success is using the Net Promoter Score (NPS).
I have asked users how likely they will use Google Calendar if the note feature is added to see if the note feature can increase customers.
I also asked how likely they would recommend this feature to their friends, and they returned with high scores.
This project was a different but also an exciting one for me. Adding a feature to an existing app was challenging and amusing, like having to match the Google Calendar's design system for my new designs. When you really get to learn about an existing design system, it helps make the app look and feel like it came from their product family.
What I would in the future
I would like to enhance the newly added features from my iterations. There are still more details I can add to it, and I want users to get the most accessible pocket Note Planner.
.jpg)
.jpg)
