Sphere
Sphere is a product aimed at transforming the migration process for professionals. The concept was formed through user research on moving to a new country. In a mentor-like manner, Sphere pairs newcomers with experienced expats to smoothen out typical pain points one might experience throughout their journey.
Type
End-to-end Mobile App
Service
User Research, UI/UX Design, Prototyping, Usability Testing
Category
Lifestyle
Timeline
July - Aug 2024
Final Prototype
project overview
When people migrate, there are a lot of considerations - migration forms, data plans, financial accuracy, societal integration, etc. Many existing platforms detail all these issues, but in piecemeal form and rarely verified. Users have to spend a lot of time researching, adding stress and anxiety to their journey.
“The biggest shock was the amount of my salary that was spent on rent... The buddy system would’ve changed my life financially.”
Jim M., interviewee
research methods
Benchmark analysis
User research
insights
benchmark analysis
SWOT analysis was conducted on three resources - Asiaxpat, Geoxpat and Spacious. The overall conclusion was that their general design was outdated and overloaded with different data.
insights
user research
Users encounter various pain points, including navigating government procedures and understanding visa requirements. Language barriers complicate cultural and social integration, while unfamiliarity with local customs can lead to misunderstandings. Many struggle to find fair prices and feel isolated within the expat bubble.
Building friendships is challenging, especially finding those who share similar lifestyles. Having someone to explain local practices and provide guidance is crucial, making a support system before arrival essential for easing the transition.
From interviews, an affinity map was created - recurring key concerns were around cost of living and exploring new experiences.
view affinity map
personas
From interviews, two personas were created.
research statements
the financial planner
Oce is a meticulous planner who thrives on organisation. She likes to budget well and save for her future. However, due to language barriers and her lack of knowledge, she has found it difficult to obtain accurate information on cost of living and general expenses.
the curious extrovert
John loves exploring new environments and learning new cultures. His job brought him to Hong Kong, and although he mixes well with other expats, he has found it difficult to break out of that bubble and make local friends.
sitemap
user flows
Two user flows were mapped: Matching with a Buddy and Scheduling a Hangout
view user flows
matching with a buddy
To make the experience more relevant to the user, a personality quiz is conducted first to gauge the user's disposition. Then buddies would be suggested, with percentages to show how much they match the user.
scheduling a hangout
After matching, user or buddy will initiate messages and schedule a hangout to meet in-person. Based off their selected locations, verified venues (for user safety) will be suggested.
mid-fidelity wireframe
Key screens of each user flow were drafted, creating blueprints that will be the basis for a working prototype.
moodboard
Brand values, typography, and colour palette revolved around making users feel calm and stress-free.
view moodboard
brand style tile
logo
A logo was created based off Sphere's concept of being a place for connecting and helping each other out.
high-fidelity prototype
Low-fidelity wireframes were outfitted with the brand style through imagery, colours, typography, and iconography. Both user flows were made into high-fidelity, interactive mockups for usability testing.
view high-fidelity prototype
usability testing
The prototype was tested on five participants, all expats that have migrated to Hong Kong.
user flows tested
Matching with a Buddy
Scheduling a Hangout
results
In general, all participants enjoyed the features. They generally state that this will help them settle in Hong Kong easier and prefer the efficiency of it compared to other apps like Bumble or meetup.com. They had problems seeking compatible or reliable help and already prefer this method.
Participants appreciated the security feature of the designated venues. The calendar feature separated this platform from other matching apps, as they felt it added a level of professionalism.
"What you're making here is a more genuine product… you're able to connect people more specifically. In that sense, it's close to what I wanted when I first arrived."
Mathew L., usability tester
view full usability testing results
iterations
There was feedback on how to improve the features from both interface and user experience perspectives, but generally participants were keen to have a functioning version of Sphere.
next steps
With the features reiterated, next steps would be to ready them for developer handoff.
User feedback was key for Sphere's journey, as migration is an area that can be overwhelming. Care was taken to ensure Sphere could act as a source to relieve the stress, and not add to it.
From the positive reactions in usability testing, it is safe to say that there is a market ready for Sphere. It's on the right track to providing users with seamless transitions between countries.