OVERVIEW
Based on in-depth user research, I created a native mobile device app which finds surrounding golfers to golf with at the golf course.
This is a case study which explores the creation of the Let's Go Golf Club app from end-to-end.
RESPONSIBILITIES
As the researcher and designer, I used the following methodologies:
PROBLEM+HYPOTHESIS
USER RESEARCH
DESIGN
USABILITY TESTING+REFINEMENT
I DON'T WANT TO GOLF BY MYSELF...
I often end up in conversations about 'who can golf with me this weekend?'. This usually ends up having to send a long text-message thread amongst friends and colleagues.
WHAT GOLFERS HAVE USED
I sourced the internet and App Store finding the most common golf apps available to users. The options are almost unlimited nowadays. Most of the popular searches included Golfshot, 18 Birdies, GolfLogix, and The Grint.
LET'S FOCUS ON GETTING GOLFERS TOGETHER
To solve this issue, I started a brainstorming session. I asked questions like 'how do golfers find other golfers to golf with?'. Why do golfers go golf? When do golfers golf the most? What are some other needs, interests, and issues that may arise for golfers using a golf app?
WITH THIS IN MIND...
I utilized research & analysis, conception+ideation, and testing & iteration which contributed to the new design for a golfing arrangement app called Let's Go Golf Club.
WHAT I CAN SEE
By researching the current market, I can see that there are numerous amounts of golf apps in the wild. The common problematic issue I see is that users don't have a way to meet new golfers and schedule a time to play with them.
REAFFIRMING THE ISSUE
As you can see from the above chart, I created a feature comparison of the most popular golfing apps in the market. I've highlighted (red striped outline) the key missing component of all these apps. The recurring main issue is these apps don't include a comprehensive way to schedule golfing with friends or meeting new golfers.
INSIGHTS FROM THE FIELD
I created a user study and asked 5 participants the most problematic issues about using golf apps. My goal was to understand what apps and programs users are using, what users wanted in a golf scheduling app, and if an app existed in which allowed golfers to meet new golfers to golf with, would they be excited to use it.
DISCOVERY
From these findings, I decided to hone in on creating a golf app that would encompass a golf scheduling feature along with unique golf content that could be filtered for each user in the golf app.
I then started a brainstorming session by collecting my research and creating personas that would fit the ideal golf app user.
SOLVING THIS CHALLENGE
By creating the user persona above, I can now see where potential users are planning to use the Let's Go Golf Club app.
I then conducted an ideation session where I create a user flow and introductory lo-fi screens to analyze the start of the user journey.
ANALYZE WHAT'S IMPORTANT
Now that I can see a potential user journey, I then focused my efforts into prioritizing what features and goals I wanted to achieve in the Let's Go Golf Club app.
I created this prioritization Now, Next, Later chart to highlight key areas of focus, but also note which features can be added at a later time.
USABILITY TESTING
Now that I have a working prototype, I conducted a usability test with users. I asked the users to try to navigate different key areas of the Let's Go Golf Club app. I also asked the users about the overall design, ease of use, and overall impression. Here are the key findings.
