AccuWeather: Evaluating and Redesigning the iOS Experience

UCI: Project in Human-Computer Interaction

This is an evaluative research project done for an undergraduate course, Project in Human-Computer Interaction, done at University of California, Irvine. I was the project lead, manager, and lead UX researcher - carrying out meetings, writing research plans, and executing said plans.

Please note that this work is not officially affiliated, sponsored by, or endorsed by AccuWeather; none of these prototypes or research were launched to the market.

Methods

To carry out this research project, I utilized a variety of qualitative research methods:‍

Qualitative Methods

  • Competitive analysis
  • Cognitive Walkthrough
  • Interviews
  • Qualitative user testing (in-person/moderated)

Analysis

  • Affinity diagramming
  • Personas
  • Qualitative metrics

Figure 1: Completed affinity sort with themes/patterns

Figure 2-4: Personas based on affinity diagram and interviews

Crucial Insights

Information on AccuWeather's design on iOS proved two major information problems: information overload and improper information categorization. Users often struggled where to find options and settings; due to the overflow of information, 'infinite scrolling' felt inevitable. Yet trying to find the settings to adjust the amount of information displayed felt nigh impossible because settings were indiscoverable.

Other primary findings indicate how the settings, shown via a kebab menu, was so "well-hidden" that users thought it was part of the advertisements section. This made it difficult to adjust and customize per user needs. Considering how customization can help solve information overflow, the hidden settings menu deterred users from doing so.

Secondary findings exacerbated the first issue whereby affordances were difficult to discover.

Figure 5 (left): Brainstorming redesign ideas
Figure 6 (right): Re-categorizing the setting's information architecture

Research Impact

Service Impact:

  • Card-based design informed by research not only improved visual aesthetics but also successfully preserved Trademark features, such as AccuWeather's MINUTE-BY-MINUTE Forecasts and REALFEEL.
  • New design not only addresses "designing for the user" but also "designing for the company."
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Product Impact:

  • Reapportioning and re-compartmentalizing information sections makes information more digestible, reducing cognitive overload for users.
Figure 6 (above): Redesign showcase

Reflections and Learnings

  • Empathetic leadership led this project to a higher level. As a project manager, deadlines are important, but leading with empathy made this project more successful than I could have ever imagined when my team members are struggling with grief.
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  • Continuing research - yet resource constraints: looking back, a card sort for the menu's information architecture would've been suitable based on our comments from our qualitative user testing. It would have counted as a follow-up research for a better-informed redesign. Had we more time, this would have been an excellent choice as a research method.
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  • ‍Properly attributing tasks and roles per each member's expertise helped expediate the speed of tasks and its quality.‍
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  • Designing for the user is important - but so is designing for the company! We cannot forget the signature or trademark features that a product has.
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    Special Thanks 
    I would also like to extend my thanks to University of California, Irvine's Kay Family Foundation Lab, for it was home to our meetings, usability testing, prototyping, and so much more.

© 2019-24 by Maxine Tzeecheen Yuan. All Rights Reserved