Overview
How can a digital platform leverage a user’s data and information in the context of self-development?
Alma is a digital platform that organizes your Google data factored along with your personal goals to provide accurate assistance through Google Assistant to help you achieve those goals. Explore and navigate goals using Google Maps, or discover goals augmented to the world around you through Google Lens for a path of continuous authentic self-development.
Duration
September 2019 - April 2020
Role
Independent project.
Thesis Advisors
Alexander Manu & Reza Mortezaei.
Skills
User Research
Design Development
Prototyping
Tools
Adobe XD
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Problem
By giving guidance and advice that does not reflect individual user needs, self-development apps and services don't drive behavioural change or make long term differences with users. Feedback that does not reflect users prevents them from having the ambition to pursue self-development and a lack of understanding of their potential, purpose, and possibilities in life.
Goals
1. Help users define their goals.
2. Acknowledge what it will take to accomplish their goals.
3. Leverage their data and input to provide accurate advice and guidance that reflect the user accurately.
Overall, help users accomplish goals, develop knowledge, and acquire skills. To gain self-knowledge and understanding of their potential, purpose, and possibilities in life.
Approach
Thesis was the first project I ever had that allowed free rein of the design problem I would be pursuing and the design solution I would implement.
The Double-Diamond method has been a part of my design process from the beginning of my education in design. Once again this method proved to be helpful giving me clarity and a direction throughout this year-long project. The iterative process encourages me to find the best possible solution(s) for all the identified pain points.
Phase 1: Discover & Define
Brainstorming
During this brainstorm session, I was able to determine the design problem for my thesis project moving forward. This was a collaborative process with peers using the MoSCoW method. I was able to determine the problem I wanted to pursue and solve, giving me a Design Brief to follow.
Must • Provide an opportunity for self-exploration and reflection accurate to the user's behaviour and needs. Give the user's ambition to pursue self-development. Help users understand their potential, purpose, and possibilities in life.
Should • Function as a guide but not limit the user's choices. Encourage life-long improvement and learning.
Could • Allow users to create or map future self, who they want to be.
Research
Primary
Throughout my thesis project, I took part in and conducted a number of exploratory workshops and focus groups as a form of primary research. Mostly consisting of Discovery workshops, Empathy workshops, and Critique workshops.
- Discovery workshops: Communicate the current state and create consensus for milestones and plans
- Empathy workshops: Help a broad team or stakeholders understand and prioritize user needs before designing a solution
- Critique workshops: Ensure that design decisions align to user needs
(Nielsen Norman Group, "5 UX Workshops and When to Use Them", NN/g)
Secondary
I did online research to learn more on the topic of self-development, as well as market research for competitors in digital platforms that specialize in self-development. Another aspect I had to research was the business and technology aspects of my concept. I was required to choose a company that fit my project, and I ended up choosing Google. I saw an opportunity for my concept with my research into Google.
Insights & Findings
1. The market for self-development digital platforms is highly saturated. Unfortunately, Cognitive Behavioural Therapists have determined that many don't drive behavioural change or make long-term differences.
2. To drive behavioural change, digital platforms must:
a. Help users define their goals.
b. Acknowledge what it will take to achieve those goals.
c. Users need to have and maintain their ambition for self-development.
i.To do this users need to understand their Purpose, Potential, and Possibility.
3. Major keys to self-developments are:
a. Motivation
b. Self-awareness
My research helped influence the following personas and user journeys. Helping develop a design solution that effectively meets the design goals. Ultimately, for a self-development digital platform to be effective, it has to target and reflect the user's individual goals, dreams, and desires.
Personas
User Journey
Phase 2: Develop & Deliver
Business Model
Strategy
Insights
While Google’s ultimate goal is organizing the world’s information and making it universally accessible and useful, what I’m proposing with Google Alma, is exploring a more emotional side to this ideology. Google is a ubiquitous tool and has the means to gain and leverage the information that can help users on a deeper level. Google assistant is the perfect intermediate for this, already providing individuals with their very own personal Google. Like most virtual assistants, Google Assistant is great at answering questions, but these answers can also help people achieve their goals.
Idea
Our mission is to organize a user's information, making it accessible and useful in the context of self-development.
Google alma identifies compatible experiences and challenges that match a user's Google data and factors it with their goals. Google alma does this by implementing Big Data Analytics to turn a user's data into actionable and comprehensive insights. With the use of server-less data analytics and machine-learning platforms, Google has the means to use the information they receive from a user to give them a personalized self-development journey, and the assistance and tools to curate their aspirational selves.
Impact
By providing proactive assistance through the on-demand Google Assistant, users experience a path for continuous and authentic self-development. Users can accomplish their goals, develop their skills, and acquire knowledge. They become more connected, not only to the world around them but with themselves. They gain self-knowledge and understanding of their potential, purpose, and possibilities. Ultimately, giving users the motivation to continue to develop and grow.
Design Solution
User Flows
Ideation
The benefit of choosing a company that suits my project is having a point of reference for the branding and interface. Services like Google Home and Google Assistant became a helpful reference for Google alma to suit their IoT ecosystem. However, it still became important to uniquely distinct Google alma to solidify its departure and independence from previous Google products and services.
Prototype
Basic Wireframe
Final Prototype
Adobe XD Prototype
If you want to see the full prototype, check it out by clicking the link below! Feel free to leave a comment or feedback.
https://xd.adobe.com/view/76287f24-80e6-4cc9-7667-aa9950b145db-0019/
Project Outcome
My biggest challenge with this project was considering the feasibility of my solution. As a concept, it is so general and all-encompassing, making it challenging to create an actionable experience and product from it. During Thesis, we were encouraged to think big and throw issues like privacy out the door to mitigate limiting ourselves. However, at a certain point, we are supposed to converge and become more specific considering the technology and business side of things. Ultimately, I don't feel I did this as successfully as I could have, but as a collection of work, I do feel good about the final product. As for what I would change, it would have been user involvement (user research and user feedback). The most gratifying projects I have been a part of, have involved the user, but my work was never quite there. Thesis felt like the perfect opportunity to have user involvement along with a great final product. Yet, the end of Thesis does not necessarily mean the end of this project, I would like to revisit my thesis with the implementation of user research and feedback done more effectively.
Final Report
