omo App
omo App
omo App
Encouraging ‘Third Place’ discovery and proliferation one click at a time.
Encouraging ‘Third Place’ discovery and proliferation one click at a time.
Encouraging ‘Third Place’ discovery and proliferation one click at a time.
Open Prototype
Open Prototype
Open Prototype
Team
Team
Team
Andrew G. G.
Katelyn Li
Sang Hyun Yoon
Andrew G. G.
Katelyn Li
Sang Hyun Yoon
My Role
My Role
My Role
Researcher
Product Designer
Researcher
Product Designer
Timeline
Timeline
Timeline
May - Aug 2024
May - Aug 2024
Tools Used
Tools Used
Tools Used
Figma
Google Forms
Figma
Google Forms
Overview
Overview
With fewer opportunities to socialize, there is greater isolation and fewer meaningful connections made between individuals.
Through observing user behaviour and user interviews, there was a notable need observed for ‘third places’ or ‘third spaces’ which are neutral locations frequently visited outside of the home and workplace where people can socialize and relax. Hence, we aimed to find digital solutions to enhance existing ‘third places’ and encourage more businesses to become ‘third place-friendly’
With fewer opportunities to socialize, there is greater isolation and fewer meaningful connections made between individuals.
Through observing user behaviour and user interviews, there was a notable need observed for ‘third places’ or ‘third spaces’ which are neutral locations frequently visited outside of the home and workplace where people can socialize and relax. Hence, we aimed to find digital solutions to enhance existing ‘third places’ and encourage more businesses to become ‘third place-friendly’
A Structural Issue
A Structural Issue
Currently, third places are:
Fewer in number, physically inaccessible, search elusive and quite expensive.
Currently, third places are:
Fewer in number, physically inaccessible, search elusive and quite expensive.
Lack of third places exacerbates:
mental health decline, reduction of social opportunities and weakening of community bonds.
Lack of third places exacerbates:
mental health decline, reduction of social opportunities and weakening of community bonds.
Square One mall, credits Michael Muraz
Square One mall, credits Michael Muraz
Solution
Solution
omo improves discovery and generation of third places
omo improves discovery and generation of third places
We created the omo app that seeks to encourage the use of third places through digital means by:
We created the omo app that seeks to encourage the use of third places through digital means by:
Making the
discovery process for third places easier.
Encouraging businesses to allow customers to sit in their establishments for cheap with high comfortability.
Onboarding
Onboarding
Our app focuses helping young adults and local business engage in third places through:
Our app focuses helping young adults and local business engage in third places through:
Easy Discovery
From fitness to dining, find local spots that suit your interests.
Easy Discovery
From fitness to dining, find local spots that suit your interests.
Comprehensive Reviews
Get a grasp of the location through our detailed review and filtering systems that highlights features that compliment socialization and relaxation.
Comprehensive Reviews
Get a grasp of the location through our detailed review and filtering systems that highlights features that compliment socialization and relaxation.
Business Incentives
If you’re a business owner, we will promote you to our active consumer base if you qualify as a third place where all of us can thrive!
Business Incentives
If you’re a business owner, we will promote you to our active consumer base if you qualify as a third place where all of us can thrive!
Final Design
Final Design
How might we
How might we
How might we
. . . improve the discoverability and facilitation of Third Places for young adults to foster community.
. . . improve the discoverability and
facilitation of Third Places for young adults to foster community.
. . . improve the discoverability and
facilitation of Third Places for young adults to foster community.
Research
Research
Identifying what attracts communities towards third places
Identifying what attracts communities towards third places
Identifying what attracts communities towards third places
Historically, bars, pubs, cafes and other locations served as places for people to unwind and engage with their community after a long day at work.
We wanted to understand the factors behind lowered third place usage and presence. To find ways to mitigate these issues, we aimed to find ways to leverage technology to bridge the gap for both consumers and businesses.
Historically, bars, pubs, cafes and other locations served as places for people to unwind and engage with their community after a long day at work.
We wanted to understand the factors behind lowered third place usage and presence. To find ways to mitigate these issues, we aimed to find ways to leverage technology to bridge the gap for both consumers and businesses.
Historically, bars, pubs, cafes and other locations served as places for people to unwind and engage with their community after a long day at work.
We wanted to understand the factors behind lowered third place usage and presence. To find ways to mitigate these issues, we aimed to find ways to leverage technology to bridge the gap for both consumers and businesses.
Research Methods
Research Methods
Literature Reviews
POEMS Observation
Surveys
Formal Interviews
Paper Prototyping
Usability testing
Literature Reviews
POEMS Observation
Surveys
Formal Interviews
Paper Prototyping
Usability testing
Research Questions
Research Questions
What physical and environmental attributes make third places
appealing to different user groups?
What physical and environmental attributes make third places appealing to different user groups?
What physical and environmental attributes make third places appealing to different user groups?
In what ways do third places impact the mental and emotional
well-being of individuals?
In what ways do third places impact the mental and emotional well-being of individuals?
In what ways do third places impact the mental and emotional well-being of individuals?
What are their primary motivations to visit third places?
What are their primary motivations to visit third places?
What are their primary motivations to visit third places?
How can we use technology to foster third places?
How can we use technology to foster third places?
How can we use technology to foster third places?
Converging Points
Comfortability
Better seatings, aesthetics and environmental surroundings affect the decision of a person when seeking a third place.
Motivations
Primary motivations for choosing to visit a third place include socializing, working, and proximity to their homes.
Physical Medium
While online spaces are a possible alternative, most participants found physical third places are more conducive for social facilitation.
Converging Points
Comfortability
Better seatings, aesthetics and environmental surroundings affect the decision of a person when seeking a third place.
Motivations
Primary motivations for choosing to visit a third place include socializing, working, and proximity to their homes.
Physical Medium
While online spaces are a possible alternative, most participants found physical third places are more conducive for social facilitation.
Design Considerations
Business-Focused
Inclusion of promotion elements in the app exclusive for business partners that fulfill all requirements to be considered a third place.
Proximity
Implementation of an interactive map that highlights local third spaces specific to the user’s interests.
Feature-First
Inclusion of a detailed review system that encourages users to rate whether a visited location is conducive for third space activities.
Design Considerations
Business-Focused
Inclusion of promotion elements in the app exclusive for business partners that fulfill all requirements to be considered a third place.
Proximity
Implementation of an interactive map that highlights local third spaces specific to the user’s interests.
Feature-First
Inclusion of a detailed review system that encourages users to rate whether a visited location is conducive for third space activities.
Understanding our Audience
Understanding our Audience
Our research indicated a strong interest for third places among Gen Z and Millennials.
Personas
Several personas were created that focused on young adults within the timeline of secondary education to entry-level professionals to paint a better picture of the target audience.
Several personas were created that focused on young adults within the timeline of secondary education to entry-level professionals to paint a better picture of the target audience.
User Journey Map
A user journey map was created to assess Fatima’s potential steps of browsing for local cheap eats using Google. It helped inform us on ways to implement an enhanced and streamlined version in ‘omo’.
A user journey map was created to assess
Fatima’s potential steps of browsing for local
cheap eats using Google. It helped inform us on ways to implement an enhanced and streamlined version in ‘omo’.
A user journey map was created to assess Fatima’s potential steps of browsing for local cheap eats using Google. It helped inform us on ways to implement an enhanced and streamlined version in ‘omo’.
User Flow
We created a user flow for Fatima who is looking for a nearby ramen restaurant to show how users might interact with the app. Mapping out this scenario gave us valuable insights into how users may use the app to find a third location of interest.
We created a user flow for Fatima who is looking for a nearby ramen restaurant to show how users might interact with the app. Mapping out this scenario gave us valuable insights into how users may use the app to find a third location of interest.
Information Architecture
Information Architecture
We found ourselves overwhelmed by the numerous types of locations a user may seek. Hence, we created a site map with Browse, Ask and Search behaviours kept in mind to understand how we can categorize locations and the overall structure of information on the app.
We found ourselves overwhelmed by the numerous types of locations a user may seek. Hence, we
created a site map with Browse, Ask and Search behaviours kept in mind to understand how we can categorize locations and the overall structure of information on the app.
Paper Prototype
Paper Prototype
We created paper prototype with a focus on creating:
An incentive for businesses to set up third
place-friendly features.
Opportunities for young adults to discover more third places around them.
We created paper prototype with a focus on creating:
An incentive for businesses to set up third
place-friendly features. Opportunities for young adults to discover more third places around them.
We created paper prototype with a focus on creating:
An incentive for businesses to set up third place-friendly features. Opportunities for young adults to discover more third places around them.
User Testing
User Testing
Participants were recruited for a paper prototype test to check whether the features fulfill user needs.
Three participants were selected on the basis of:
Being 18-35 years old
Familiarity with map and location discovery apps.
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
The team created low-fidelity wireframes based off of insights gathered from the Guerilla Usability test.
We focused on a ‘Featured’ section that highlights local favs and omo partners, a single search result for the map page that can be expanded on scroll.
Reflection
Reflection
Significance of Collaboration
Collaboration played an instrumental role in our project development. Having constant communication and timely submissions for review helped us stay on track and leverage our unique skills. This process helped me hone my conflict-management and active listening skills in a fast-paced environment.
Design Process
This case study allowed me to put my skills picked up from my educational experiences into practice. Developing detailed research plans and generating user-centered implementations informed by qualitative research, user tests and a lot of trial and error felt incredibly fruitful. It led to the development of prototypes that we found to be a solid base for a niche market.
Thanks for Visiting!
This website was designed and built by me.
© 2024 Andrew George Geevarghese
Thanks for Visiting!
This website was designed and built by me.
© 2024 Andrew George Geevarghese
Thanks for Visiting!
This website was designed and built by me.
© 2024 Andrew George Geevarghese