Wedo Search Feature
Problem Statement
Design a search function for Wedo to connect existing features and lead users to discover more ways to engage with Wedo.
Solution
An intuitive search that integrates features for a seamless experience.
Benchmarking
At the beginning of this project, we decided to investigate the search feature of apps that also cater to freelancers and have a similar level of complexity as Wedo. These included the LinkedIn, Fiverr, X (formerly Twitter) and Upwork mobile apps.
In a working session, we annoted the core search flows of each product and documented the pros, cons, and uniqueness of each design.
Key Takeaways
Use icons to differentiate between search result types (e.g. profiles, tags, etc.); important considering multiple types of results on Wedo
QR scanners are convenient for searching a connection you’ve met in-person; great for promoting more genuine connections on Wedo
User Stories
I consulted our established personas to develop user stories related to the proposed search function.
For example, Katie, our new freelancer persona, would want to find mentors in her field to help guide her on her journey. Therefore, we would want mentors and mentorship events to be discoverable to her. Our solution proposed at this phase is that profiles and events will include tags that can be easily searched.
User Flows
After considering the use cases of the search feature in many user stories, we organized these into a flow.
At this stage, we sent our flow to the Development team for reference and feedback.
If I could go back to this phase of the project, I would add clarity to these flows by including a legend and using a wider variety of shapes and colors to differentiate actions from information.
