Paintball Gurus

Discovery / UX Design

Between March and April 2023, I served as the UX Designer for a client who desired to develop a peer-to-peer mobile application for the purchase and sale of paintball goods. This project was limited to only discovery and wireframes.

Project Summary

In its infancy, the Paintball App existed solely as a concept presented by the client. Prior to our initial meeting, I provided the client with a pre-discovery document to gather information on their specific requirements and desires for the app. Together, we collaborated to shape their product vision which aimed to offer a comprehensive solution for all things paintball-related. This involved creating a community forum for paintball enthusiasts to engage in meaningful discussions, developing a user-centric system, and implementing measures to prevent fraudulent activity.

The Problem

As of now, there is a dearth of mobile applications tailored exclusively for paintball aficionados. The go-to platform for purchasing and selling used paintball guns and accessories is Facebook Marketplace, which boasts a user base of 57,000 members. However, this presents a slew of issues such as a lack of measures to identify and control fraudulent activity, difficulty in sorting through outdated posts, and a lack of a cohesive community. As a result, the paintball community is plagued with confusion, security risks, and a sense of disconnectedness.

The Scope

The client and I were resolute in our efforts to enhance internal SEO, create the singular destination for buying and selling used paintball gear, enhance the user experience by fostering legitimacy, and establish a vibrant community for paintball enthusiasts to connect and engage with one another.

Roles

As the UX Designer for this project, I spearheaded the crucial initial stages of development. During my meetings with the client, many members of the UI Design and Engineering team were present as observers.

Duration

4 Weeks

Tasks

  • Meet with client weekly

  • Draft a prioritization list

  • Construct lofi wireframes

  • Finalize handoff to the UI Design and Engineering team

Project Timeline

Over the course of 4 weeks, I held 5 virtual meetings with the client via Google Meet. Each meeting served as a milestone in our discovery process and allowed us to gauge our progress and determine our next steps. The format of each meeting was as follows:

Prioritization List

Thanks to these productive meetings with the client, I was able to generate a preliminary and definitive version of the prioritization list. In the initial draft, I employed the MoSCoW method to identify the critical requirements for the app as well as those that were out of scope.

Version 1

Subsequently, I transferred the preliminary draft to Google Sheets and refined it to create an official version of the prioritization list that could be readily comprehended by the Design and Engineering teams. I then extensively discussed this list with the client to ensure that no idea was overlooked or misunderstood.

Version 2

Wireframing

Wireframing is a process I use to create a simple visual representation, or wireframe, of a digital product's layout, features, and functionality. To create a wireframe, I start by sketching out different screen designs, interactions, and user flows using basic shapes and symbols. This helps me to visualize the product's structure and functionality and test its usability and user experience before investing significant time and resources in actual development.

During the wireframing process, I aim to create an intuitive and user-friendly design that meets the client's requirements and provides a satisfying user experience. This process is often iterative, meaning that I continuously review, refine, and test the wireframes until the desired user experience is achieved. Once the wireframes are finalized, they serve as a blueprint for the development team to create the actual product.

For this project, I solely used Figma for the creation of these wireframes.

Onboarding

Creating the onboarding flow for the app was a straightforward process. I focused on highlighting the three key features of the app that were most important to the user: buying and selling paintball products, joining paintball communities, and ensuring secure transactions. These features were incorporated into the onboarding flow as individual screens, with clear and concise messaging to help guide the user through the process.

To further enhance the user experience, the client and I agreed that it was important not to force users to sign up or sign in when first downloading the app. We added a convenient "skip" button that allowed users to bypass the sign-up process and proceed to the home screen. However, for those who choose not to sign up, a limited experience would be available, with modals appearing frequently throughout the app whenever the user navigates away from the "For Sale" or "Community" feeds. This approach helped to strike a balance between ease of use and encouraging users to create an account for a more comprehensive experience.

Home Page

To ensure a seamless user experience, we drew inspiration from OfferUp and Nextdoor while designing the home page. However, we encountered a challenge while displaying user information on this page, given the major privacy concerns surrounding the "skip" option for the sign-up/sign-in screen. To tackle this, we decided to display user information only if they are signed in, while leaving anonymous placeholders for users who are not signed in.

For the listed item details page, we prioritized the informational hierarchy based on the user's search requirements. To make the page more user-friendly, we introduced "flairs" that provide tags of information such as sale logistics, item condition, and price flexibility. We also added a "for sale" flair, which toggles to real-time sale status to help users avoid contacting sellers who have already sold their item. Furthermore, we optimized SEO by removing off-market sale listings from rotation.

Post Content Process

Developing a commission system for in-person transactions was quite challenging as it posed some regulatory issues. The client's objective was to earn a commission for every transaction on the app to fund the business. However, we reached an agreement that commission transactions would only be issued for shipped products instead of in-person transactions. To ensure transparency, we added a drop-down menu on the details page for users to choose between the two options. Moreover, we added a profit threshold to inform users about the profits they could earn from their listings.

We were also inspired by OfferUp's oversight of reviewing listings before posting, which we felt would improve the user experience. Therefore, we added a feature for users to review their listings before posting in case they made mistakes or had second thoughts about the information provided.

Messages / Notifications / Account Page

As we approached this wireframing stage, I realized that we didn't need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, we focused on enhancing existing features with minor tweaks. One of the differences we implemented was restricting access to certain features for users who are not signed in. They would instead be prompted to sign up or sign in to access those features.

The account screen was a crucial element that we paid attention to. This dashboard allowed users to view their saved items, past transactions, and active listings. Users could edit or modify their listings and manage other important details from this screen. We also added post and comment history, which proved to be a valuable feature for users who wanted to revisit their previous interactions on the platform.

Admin Dashboard

As the project neared completion, I strategically delayed wireframing the admin dashboard until I had a thorough understanding of the application's fundamental features. This approach enabled me to incorporate and refine these functionalities into the dashboard effectively. Following discussions with the client, we mutually agreed to feature just 5 main navigation pages - Home, Analytics, Reports, Team, and Settings - to ensure a streamlined and intuitive user experience.

Once the client and team had reviewed and approved the wireframes, we were eager to proceed with the subsequent stages of development. Our project culminated in a final meeting, during which we meticulously reviewed each item on the prioritization list to ensure that all requirements had been met to the client's satisfaction

Reflection and Conclusion

As the project drew to a close, I found myself yearning to explore the world of paintball. Though I've yet to try it, the game's dynamic and strategic nature fascinates me.

Reflecting on the initial stages of the project, I found the experience incredibly fulfilling and exhilarating. Collaborating with the team to uncover novel features and improvements for the application was a true highlight.

Moving forward, the Design and Engineering teams will translate my wireframes into a fully functional peer-to-peer marketplace app. I'm excited to see the final product come to life and make an impact in the market.

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