1 Research goals

Learn as much as possible about our potential user(s). 

Who would want to use a product like this? What are their pain points, needs, wants, and goals? To what extent do demographics, seniority level, industry, and organization size/structure play a role?

Understand current Solutions and competitive landscape

What products and methods (digital and physical). Do any workplace-specific tools exist already? who are the Direct or indirect competitors? What works well, and what could be improved in the current landscape?

What type of digital solution is desired and makes the most sense?

Website, Web app, Mobile app?

Determine if and how we can leverage new technology and innovation…

… Not just for the sake of implementing cutting-edge tech, but to improve the user experience (simplify tasks, delight, reduce friction and manual work, etc).

Asking the right questions

I started my research by looking into other booking software reviews from other salon booking software to holiday booking sites on how they take their bookings and process them. 

I then looked at forms, Reddit, and Facebook groups about other booking software. 

I Finished my research using Google surveys that played a big part in the design of the software.

Competitive analysis

In addition to some of the competitors, I learned about them from my research results. I did my own research, and downloaded and tested a few apps myself.

Testing

1 The first user testing I did was on the employee job page. I found the image on the Left. The users were taking longer to fill out the information. When I split the information up into four different containers, the user ware entering the detail quicker and wasn’t taking as much time thinking about what to put into each box. I ended up moving the button (add job role) above the information. The user found it better being there than underneath or to the top right-hand side. 

2 I also noticed the salon name. If you had multiple salons, it could be confusing having the salon name on every single page in the software. Moving the salon name to the top navigation made it clear that it represents every page and not just the page the user is looking at.

3 Changing the navigation. I had to move some of the information to the side menu. I did try having all the information in one long list, but it was not clear on which parts were which. By putting a dividing line between the buttons, it was clear that the top part was for the software, and the website was to send you to the actual website. I did try naming it homepage, but after user testing, I had to change it to website because having it named homepage was confusing whether it sent you to the homepage or the software’s main dashboard.

Final designs