Airmoya
Project name - Airmoya
Date - Feb, 2024 - April, 2025
Background
Airmoya is a freelancing services platform that seamlessly connects talented individuals with businesses, catering to a wide range of needs across various industries. www.airmoya.com
Goal
The goal of this project is to design the web application that fully functions to fulfill the need of the freelancers and clients by implementing the business goal.
By conducting user research to identify potential user problems and understanding the business needs . The main goal is to design an intuitive and engaging platform experience for Airmoya that seamlessly connects freelancers and businesses, enabling users to easily discover opportunities, collaborate efficiently, and build trust across diverse industries.
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My role
I am one of the four design team on this project, I have lead and worked most of the design process with the following duties:- Conducting discoveries, research potential users pain points, creating sketches, storyboard, low and high fidelity wireframes, prototyping and mockups that are used for our usability test before the end result of the project.
The design process
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Understand
Research
Define
Data collection
Competitor analysis
User stories
Ideate &
Design
Test
Launch
Knowing the problem
Since this project starts from scratch when i join i had to fully understand the business goal and the intention of the application. Finding out how will be the uses. To find out the problem we discussed with the business owner, and the entire team at Airmoya, we were able to manage a user research to identify core problems related with the user as our main area of interest.
We understand that there are few visitors to the application. On the other hand freelancers are not able to sell their works. Customers are frustrated because they couldn't know the story behind each freelancer.
The application is not well structured and grouped. It is difficult to post work easily, get feedback, edit and track orders. It is not possible to engage with the platform even if the aim of Airmoya is to connect people. This created frustration for freelancers who simply send their work and wait for a miracle to come. Moreover the website visitors know the price but unable to negotiate.There are no direct connection among freelancers and clients.
Assumption
The project assumes that good research will create a great design result. The project assumes to create a platform for millions to connect.
The relationship between freelancers and clients is among the big picture. We believe this project will impacts the life of the community as a result of the design process and outcome.
It is assumed that great design delivers the best of user experience to improve both users and the business.
It's assumed that in the future the gallery will benefit from ads.
It is assumed that this application will create millions of job for talented freelancers.
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Brainstormong
Before we start the design process we sat down and discuss on possible ideas in brief. We discussed for whom we are designing for? What are our users motivations and experiences? What we want to achieve?
Generating ideas started with writing and sketching on a paper, where ideas can easily flow. We decided to work on ideas that are worth to continue in developing further steps.
Target audience
The target audience for this project is mostly ages 21- 60, worldwide.
People who have access to internet.
People who are talented looking for work.
People who own a business.
Ready to meet clients for a better work.
People who wants to spend and invest their money on best freelancers with a low cost.
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The success metrics
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Provide an easy-to-use application marketing system easy and accessible.
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Providing the right information on freelancers to help them deal the business.
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Having a great user experience and ui elements attracting users to increase the number of users with the online marketing platform.
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To see the community engaged in the freelancing business.
Competitor analysis
Upwork.com
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Good, simple, and welcoming
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No bulk information
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Easy to walk through the website
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Good usage of space
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Easy to find freelancers and hire in hourly rate
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Contacts are via the gallery
Fiverr.com
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Less white space usage
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Too much information
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Good grouping
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Hiring is based on projects not in hourly rate
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Have features i.e new freelancers
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Contacts are via Fiverr
Interview Questions Script
Hello, my name’s [Aklilu Bizuayehu]. I’ll be leading our interview today. As I mentioned over emai I am currently working on design project for online freelancing services.
I’d like to start by thanking for making the time to speak with me. Your feedback is valuable and will be used to my future design decisions.
During this interview, I’ll ask you a few questions around your experience in freelancing services.
With your permission, I’d like to record this call. The recording will only be used to help me in my research, and it won’t be shared with anyone except those with a need-to-know in our team. Recording this call also helps me, because I don’t have to take as many notes! Is that okay?
1. Tell us a bit about yourself ?
2. How long have you know about freelancing services?
3. When looking for freelancing services do you prefer actual to ask friends or use an online services.
4. What does it feels to use online freelancing service?
5. How difficult is it to get recommendations? Is it easy to find the service you need?
6. When you are busy how do you manage time using applications?
7. How long does it take you to find the best freelancing service to hire a candidate?
8. Can you describe what your process of searching for a freelancing like?
9. How do you collaborate with freelancers when it comes to share your idea?
10. What are your goals when using freelancing service platforms?
11. What problems do you face?
12. Are there any tools that facilitates your online searching habit?
13. What features would you like to use when looking a freelancing service?
14. Do you have any other suggestions or comments?
15. Do you have any questions for me?
16. Is there anything you would like to talk about that we didn’t discuss?
May I contact you if we have any other questions or for possible further research for this project?
Thank you so much for your time.
Persona 1
Persona 2
User empathy map- Freelancer
User empathy map - Client
User journey map
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Log in
Why sketching
Sketching storyboards helps to better understand the user flow, and the nedds and pain-points of the persona that represent the user. As a core element of my design strategy knowing our user is an important step in designing the this web application. Sketches gives me a clear picture to whom we are designing for in keeping the goal of the project.
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Iterating
​Log in
After carefully assessing available documents we were able to design the website's information architecture, UI and all the visual elements using sketches and wireframes with new features including a landing page, login for both the clients and freelancers. Freelancers and customers can fully control their page including posting an image, editing, comment, delete, send and receive direct messages.
The new section in the designing process with "featured freelancers of the month" page will help the website for more visitors that enhances the traffic.
Design System/Style guide
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Illustrations used
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Mockups
Home
Categories
Explore
Explore-Detail
Usability test
Our usability test helped us to see where we have to work more, We use 6 participants (3 freelancers and 3 clients). We have learned the user behavior and find out the user pain-points. One of the participants were frustrated because they were not able to see the search bar after the landing page.
Overall 83.3%participants enjoyed the experience, they were happy using the application with its easy step to complete the task they were given.
We have got a great ideas from our usability test where we applied in our design process.
Solution
Based on the usability testing we were able to create high fidelity mockups and deliver it to the development team. After carefully looking at the usability test result we were able to create all the design elements that needs work to meet the need of our users and the business goals. In solving the problem we created a page that helps users to connect directly with the freelancers. A very careful and well focused design approach was given to create the best solution. All the process starting from ideating, research, creating wireframes , mockups, prototyping, usability test brings us to the best solution. Our usability test was a part of our solution.
The process in design is a part of our final product, having multiple discussions to come up with the best solution.
Solution details after the user testing includes:
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We have included online an in-person services options that were not on the first design process.
Added a client review and reviews under each services
Added online and in-person tags under each service lists, and added city and country under in-person services
Created a link with profile sharing functionality
Added a search field on Explore page
Added popular services to the landing page
Added testimonials
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Accessibility
Accessibility is inclusive design. Designing accessibility in mind is the power of better design and it removes barriers to empower users. When it comes to accessible design whether it is permanent, temporary or situational disability all are experiencing limited mobility. I have put all the necessary effort to make the application accessible by people with disabilities and also by all. I have created the design elements and content of the website using the web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) to the best of my knowledge to make it perceivable where people can see the content, operable where people can use the product by type, understandable where people can get clear and simple language, robust where people can use different assistive technologies. I have used hierarchy in text size, clear color contrast, focus state, interactive state, grouping similar items, and multiple visible indicators to make the product accessible by everyone. After all inclusive design is simply a good design.
Outcome
The application is well received by the client. With the help of our design we have seen satisfaction in our prototype during the usability test. Freelancers will be fully beneficial from their works. The application will build strong relationship between freelancers and clients. We have tested the final version of the website and now it is released.
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