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Zoom: Web app

Enhancing Zoom by adding an ice-breaker feature to the app, for people to talk comfortably, and be more open to each other. 
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Problem Statement
 

As a student, I often have online classes on Zoom and often I see the first 10 minutes of the lecture go by deciding on an ice-breaker followed by doing an ice-breaker on Zoom which again takes time, during Zoom calls, so when my professor asked in frustration for a better way, I thought of leveraging my UIUX skills to solve it, and redesign zoom app experience.

Challenge: 

Enhance Zoom web app, by adding ice-breaker feature

Tools used:

Figma, Google Forms, UseBerry, and Canva

Team:

Solo

Time:

3 weeks [Nov 2023]

Existing Challenges

In the current version of the Zoom app, one the challenges that often arise, during online meetings with new people for remote workers, people talking to a potential client, or even during virtual user interviews, is not being able to fully understand the person, or the team and starting conversations with simple introductions only. Even students who take courses complete online courses, often struggle to work in teams, and sometimes even the professor, uses ice-breakers to start classes, this scenario, is often seen at the beginning of one of my classes. Watching my professor struggle, made me realize the gap and need for this feature.

Design Thinking approach

After understanding the need for this feature in the existing Zoom meeting and the web app, I decided to use the design thinking method to develop the case study, and better break down the problem to understand the solution of it.

Understanding the user

Understanding the Problem

Sketching the ideas

Building the prototype

Testing the final app 

  • Conducted user interviews

  • Did Personna building

  • Built Customer Journey

  • Synthesize the data collected from before

  • Used Five 'Whys' to understand the core problem

  • Brainstorimg the ideas 

  • Building wireframes

  • Journey mapping

  • System design

  • Final Prototype

  • Usability testing

  • Prototype

User Interviews

The user interviews were conducted in the form of Google form filling, where I had 11 participants out of which two were UI designers, six were students and three were professors, who were asked a set of 10 questions. The questions I asked are drafted on the right 

Out of the 11 participants in the study, I have two personas, drafted below, which include one for designers who take user interviews as part of the job, and another one a freshers, studying at Northeastern University.

Link to the google form used for the user interview-  

How ofted do you use zoom for video call?

How ofted do you use participate on zoom calls?

Are you someone, who likes to take the lead or take  initiatives  in a zoom call or remote meetings?

Have you ever felt uncomfortable or awkward in a Zoom meeting with people you didn't know?

How important is it for you to build rapport or establish a connection on zoom call?

Have you ever felt uncomfortable with strangers during zoom calls or breakout rooms?

In that case, do you prefer to use some kind of ice breakers?

What are you go to ice-breakers in online meetings or zoom calls?

Persona Building

User 1

Image by Christopher Campbell

Demographics

  • Age: 25-year-old

  • Gender: Female

  • Occupation: Student

  • Location: Boston, MA

Goals

Interact in classes. and take part in Ice-breakers.
Ensure to get good score in class participations

Ashwini

Behaviour

  • Does not know her new classmates

  • Want to interact and know her class better

  • Prefers her own company

Pain points

  • Anxious when talking to new people

  • Does not know how to start a conversation

  • Find the first 10 mins of the class, a waste of time

User 2

Image by Irene Strong

Demographics

  • Age: 32-year-old

  • Gender: Male

  • Occupation: Designer

  • Location: Boston, MA

Goals

Efficiently start and engage in classes without wasting time, actively participate, and learn effectively.

David

Behaviour

  • Starts the zoom meeting 5 mins early before the class to.

  • Open Jam board for ice-breakers 

  • Ensure all the classmates take part in the conversation

Pain points

  • Anxious when talking to new people

  • Does not know how to start a conversation

  • Find the first 10 mins of the class, a waste of time

Customer Journey

Building the customer journey for the existing Zoom app highlights the differences and gaps the app has currently, and also the paint points I am trying to solve through this case study.

Insights from the user interview

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