MySubHelper
MySubHelper is an innovative application that streamlines the process of managing subscriptions for users aged 18-60. By offering features that allow for easy tracking of ongoing services, it helps individuals stay informed about their financial commitments.
I. Project Overview
This case study details the journey and development of MySubHelper, a user-friendly app designed to simplify subscription management. MySubHelper helps users track their subscriptions, manage notifications, and stay on top of billing cycles, making it easier to stay organized and avoid unnecessary charges.
My Role
Timeline
UX Designer
June 2024 - August 2024
Deliverables
Tools
Affinity Map
Empathy Map
User Persona
Site Map
Wireframes
Figma
Miro
Google Docs
Problem
With the increasing number of subscription services across various platforms, users often lose track of their recurring payments, leading to unexpected charges and financial strain. The challenge was to develop a solution that simplifies subscription management and helps users stay on top of their finances.
MySubHelper offers a streamlined approach to subscription management. The app allows users to:
Solution
01
Track all their subscriptions in one place
02
Set up reminders for upcoming payments
03
Receive notifications when a free trial is ending
04
Easily cancel subscriptions they no longer need
Demographic
The study targets adults aged 18-60 managing subscriptions, with a focus on users over 30, who are often budget-conscious and prefer easy-to-use tools that fit into their routines. It aims to uncover insights for creating user-friendly features for both desktop and mobile platforms, addressing the needs of individuals juggling education, careers, and family life.
II. Research
Industry Leaders Analysis
Implement a usage tracking feature that displays subscription statistics, including frequency of use, last accessed dates, and patterns.
Develop a user-friendly dashboard offering a comprehensive overview of subscriptions, with insights on spending, renewals, and easy access for management or cancellation.
Create an interactive calendar to show subscription due dates and integrate customizable notifications for renewals and billing cycles.
Focus on ease of use for users over 30 by designing a simple onboarding process with guided tutorials, and continuously improve the UI/UX based on user feedback.
Simplify goal setting by allowing users to easily customize goals like saving money or tracking expenses, with clear, intuitive steps.
Streamline the onboarding process by minimizing steps, offering quick access to features before requiring subscription linking.
Enhance user-friendliness by prioritizing intuitive design, easy navigation, and regular UI testing to address usability issues.
I performed a competitive analysis to examine how industry leaders addressed similar challenges. This provided insight into the essential features for a mobile subscription app and ways to enhance our product. Key takeaways from studying TrackMySubs, OneMain Trim, and Rocket Money included:
Five key insights emerged from my primary research.
One
User Behavior and Current Practices:
Users mainly track subscriptions via mental notes, spreadsheets, and email alerts.
Desktop platforms are common, but there's rising interest in mobile solutions for ease.
Two
Notifications and Reminders:
Users expect customizable alerts for renewals, expiring trials, and suspicious charges.
Timely notifications help avoid unwanted renewals and improve financial control.
Three
Challenges and Pain Points:
Common issues include forgetting active subscriptions, difficulty unsubscribing, and lack of visibility on renewals.
Managing multiple subscriptions across platforms causes frustration.
Four
User Expectations and Usability:
Ease of use and intuitive navigation are key to user satisfaction.
Users over 30 expect a seamless experience across desktop and mobile platforms.
Five
Feature Preferences:
Users want a comprehensive overview, easy unsubscription, and timely notifications.
A user-friendly interface is essential to simplify subscription management.
Personas
For MySubHelper's primary research, I conducted a survey on Slack (7 responses) and interviewed two participants to understand their subscription management habits. The survey revealed insights on monthly spending and tools used, while the interviews highlighted challenges and preferences. I used empathy and affinity mapping to create personas and identify recurring pain points, including subscription cancellation, tracking renewal dates, and managing spending. These findings were key in shaping MySubHelper's design to address users' common challenges.
User Research
Developing personas, such as Alex—the Busy Professional, was crucial in understanding the specific challenges faced by individuals managing multiple subscriptions. Alex represents a 35-year-old small business owner who balances both personal and professional subscription services. Through this persona, I was able to pinpoint key pain points, such as the difficulty in tracking spending across various accounts and the challenges of canceling subscriptions with mixed annual and monthly charges. By analyzing Alex's goals, needs, and behavioral traits, I designed a more intuitive and user-friendly experience tailored to meet the expectations of users like Alex. This persona-driven approach helped bridge the gap between user needs and the product's features, ultimately leading to a more effective subscription management solution.
Empathy Mapping
Creating an empathy map was key to understanding users' experiences and emotions. By capturing their thoughts, actions, and feelings while using subscription management tools, I uncovered hidden pain points and motivations. This helped me design solutions that addressed both functional and emotional needs, ensuring the final product truly resonated with users.
How Might We Questions
01
How might we make it easier for users to track and organize all of their subscriptions in one place, both on mobile and desktop platforms?
02
How might we simplify the process of canceling subscriptions to help users reduce needless spending and avoid frustration?
03
How might we design a mobile-friendly interface that provides a clear and visual overview of subscription expenses to help users better understand their spending patterns?
04
How might we notify users in a timely manner about upcoming subscription renewals to prevent unexpected charges and allow them to make informed decisions?
05
How might we offer personalized tips and recommendations to help users optimize their subscription management, saving both time and money?
Formulating "How Might We" questions was crucial in transforming user research challenges into opportunities for innovation. These questions guided the development process, ensuring that each feature addressed real user needs, resulting in a more user-friendly and effective MySubHelper product.
III. Solution
Site Map
Creating a sitemap for MySubHelper was crucial in structuring the app's layout and ensuring a logical flow of information. The sitemap helped me organize the content into clear, distinct sections, making it easy for users to navigate between their subscriptions, notifications, and analytics. By visually mapping out the app's architecture, I could ensure a user-centric design that prioritizes accessibility and ease of use.
User Flows
Designing the user flow for MySubHelper helped me visualize key tasks like signing up, managing subscriptions, and setting notifications. This ensured each interaction was intuitive and seamless, guiding users effortlessly and enhancing overall satisfaction.
Wireframes & Wireflows
After drawing inspiration from apps like TrackMySubs, Trim, and Truebill, I crafted initial sketches for MySubHelper with a focus on a friendly, trustworthy brand personality. I refined the design by adding a dashboard icon for easier navigation and splitting packed screens to improve usability. I then translated these sketches into wireframes, iterating on the layout to ensure a cohesive, intuitive user experience that sets MySubHelper apart with its user-centric design.
I then tested these wireframes on five users, gathering valuable feedback, such as the need to adjust the sign-up process and move buttons higher to avoid scrolling. This feedback helped me refine the design further before moving on to high-fidelity prototypes.
Prototype
Designing the screens was the most engaging part of the process, and I was eager to start prototyping. Prototyping presented its own set of challenges. I implemented interactive features where users could easily unsubscribe from subscriptions, set up notifications, and monitor suspicious activity. Additionally, I ensured that users could navigate seamlessly between screens, enhancing the app's overall usability.
IV. Testing the Prototype
For my second round of testing, I focused on evaluating the high-fidelity screens for MySubHelper. The test script included tasks like signing up, setting up notifications, managing subscriptions, and checking annual spending in analytics. After each task, participants were asked follow-up questions to gauge their experience with the app's design, usability, and clarity.
The aim was to identify any design-related difficulties and gather insights on how to improve the user experience. Participants provided feedback on the onboarding process, ease of setting up notifications, and the clarity of information presented in the analytics section. Their input was invaluable in refining the design and ensuring that MySubHelper offers a seamless and user-friendly experience.
Testing Results
Based on usability testing feedback, several key updates were made to MySubHelper to enhance user experience and clarity. The following changes were implemented:
Added a confirmation pop-up with detailed information for unsubscribing to prevent accidental cancellations.
Improved spacing and ensured consistent layouts across subscription cards.
Renamed the "Alerts" section to "Notifications" for better clarity.
Adjusted spacing on notification cards for enhanced readability.
Added bullet points, updated font color, and reduced shadows in the analytics section for better clarity.
Revised vibrant elements in the analytics and settings sections.
Improved clarity of filter and sort buttons in the subscription section.
Adjusted the position of the notification bell across all pages for better visibility.
Added a privacy icon during onboarding to build user trust.
Changed "Name" to "Account Name" for better clarity in the onboarding process.
Interactive Prototype
Click here to view
V. Learnings
During the process of researching, interviewing, designing, building, and testing the app in Figma, I applied my growing expertise as a UI/UX designer. The process was smoother and more efficient thanks to the experience I’ve gained. I enjoyed every part of the project, from design and development to user interviews and testing.
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