Web and Mobile App: Lucky Acorns
Lucky Acorns is a cross-utility product developed by an overwhelmed twin mom who wanted to create a "one-stop-shop" to help expecting, first-time, and veteran parents of twins and multiples. It is social media meets blog meets data tracking.
This product took four weeks to design using Adobe XD.
The Problem: The population of twins and multiples born a the same time has increased over the past 40-50 years, with the onset and popularity of medical interventions. Yet, the resources available to parents and doctors are still few and far between. Lucky Acorns aims to help and support parents of twins and multiples in all stages of their children's lives.
The Goal: Design an app with a corresponding website to help reduce the mental load of parents of twins and multiples across all stages of childhood and to provide the necessary (focused) resources, support, and community.
My Role: Lead UX/ UI Designer
Understanding the User
User Research
Summary:
I used data collected while researching twin and multiples focused apps and websites to steer the direction of what interview questions asked during user interviews. Most participants crave the ability to connect with others with a similar path; they crave information in one spot to help them navigate the road to raising twins and multiples. The new parents desire an app allowing them to enter data for multiple babies at once. The feedback received through research indicated that most users would use this app and website for all stages of their parenting journeys.
Personas
Grace is a multi-tasking entrepreneur mom to twins who needs a one-stop-shop where she can find camaraderie online for (new) twin moms because she wants to be a part of a community of like-minded parents who are experiencing similar things.
Kaimana is a medical doctor and lecturer mom of triplet teen boys who needs a way to share/help more parents of twins and multiples navigate parenthood because she didn’t have it and she wants to ensure others do and feel more included.
Deepak is a busy chef, restaurant owner who is a new adoptive parent to twins, who needs a like-minded community that also has other adoptive parents of multiples and resources because he not only wants information in one place for himself and his partner, but he wants to share his own experiences with others.
Competitive Audit
An audit of a few products provided more direction on gaps and opportunities to address with the Lucky Acorns cross-utility app.
Ideation
This is a quick ideation exercise to create ideas on addressing gaps identified in the competitive audit. I focused on building a community and providing resources and tools for parents of twins and multiples across all age groups.
Starting the Design
Digital Wireframes
After ideating and drafting paper wireframes, I created the initial designs for the Lucky Acorns app. I focused more on data logging and simplifying the experience for parents within the app.
⬅
➡
1. The initial home screen provides a bulk of the same information as the website, it is less personalized but will give the users a similar experience as working within the app.
2. Users can login here to get a more personalized experience within the app. This also helps with privacy of data from prying eyes or curious toddler(s).
Lo-Fi Prototype
To prepare for user testing, I created a low-fidelity prototype that connected the user flow of entering data, checking messages from other parents, or viewing upcoming meetings within the personalized version of the app.
Click the image above for the link to view the Lo-Fi Prototype.Usability Study
Parameters:
I did an unmoderated, remote study in the United States using five participants, taking roughly 15- 20 minutes per participant.
Findings:
Users preferred clear cues and language to find and save data.
Users wanted to go back to the logged-in home screen rather than the graphs immediately after logging in; they wanted more freedom of movement within the app.
Users are super excited about the app, so we need to add more for them to play with for future prototypes.
Refining the Design
Mockups
Before
After
➡
Based on the insights, I applied design changes like clearer language for saving data rather than using symbols as initially ideated. I also removed the logo and used a simple arrow to indicate returning to the previous screen.
Before
After
➡
I removed the logo at the top of the second home screen that users can access once logged in and replaced it with the menu bars and a user profile icon. I also added a help icon to help those that might need it.
Hi-Fi Prototype
The high-fidelity prototype had a similar flow, with minor adjustments and additions to help the users get a more in-depth experience.
Click the image above for the link to view the hi-fi prototype.
Accessibility Considerations
Focus on the second home screen provides a more personalized experience and recommendations help define the primary task or action for the user.
Clear labels for interactive elements that can be read by screen readers.
Use of familiar icons to help with understanding across all languages and assistive technology.
Responsive Design
Information Architecture: Site Map
With mobile app designs completed, I began designing the responsive website. I used the sitemap organizational structure to guide the design of each screen and ensure a consistent and cohesive experience across devices.
Responsive Designs
The designs for screen variation included mobile, tablet, and desk/laptop. The designs are optimized to fit the specific user needs of each device and screen size.
Going Forward
Takeaways
Impact:
Users shared that the app would create a whole new experience for parents of twins and multiples. They were excited that there would be a chance for them to create a community and for their kids to hang out with others like them.
““I wish I had this kind of access to relevant information and data tracking when my kids were younger.””
What I learned:
I learned that even though this problem is complicated, being thorough and diligently going through each step of the design process while aligning the app and website with specific user needs helping me create solutions that were useful and easy to implement.
👣
Next Steps
👣
Research how successful the app is in helping parents connect locally and globally.
Add more ways for the babies’ doctors to stay connected to the babies and their parents.
Add more options for parents to log various stages of food.