Assess

Assess is a project that builds on our existing business of printer rentals and check paper sales. It upgrades the current web-based check-writer program into a mobile version while expanding its features to include receipt archiving and employee schedule management, designed specifically for small business owners.

Time

June 2021 – Nov 2021

Role

UX Researcher

UX Designer

UI Designer

Design System Specialist

Branding Designer

Team

Backend Developer
Frontend Developer

UI/UX Designer

Project Manager

Tools

Figma

Photoshop

Discipline

UX/UI Design
UX Research
Graphic Design
Interaction Design
Design Systems

Assess

Assess is a project that builds on our existing business of printer rentals and check paper sales. It upgrades the current web-based check-writer program into a mobile version while expanding its features to include receipt archiving and employee schedule management, designed specifically for small business owners.

Time

June 2021 – Nov 2021

Role

UX Researcher

UX Designer

UI Designer

Design System Specialist

Branding Designer

Team

Backend Developer
Frontend Developer

UI/UX Designer

Project Manager

Tools

Figma

Photoshop

Discipline

UX/UI Design
UX Research
Graphic Design
Interaction Design
Design Systems

KPI

KPI

Business Impact

Business Impact

106

106

New registered small business in Vancouver in 90 days

New registered small business in Vancouver in 90 days

125%

125%

Growth MoM

Growth MoM

300%

300%

Growth of purchase of check papers

Growth of purchase of check papers

-50%

-50%

Reduction of payment mistakes in 6 months

Reduction of payment mistakes in 6 months

Understanding the Problem

Unprofessional appearance

The primary issue with the original system was its poor UX and UI design, which made it difficult for users to navigate and operate. While it did include a receipt archiving feature, it failed to address the needs of older business owners, who often struggled with the cumbersome process of taking photos on their phones and transferring them to a personal computer. This lack of user-friendliness and accessibility highlighted the need for a more intuitive, streamlined, and mobile-friendly solution.

Client Business Solution

Understanding the Problem

Make it easy to use and looking good

Not legitimate looking

The goal is to create a mobile-first solution that delivers an intuitive and user-friendly experience, enabling small business owners—especially older users—to manage essential tasks with ease. By addressing usability challenges, improving the UX/UI, and simplifying processes like receipt archiving, the app aims to empower business owners to focus more on running their operations and less on navigating complex tools.

The primary issue with the original system was its poor UX and UI design, which made it difficult for users to navigate and operate. While it did include a receipt archiving feature, it failed to address the needs of older business owners, who often struggled with the cumbersome process of taking photos on their phones and transferring them to a personal computer. This lack of user-friendliness and accessibility highlighted the need for a more intuitive, streamlined, and mobile-friendly solution.

Client Business Solution

Make it easy to use and looking good

The goal is to create a mobile-first solution that delivers an intuitive and user-friendly experience, enabling small business owners—especially older users—to manage essential tasks with ease. By addressing usability challenges, improving the UX/UI, and simplifying processes like receipt archiving, the app aims to empower business owners to focus more on running their operations and less on navigating complex tools.

Clients' Business Solution

Clients' Business Solution

"We currently have many customers who rent printers from us to print checks. Our goal is to create a program tailored for these customers, providing them with excellent service while expanding our business."

"We currently have many customers who rent printers from us to print checks. Our goal is to create a program tailored for these customers, providing them with excellent service while expanding our business."

🧑🏻‍💻 Don, the CEO

🧑🏻‍💻 Don, the CEO

"If we create a program that includes services to help with business operations connected to check printing, there will likely be strong demand."

"If we create a program that includes services to help with business operations connected to check printing, there will likely be strong demand."

👩🏻‍💼 Stacy, Sales and Marketing

👩🏻‍💼 Stacy, Sales and Marketing

Client

  • Provides printers

  • Provides the product

  • Sells check papers

Business Owners

Business Owners

  • Save money by using checks

  • Manage accounting and schedule

  • Reduce mistakes

Employees

Employees

  • Easy schedule checking

  • Easy tip calculation for each business

  • Easy communication with employers

Product Specifications

Product Specifications

Planning the app

Planning the app

The client first showed us the old website they had been using. From there, we identified areas where the user flow needed improvement and considered the requirements for integrating new features. Using this insight, we developed the information architecture for the updated program.

Opportunity

Opportunity

To connect company accounting seamlessly with check writing, we could:

Integrate Financial Data: Link accounting systems directly to the check-writing tool, allowing automatic access to relevant financial data such as account balances, payment histories, and vendor details.


Automate Payment Processes: Enable users to generate checks directly from invoices or expense records in the accounting system, reducing manual data entry.

Centralize Records: Ensure all check-writing activities are logged in the accounting database, offering a complete overview of transactions for reporting and reconciliation.


Set Up Approval Workflows: Introduce customizable approval processes for check issuance, ensuring compliance and reducing errors.


Provide Real-Time Syncing: Use cloud technology to sync updates between the check-writing tool and accounting software, ensuring all data is accurate and up-to-date.


Add Financial Reporting Features: Offer integrated reporting tools that provide insights into cash flow, expenses, and outstanding payments based on check-writing data.

Integrate Financial Data: Link accounting systems directly to the check-writing tool, allowing automatic access to relevant financial data such as account balances, payment histories, and vendor details.


Automate Payment Processes: Enable users to generate checks directly from invoices or expense records in the accounting system, reducing manual data entry.

Centralize Records: Ensure all check-writing activities are logged in the accounting database, offering a complete overview of transactions for reporting and reconciliation.


Set Up Approval Workflows: Introduce customizable approval processes for check issuance, ensuring compliance and reducing errors.


Provide Real-Time Syncing: Use cloud technology to sync updates between the check-writing tool and accounting software, ensuring all data is accurate and up-to-date.


Add Financial Reporting Features: Offer integrated reporting tools that provide insights into cash flow, expenses, and outstanding payments based on check-writing data.

Branding

Bold Innovation, Trusted Expertise

The branding idea of "Bold and Credential" is designed to position our brand as both confident in its expertise and trustworthy in its approach.

KPI

Business Impact

106

New registered small business in Vancouver in 90 days

125%

Growth MoM

300%

Growth of purchase of check papers

-50%

Reduction of payment mistakes in 6 months

Not legitimate looking

The primary issue with the original system was its poor UX and UI design, which made it difficult for users to navigate and operate. While it did include a receipt archiving feature, it failed to address the needs of older business owners, who often struggled with the cumbersome process of taking photos on their phones and transferring them to a personal computer. This lack of user-friendliness and accessibility highlighted the need for a more intuitive, streamlined, and mobile-friendly solution.

Understanding the Problem

Client Business Solution

Make it easy to use and looking good

The goal is to create a mobile-first solution that delivers an intuitive and user-friendly experience, enabling small business owners—especially older users—to manage essential tasks with ease. By addressing usability challenges, improving the UX/UI, and simplifying processes like receipt archiving, the app aims to empower business owners to focus more on running their operations and less on navigating complex tools.

Clients' Business Solution

"We currently have many customers who rent printers from us to print checks. Our goal is to create a program tailored for these customers, providing them with excellent service while expanding our business."

🧑🏻‍💻 Don, the CEO

"If we create a program that includes services to help with business operations connected to check printing, there will likely be strong demand."

👩🏻‍💼 Stacy, Sales and Marketing

Client

  • Provides printers

  • Provides the product

  • Sells check papers

Business Owners

  • Save money by using checks

  • Manage accounting and schedule

  • Reduce mistakes

Employees

  • Easy schedule managing

  • Easy tip calculation for each business

  • Easy communication with employers

Product Specifications

Planning the app

The client first showed us the old website they had been using. From there, we identified areas where the user flow needed improvement and considered the requirements for integrating new features. Using this insight, we developed the information architecture for the updated program.

To connect company accounting seamlessly with check writing, we could:

Opportunity

Integrate Financial Data: Link accounting systems directly to the check-writing tool, allowing automatic access to relevant financial data such as account balances, payment histories, and vendor details.


Automate Payment Processes: Enable users to generate checks directly from invoices or expense records in the accounting system, reducing manual data entry.

Centralize Records: Ensure all check-writing activities are logged in the accounting database, offering a complete overview of transactions for reporting and reconciliation.


Set Up Approval Workflows: Introduce customizable approval processes for check issuance, ensuring compliance and reducing errors.


Provide Real-Time Syncing: Use cloud technology to sync updates between the check-writing tool and accounting software, ensuring all data is accurate and up-to-date.


Add Financial Reporting Features: Offer integrated reporting tools that provide insights into cash flow, expenses, and outstanding payments based on check-writing data.

Branding

Branding

Bold Innovation, Trusted Expertise

The branding idea of "Bold and Credential" is designed to position our brand as both confident in its expertise and trustworthy in its approach.

Final Designs

Final Designs

Final Designs

Mobile App

Mobile App

Mobile App

Beyond improving the UX, we recognized the importance of UI and branding. We started by redefining the branding, focusing on creating a cohesive identity. The app was designed with a clean, functional, and minimalist look, prioritizing simplicity and usability to enhance the overall user experience.

Beyond improving the UX, we recognized the importance of UI and branding. We started by redefining the branding, focusing on creating a cohesive identity. The app was designed with a clean, functional, and minimalist look, prioritizing simplicity and usability to enhance the overall user experience.

Beyond improving the UX, we recognized the importance of UI and branding. We started by redefining the branding, focusing on creating a cohesive identity. The app was designed with a clean, functional, and minimalist look, prioritizing simplicity and usability to enhance the overall user experience.

What I gained from this project

What I gained from this project

What I gained from this project

UX Insights

This project offers valuable learning opportunities from a UX perspective, particularly in modernizing legacy systems and addressing specific user needs. It involves evaluating outdated platforms, identifying pain points, and creating solutions to simplify complex systems for diverse users, including older small business owners. The transition to a mobile-first design emphasizes the importance of responsive interfaces, intuitive navigation, and leveraging mobile-specific features like camera integration for receipt archiving. Additionally, the project highlights the critical balance between UX and UI design, requiring clean, functional interfaces aligned with branding. Developing effective information architecture (IA) for features like employee scheduling and receipt archiving ensures a seamless user journey while supporting scalability. By focusing on user-centric problem-solving, such as making workflows more accessible for less tech-savvy users, and conducting usability testing to validate design choices, this project underscores the importance of iterative refinement. Overall, it provides a comprehensive experience in designing solutions that meet both user needs and business goals, making it a rich learning opportunity for any UX designer.

UI Insights

From a UI perspective, this project provides a valuable opportunity to refine skills in creating clean and cohesive design systems that align with the brand identity. It emphasizes the importance of designing minimalist interfaces that prioritize functionality and reduce cognitive load, particularly for older or less tech-savvy users. By focusing on mobile-first principles, the project challenges designers to optimize interfaces for smaller screens while ensuring usability and aesthetic appeal. Accessibility is another critical aspect, requiring thoughtful integration of features such as proper color contrast, legible typography, and touch-friendly interactions to accommodate diverse user needs. Additionally, the project highlights the significance of seamlessly incorporating brand identity into the UI, reflecting professionalism, trustworthiness, and innovation. It also provides a chance to explore elements that enhance user engagement, such as visual cues, micro-interactions, and progress indicators, to guide users effortlessly through the app. Through iterative testing and refinement, this project underscores the importance of continuous improvement in creating polished and effective interfaces that balance visual appeal with practical functionality.

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