Building Genuine Connections.
Summary
The idea behind the project was to combine personal recommendations with the utility of a professional networking app. Originally people would use LinkedIn purely as a utility tool: meet someone in person, connect with them on the app, and see their work history. There were not cluttered news feeds, meaningless notifications, or random connection requests. The goal was to cut through the noise of typical social media chatter to build a more organic professional network.
High-level Goals
- 1. Create an experience that encourages authentic conversations.
- 2. Give people more opportunities to connect to the right people.
- 3. Centralize information to avoid lost time browsing the app.
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Year
2021 -
Project Type
Freelance -
Team
Myself and Client -
Disciplines
UI/UX Design
Discovery
The assumptions we used were based on personal experiences, online research, and personal conversations. We identified that people found it difficult to transition career paths due to a lack of personal connections in the desired industry. Additionally, this feeling exists outside of a professional setting.
User-flow
The main focus was to show the various ways someone could begin finding connections and kickstarting conversations.
Inspiration
As we reflected on common frustrations – impersonal connections, empty notifications, and cluttered home pages — we identified that information needed to be readily accessible. Many component ideas came from e-commerce platforms, AI meeting software, and intriguing onboarding elements.
Explorations
We focused on allowing a user to freely explore the app by compartmentalizing areas to provide relevant interactions.
Home
The home section is the heart of the app that acts as a dashboard. This evolved to where all major actions - reviewing requests, browsing posts, and browsing suggested connections - took place.
Network and Groups
Initially we decided to combine these two areas of the app. However, we discovered that people may be getting on the app to accomplish a specific task. So, combining multple sections became confusing quick.
Messaging
The messaging area was a section we did not need to stray away from established formats. This became the area where users could review introduction requests and track, new or existing conversations.
Intro Request and Posting
The first couple of screens are from the view of a mutual connection that believes Person 1's objective aligns with Person 2's objective. Posting is an opportunity for a user to explore a specified objective.
Final Outcome
As a result, we designed Warm Intro for two specific cases: ease of access and authenticity. By combining intelligent suggestions and human actions, people will be able to expand their network in a purposeful way.
Posting
The ability to post is available on most screens. A user can choose to post to their entire network or in a specific group.
Browse Posts
Users are able to explore relevant activity from their 1st degree network, but have the ability to see posts from their entire network. The post format gives all details at a glance to make an informed decision.
Review Requests
Reviewing requests is a temporary section in the messaging tab. This is where a mutual connection can choose to accept and decline an introduction request.
Review Messages
Three main sections of messages: 1. review introduction requests 2. new conversations and 3. existing conversations. In each conversation, the origin of how the two people met is added.
Browse Suggested Connections
Based on the user's objectives, suggested connections will be populated with people that have similar or complementary objectives. If a person is highlighted as a confirmed 1st degree connection, through a linked contact list, a user can choose to immediately connect with them.
Review Groups
Groups retain the same format as the network page, but provide information specific to a particular group. Since groups are a common area for members, direct messaging is made available.
