Introduction

HelloTalk is a language exchange app that connects users from all around the world to do language learning. HelloTalk offers real-time communication with native speakers, promoting linguistic and cultural exchange. Users are able to chat through text, voice, and video, correcting each other’s language mistakes.

Project Brief

During the 14 weeks of UI/UX Design course, we will identify the challenges and difficulties faced by the users when they were using the app, with that we will need to think of a solution to solve the user’s pain points and what can be improve and done to make their experience better. Within the time frame of work, our goal is to identify what are the problems and then create a solution by turning it into a mobile app prototype that are able to improve their experience.

The project will be divided into 4 parts, which is:

1. Research Sprint
2. Concept Sprint
3. Usability Sprint
4. Handover Sprint

Research Sprint

Hypothesised Problem Statement

For people who want to meet new people, exchange cultural insights, and language learning

Who are afraid of making mistake when learning a new language

Our product is a app that enables text, voice, video communication between language learner and native speaker.

Unlike HiNative

Our product provides native speakers coaches where users are able to get language help from them. User will be paired up with another user who are currently learning the same language as them and both will have to complete challenges given by the native speaker coach. This way it will encourage people to not be afraid in making mistakes as the other user are on the same proficiency level as them.

Hypothesised User Persona

Research Methodology

The objectives and procedures of the research.

Objectives

1. To understand user behaviour on language learning app

2. To understand the difficulties and problems faced by users when they are using the app

3. Learn about the difficulties and problems faced by users when they are using the app

Procedures

1. Browse through App Store and Google Play Store to understand what are the users pain points

2. List out the gathered pain points from the review and feedback section

3. List out the interview questions and arrange interview session

4. Collect feedback from the interviewees and study it

5. Compile all the feedback given by the interviewees and identify the insights

Users Profile and Interview Schedule

User Interviews
I have conducted the interview session for 2 times to collect more data from the users and understand what difficulties they are facing.

There are a total of 6 interviewees that I have interviewed. 5 of the interviewees are currently a student and 1 of the interviewees is a working adult.

Interview Questions

User Interview 1

Link Here!

User Interview 2

Link Here!

Insights

Insights 1

• 66.7% of them spend at least 1 hour per day to learn a new language and 33.3% learn the language everyday
• 33.3% of them practice by writing down notes while learning, 33.3% practice by making conversations with native speakers and 33.3% listen to how native speakers talk
• 33.3% of them think that memorising works the best for them in learning a new language, 33.3% think that reading works best for them and the last 33.3% of them think that listening and writing notes works best
• 66.7% of them set a goal for themselves to be committed to the process of language learning and 33.3% start by reading beginner level books and slowly read harder books
• 66.7% overcome anxiety while speaking to native speaker by practising more with them and 33.3% still feel anxious when needed to speak to other native speakers
• 100% of them use HelloTalk to practice speaking with the native speakers
• 66.7% of them think that the people from HelloTalk are very responsive to messages and 33.3% of them don’t think they are very responsive
• 66.7% had good experience when connecting with language exchange partner in HelloTalk and 33.3% had hard time connecting with serious learners
• 33.3% of them feel that using HelloTalk does not impact their confidence and proficiency level and 66.7% of them feel that using HelloTalk improved their confidence and proficiency level in speaking
• 33.3% of them like the feature that enables them to auto translate the sentences instantly and 66.7% like the feature that people can correct your sentence when you wrote something wrong
• 33.3% of them don’t like the feature where they have to pay to select more languages that they want to learn, 33.3% of them don’t like the feature of ways to finding native speaker to talk to and 33.3% think the features are fine
• 33.3% of them want to have more ways in finding native speakers to talk to and 33.3% want to be able to see who had viewed their profile and 33.3% of them want to filter out the amount of people who use the app to hook up

Insights 2

• If encounter people who have ulterior motives such as finding people to hook up with,
• User would want to be able to set up a clear profile guidelines encouraging users to highlight their language learning goals and interests, enabling the community to self-regulate and maintain a focus on language exchange
• Before creating an account, user will have to wait a few days for the moderators to approve of their account, to prevent user to have history of finding people on hooking up with on language exchange websites with existing IP address and users would have to do face recognition to prove that the profile picture they are using is real
• User would want to be able to straightway suspend the person’s account and wait for the moderators to ban their account and IP address
• If encounter people who have disappears after 1 or 2 days of chatting with partner they have just connected with,
• User would want to be able to set up a rule where users must commit to a minimum duration of engagement, to ensure a more serious and consistent learning experience
• User would want to set up another section to separate active user and non-active user. Active user will be able to find another partner that is active on the app and for non-active users they can also find partner that are not so committed to the language exchange experience
• User would want to have a tag in the profiles which state “active”, “non-active”, and “serious” learner set by the moderator
• Any features you would like to add or change to improve the learning experience in this app and how would you make it can work
• User would want to make the paid features to be free by completing 1 chapter of language lesson to get 1 day free usage of the paid features
• User would want the moderators to check the user’s IP address and email to see if they have commit any online fraud in the past, if yes they won’t be able to create an account

Validated Problem Statement

For people who want to have a good language learning experience

Who are struggling to find a native speaker as a mentor

Our product is a language exchange app that enables user to have language exchange experience with the native speakers

Unlike HiNative and Lingbe

Our product provides language learning lessons where users will have to be paired up together to complete their task and challenges in a team that is set by the app developers. User will be paired with another learner who is currently learning the same language and is in the same level as them. AI will be assisting them as well if they have any trouble in anytime.

Validated User Persona

Full Research Sprint

Link Here!

Concept Sprint

App Analysis

After completing the Research Sprint, I have then move on to do some app analysis on some language exchange learning apps, like, HiNative and Tandem.

Features Proposal

Multiple new features are proposed to enhance the users’ experience when they are having their language exchange activity with other native speakers. Each features proposed has its own purpose on how it benefits the users.

New features:

1. Group Language Learning
2. Image Recognition
3. Screen Time Tracker
4. Categorise Learners

Sitemap

Sitemap is created to see how the overall flow of the app will look like.

User Story Map

User Story Map are created to have a better understanding of the app flow, it contains the activities on what user have to do when they are in the app, and to see if the steps are too complicated to complete.

Lo-fi Prototype (Wireframe)

The lo-fi prototype is created using Figma.

Concept User Testing

After completing the wireframe, I started to conduct user testing for the users to test out on the features I have proposed.

Concept User Testing Questions

Link Here!

Wireframe Prototype Link

Link Here!

Action Plan

Based on the feedback given by the users, I have list out the proposed action based to their feedback.

User UI Flow

After conducting the Concept User Testing, I have then created a user UI flow to see on how the user flow will look like with the new features.

Full Research Sprint

Link Here!

Usability Sprint

Moodboard

After completing the Concept Sprint, I have then move on and made a moodboards that consists of core experience, art style, colour palette, typography, button designs, icon designs, graphics & illustrations, and layout & animations.

Usability Test

After completing the hi-fidelity screens, I have proceeded to do user usability test to see if the overall look of the app is fine and to see if there is any issues when users are using the app to complete certain task given.

Purpose of having this test is to see if it is user friendly.

Usability Testing Questions

Link Here!

Usability Test Prototype Link

Link Here!

Link Here!

Link Here!

Link Here!

User Profiles

Summary of Feedback

Task 1

• 100% of them stated that they have managed to complete the task.
• 100% of the stated that the difficulties on using the app is 1 which is very easy.
• 100% of them thinks that the design is appealing to them.
• 100% of them stated that the buttons and icons are easily to be identify and clear.
• 100% of them stated that the information and instructions are clear.

Task 2

• 100% of them stated that they have managed to complete the task.
• 77.8% of the stated that the difficulties on using the app is 1 which is very easy, 11.1% stated that the difficulties are at 2, while the remaining 11.1% thinks that the difficulties are at 3 which is moderate.
• 100% of them thinks that the design is appealing to them.
• 100% of them stated that the buttons and icons are easily to be identify and clear.

Task 3

• 100% of them stated that they have managed to complete the task.
• 88.9% of the stated that the difficulties on using the app is 1 which is very easy, while the remaining 11.1% stated that the difficulties are on level 2.
• 100% of them thinks that the design is appealing to them.
• 100% of them stated that the button and icons are easily identify and clear.
• 88.9% of them stated that the information and instructions are clear, while the remaining 11.1% stated that it is lacking of instructions to guide users on how to use the feature.
• 22.2% of them stated as additional instruction that it can be better if there is some illustrations in the instruction page to make it more fun

Task 4

• 100% of them stated that they have managed to complete the task.
• 100% of the stated that the difficulties on using the app is 1 which is very easy.
• 100% of them thinks that the design is appealing to them.
• 100% of them stated that the buttons and icons are easily to be identify and clear.
• 100% of them stated that the information and instructions are clear.

Full Usability Sprint

Link Here!

Handover Sprint

Final Screens

These are the final screens of HelloTalk app :

Style Guide

Product Mockups

Video Walkthrough

FinalUIVideoWalkthrough.mp4

Full Handover Sprint

Link Here!

Final Prototype Link

Link Here!

Tool Stack

Figma

Key Learning

1. Working on the project with insufficient knowledge of what you are going to do can cause the workflow to be rough.
2. Learned how to use Figma and how using it made the design progress easier.
3. Learned to solve users’ difficulties and problems while using the app.
4. How important is it to come out with interview questions that are helpful.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, I have learned a lot from this course, the process in completing the work is difficult since there are some parts that I am not used to but the overall experience in recreating an app is great and satisfying. I would also like to thank my interviewees who help in answering the questions and doing the prototype, and also my lecturer who have been giving ideas and feedback to improve my overall UI/UX Design.