PROJECT CONTENT – The local community library serves as our client for this project. To enable libraries to continue to be a hub for their local communities, I will be looking at how they can improve resources they provide in the areas of technology and workplace readiness. I will use different methods of research to determine competitors, to gather quantitative and qualitative information from subject matter experts and users, and begin to formulate the persona and problem our design will target.

PROBLEM STATEMENT – The job market has significantly changed due to technological advances and the skill sets required for the job market today and our user is expecting the library to meet this need for themselves and local communities.

PRODUCT OVERVIEW – Networking Lab is a mobile app that offers users fascinating opportunities to effectively utilize local public library services. The product we have designed as a team is a virtual networking application that will provide the user with access to library experts and local business professionals in a wide array of fields to help the user with their career goals.

Team – Kim Ellsworth / Jamal Amanova / Garry Richardson

My Role – Product Designer

Timeline – Sept 2019 – Nov 2019.

Company – Flatiron Bootcamp

DESIGN PROCESS

RESEARCH

Key Learnings:

Users visit the library for more traditional needs, like books and study/work space not for professional development goals

Users lack of awareness and motivation to use offered low-tech services by current local libraries

Possible Solution:

User receives starts and motivational notes on their each accomplished tasks, which is intentionally implemented to support one of our design principles – excitement through gamifying strategy
Our user is hesitant to connect with professionals in order to expand their network, where our app generates (based on user’s provided interests in earlier stages) experts to connect
Every page of this intelligent platform is designed to effectively utilize local public library services. These pages offer virtual networking that allows users to access library experts and local business professionals in a wide array of fields.

Research artifacts: