Vokkal
An innovative language learning app where users can customize and personalize their words, have fun learning through interactive games, and practice speaking with an intelligent AI bot.
Role
UX Designer
Timeline
3 Months
Platform
Mobile App
My Responsibilities
User Research
Conducting interviews and understanding user needs
Wireframing
Paper and digital wireframing solutions
Prototyping
Low and high-fidelity prototyping
Testing
Usability studies and accessibility
The Problem
More often language learners have issues with speaking and memorizing new words. This makes it difficult to socialize and interact in real-world situations, limiting their confidence and fluency development.
Our Goal
Create a comprehensive language learning app that adapts to all forms of learning styles, making language acquisition accessible, engaging, and effective for every user.
Understanding the User
Interviews
In the ideation phase of the project, I engaged in user interviews aimed at crafting new personas and gathering insights to inform the design process. To achieve this, I developed an interview script comprising 12 open-ended questions that delved into the values, motivations and daily routines of our target audience.
Customer Intro Questions
- • Are you a student, an employee, or both?
- • When do you normally first use the Internet?
Topic-related Questions
- • Tell me about the last time you had to learn new words
- • What is your preferred method of learning?
- • What was the most difficult aspect of learning?
Personas
I conducted user interviews, which I then turned into empathy maps to better understand the target user and their needs. I discovered that many target users often struggle to remember new words they've learnt or how to apply them in real world scenarios.
Problem Statement
Borges is an international student in Germany, who needs a tool that will allow him practice speaking German more fluently in various scenarios, particularly during networking events, because he wants to learn faster and integrate more easily.
User Pain Points
Lack of Word Explanations
Language apps don't offer comprehensive explanations for given words, leaving users confused about context and usage.
Limited Learning Methods
The majority of apps do not offer a variety of learning methods, and most rely solely on gamification for learning engagement.
Lack of Practice Opportunities
There is a significant lack of opportunities to practice what you are learning in real-world scenarios when learning a new language.
Starting the Design
Task Flow and Analysis
I created 2 major task flows to streamline the user journey and eliminate unnecessary steps, reducing user frustration and increasing task completion rates.
Task Flow 1: Create Study Pack
A method for adding new vocabulary words and definitions that allows users to add their own definitions and create personalized learning materials.
Task Flow 2: Voice Play
A fun interactive method of conversing with inbuilt AI based on the user's chosen topic, enabling real-world practice scenarios.
Paper Wireframes
In order to address the user pain point, I designed the wireframe so that it could be adapted for different types of users and their preferred learning style.
Speaking
Voice-based interactions
Reading
Text comprehension
Writing
Language composition
Games
Interactive learning
Usability Testing
Nielsen Norman Severity Rating Scale
The following 0 to 4 rating scale was used to rate the severity of usability problems:
No Problem
Not a usability issue
Cosmetic
Fix if time permits
Minor
Low priority fix
Major
High priority fix
Catastrophe
Must fix immediately
No Problem
Not a usability issue
Cosmetic
Fix if time permits
Minor
Low priority fix
Major
High priority fix
Catastrophe
Must fix immediately
Refining the Mock-up
The hi-fi prototype followed the same user flow as the lo-fi prototype, and included the design changes made after the usability study, as well as several changes suggested by the users.
Key Takeaways
Impact
Our target users shared that the design was intuitive to navigate through, more engaging with the images, and demonstrated a clear visual hierarchy.
What I Learnt
I learned that even a small design change can have a huge impact on the user experience. The most important takeaway is to always focus on the real needs of the user.
Next Steps
Conduct another round of usability studies to validate whether the pain points users experienced have been effectively addressed.
Try the Interactive Prototype
Experience the Vokkal app yourself! Click through the interactive prototype below to explore the AI-powered language learning features and test the user flow.
Tip: Click on interactive elements to navigate through the app flow
View in Full Screen