AdVisary
Access to Visa Information and immigration lawyers
Project Overview
Problem:
AdVissary wants to develop their V1 of their platform, their product as it stands is currently bloated with too many concepts and requires prioritization of its features and if there is anything missed.
Solution:
Provide a working prototype showcasing primary features, including redesigns for how information is provided, forum integration, and the ability to connect with immigration lawyers.
Impact:
Full working prototype
My Role:
User Research, UX/UI Design, Branding, Prototyping, Usability Testing
DEFINE
Project Details
AdVisary is a platform in early stages of development, designed to stream-line the troublesome immigration process, and provides applicants with a holistic roadmap of their application journey. Through a comprehensive ecosystem, AdVisary puts applicants in touch with certified immigration consultants in real-time, provides latest updates on the immigration policies surrounding their destination, and does so through a safe, encrypted interface.
My team and I stepped in and were tasked with researching the multiple features for their first iteration to see how we would reprioritize and create a streamlined app.
UX CHALLENGES
Too many features to count
With a bloated amount of features, my team and I decided that there was a need to introduce AdVisary in a more simplified and lean manner. Since this was an information-heavy platform we needed to:
-
Streamline the process for the user while working with complicated problems such as applying for visas
-
How do we get people to create an account and continue using those different features
The goal was to create tangible tasks focused on obtaining visa information fully completed without the aid of someone else, especially those who are not native English speakers.
Below were some ideas that the developers originally proposed.
RESEARCH + PLANNING
Learning behaviors can vary from user to user
For the amount of time we had, I focused on qualitative research and find out the behaviors, attitudes, and overall emotional journey of our user.
Looking at the raw data we received from focusing on qualitative research gained from 70 survey takers and over 6 screened interviews, we decided there were three types of visa seekers.
-
Tourists who seeked quick accessibility for their required documents,
-
International students (our biggest target users) who are in need of inexpensive resources and require the least amount of help with technology
-
Immigrants who require a high amount of assistance due to the complexity of permanent residence visas, generally the most frustrated and most scared.
This due to the livelihood that is dependent on their visas going through. By understanding the severity of obtaining a visa, I decided that we should revise our problem statement.
UX SOLUTION
Barebones is best bones
Understanding the user's journey we began to accumulate all of the proposed features onto an MVP table, prioritizing features that required the least amount of effort but would be the most impactful.
AdVisary is an information-driven product, meaning that if we want to acquire more users, it should focus on providing credible information, instruction lists for documents, and a community it can lean on. Which is exactly what we did.
IDEATE: EXPERIENCE 1
Redesigning advance search function and presenting information
I designed advance search and improved how information is shown by adding a simple Visa Checklist with a dropdown menu that offers clear details without extra screens or confusing language. A "saved" function was added for easy reuse, and key information is highlighted at the top, with more detailed breakdowns available for those who need it. This allows users to find only necessary information that relates to them, creating a smoother, more efficient experience.
IDEATE: EXPERIENCE 2
Simplify Forum Integration
By integrating a new Forum section with several key features, the dashboard homepage, users will now see the most frequently searched threads, giving them quick access to popular topics. The forum will be geo-specific, allowing users to filter and sort visa-related questions by country and visa type. To address concerns about credibility and timely responses, only lawyers will be able to answer questions in the forum. Additionally, users will be able to post their own questions and use a tagging system, making it easier to find specific posts and navigate the forum efficiently.
IDEATE: EXPERIENCE 3
Connecting with a lawyer
Users will have access to external websites for additional research, along with comprehensive lawyer profiles that showcase their experience, specialization, and ratings. A filter and sort option will help users find the best match for their needs. Since this is a two-sided marketplace, I also designed how details are provided on each lawyer's credibility and cost, ensuring users have the information they need to make informed decisions. This way, we can enhance the process of connecting our users with the right lawyers.
VISUAL DESIGN + BRANDING
Bringing the calm before the storm
We wanted to enhance the original visual language that AdVisary wanted to bring to the market. Adding colored grayscale to enhance the already trustworthy and calm feeling, bringing a sense of security to the heavy content users came across
We balanced engaging and vibrant tones with a grayscale accent color, soft shadows, and an easily readable type face to bring this app to life.
Although the logo itself was not part of the brief, I chose the owl who was the pet of Athena, the goddess of wisdom.
PROJECT KICK-OFF
How effective were the changes in data input?
OUTCOMES
Lessons learned and next steps
AdVisary was a project that I formed a really strong bond to. As an child to two loving immigrant parents, it felt like it was my duty to ensure that everyone has the rights to properly documentation and information. The result was a very functional MVP that our design team validated and presented to the stakeholders if they decided to take it into production.
This project taught me the value of communication and how to work with cross functioning teams. I learned to be more organized with how I documented my work, how to create value in my handoff, and how to iterate on my design solutions with business.
Key Screens
MORE CASE STUDIES
Want to reach out?
Pop me an email at andyk517@gmail.com
I’d love to hear from you!
📍 Currently based: San Francisco and chronically on the internet
©2024 All Rights Reserved