BoxTalk. - Email Desktop Application
❗ Problem
The modern online entrepreneur requires an email client that not only offers speed and efficiency but also aligns with evolving communication preferences. With busy professionals preferring texting over traditional email, there is a growing need for an email client that bridges the gap between formality and informality, while also integrating features that streamline email management and reduce the time spent on email-related tasks.
Users want an application where they can quickly access emails as threaded chat styles, along with suggested AI responses.
💡 Solution
Introducing - Box Talk., an email desktop application!
Box Talk. is designed to provide you a seamless experience by mixing the best components of emailing and instant messaging. The primary goal is to create an interface that not only optimizes communication but also ensures a smooth and efficient workflow, specifically tailored for small businesses and beyond.
🗣 Role & Responsibilities
Using Figma as a UX/UI designer, I was responsible for conducting user research, market research, creating user flows, wireframes and prototyping, while thinking of the user’s experience and user interactions.
📝 Market Research
I took a good look at other competitors, such as MS Outlook, Gmail & Zoho Mail.
📝User Research
I conducted research through friends and family. Through the research, it was clear what the pain points and needs are for the modern user.
👤User Persona
In order to understand the user, creating a persona helps put certain factors into perspective. Meet Sasha Leevey, a hard-working wedding photographer with a successful business. She spends a while going through all her emails, so she is looking for something that is faster and more efficient.
🔁User Flow
Based on the analysis from both user and market research, I developed a user flow that shows the easy & efficient flow of accessing and sending email(s).
🛠️ Wireframes
Conceptualizing my ideas into wireframes helps me lay out the content and designs. The purpose is to illustrate the user flow and how it addresses & meets the user’s requirements and needs.
Low Fidelity
First, I made a rough sketch to get a general idea of how I would like to place certain elements and components.
High-Fidelity
Once I got a better idea of how I wanted the components to be placed, I explored different layout designs. After multiple iterations, I finally selected one that closely matches the user’s requirements.
I went with the final wireframe as it combines seamless usability, a visually appealing interface, and collaborative nuances to not make feel it overwhelming and clunky.
🎨Visual Design
UI Library
🔍Usability Testing & Iteration
I tested my prototype with users and collected feedback and iterated on ways to improve the prototype (flow, sequence, design).
I designed three different iterations, finalizing the last iteration by combining elements and components from my first and second iterations. Ultimately, the goal is to make the flow of the email thread efficient and quick! With that in mind, I played around with different layouts and formats that exude the professionalism of email and the efficiency of chat-thread style.
🖥️ Prototype
Inbox Screen 1
Inbox Screen 2
Projects Screen w/ Sarah Joy Selected
Compose New Message
Scheduled Message
✅ Takeaways
Developing BoxTalk provided me with valuable insights into web design. During the course of this project, I gained a profound understanding of user concerns, pain points, and requirements. Packed with this knowledge and extensive research, I honed my skills to craft a solution that effectively addresses these issues. This journey allowed me to delve into diverse creative designs and formats. Although it took several iterations to enhance the application's user-friendliness initially, user testing and feedback were instrumental in refining it. I am confident that an interface of this nature can prove highly advantageous to small business owners by emphasizing efficiency and smart working practices.
Thank you for taking the time to look at my case study!
Please don't hesitate to reach out for comments or questions - would love to connect!