PHAWITA W.

Redesigning the TU Chemnitz Timetable App

Project Type

Uni Project

Role

UX Researcher

Goal

Improve the usability and functionality of the TU Chemnitz timetable app, focusing on issues students face with the timetable function.

Target Users

Students at TU Chemnitz University.

My Contribution

Heuristic evaluation, low- and high-fidelity prototyping, and qualitative and task-based user testing to improve the app's usability.

Which Tools

Figma

TU Chemnitz timetable app tools

Project Overview

Portfolio takeaways and research methods used for this project are summarized below.

Portfolio Takeaways

As a UX Researcher, I:

  • Used heuristic evaluation, prototyping, and both qualitative and task-based user testing methods.
  • Synthesized user feedback and systematically improved the app's usability.
  • Demonstrated how iterative design and genuine user involvement lead to better product outcomes.

Identified Problems and Result Prototypes

Low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes comparison showing user testing feedback and app interface mockups

Research Methods Used

1. Heuristic Evaluation & Problem Identification

Reviewed the current app to identify usability problems:

  • Timetables could only be imported after creating lectures online, which was confusing.
  • No weekly overview; only a daily view.
  • Important links and contacts were not accessible or copyable.
  • Room information opened in an external website, not integrated.
  • Opal links not clickable or copyable.

2. Low-Fidelity Prototyping & User Testing

Created flow charts and low-fidelity prototypes.

User Testing with Think-Aloud Protocol:

  • Participants: 6 students.
  • Method: Participants verbalized their thoughts as they used the prototype, highlighting points of confusion or difficulty.

Findings:

  • Users got confused about creating new events.
  • Deadlines and marking tasks as "done" needed to be clearer.
  • Unreadable handwriting in prototypes was an issue.
  • Users wanted to know if the app would work on laptops.

3. High-Fidelity Prototyping & User Testing

High-Fidelity Prototype created in Figma

Second Round of User Testing:

  • Used clear, task-based instructions and open-ended questions.
  • Observed user behavior and collected qualitative feedback.
  • Example tasks: Create a new schedule, check for canceled classes, find lecture information, and deadlines.
  • Open-ended feedback: Asked about color schemes, intuitiveness, usefulness of the deadline feature, and improvement suggestions.

Key User Insights

  • Confusion in Creating Events: Users often clicked on "week" instead of "add new event."
  • Deadline Feature Needed Expansion: Users wanted to add their own deadlines, not just those set by professors.
  • Visual Clarity: Color coding was good, but users wanted more distinction between lectures and exercises.
  • Map Feature: The in-app map was too small; users wanted to zoom in/out.
  • Intuitive UI: Users suggested that instead of an "Add Event" button, a "+" icon should be used for adding events.
  • Deadline Iconography: Users preferred using a flag icon for deadlines and suggested using red for urgent tasks.

How Feedback Was Implemented

Improvements Based on User Feedback

Simplified Event Creation:

  • Removed the confusing "create new event" button.
  • Added a clear "+" button on both "week" and "day" views to intuitively add events.

Expanded Deadline Function:

  • Included options for exam dates, holidays, semester schedules, and allowed users to add their own custom deadlines.
  • Used red as a color for deadlines and a flag icon for better visibility.

Enhanced Visual Clarity:

  • Improved color coding for classes and further distinguished between lectures and exercises.

Map Usability:

  • Improved the map by allowing users to zoom in/out and directly connect to Google Maps.

Comprehensive Overviews:

  • Provided both daily and weekly schedule views for better planning.

Accessibility of Links and Contacts:

  • Made Opal links clickable and copyable.
  • Provided full contact information for professors, including email and address, with copy/click functionality.

Reflection & Lessons Learned

The Value of User Testing:

User testing with real tasks and open-ended questions revealed more issues than think-aloud alone.

Recruiting Participants:

Test with unbiased users outside your immediate circle for more honest feedback.

Iterative Design:

Multiple rounds of prototyping and feedback led to a much-improved, user-centered solution.