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Redesigning the TU Chemnitz Timetable App

Role: UX Researcher

Project Overview

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.

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.