hobby hub

energize your passion.

role

user experience design, user research, branding

duties

prototyping, user research, interaction design, responsive web design

tools

figma, optimal workshop, google meet, figjam

timeline

4 weeks

problem

Hobbies play a crucial role in mental health, offering a sense of escape from daily routines. However, despite their importance, many people struggle to find the time or energy to engage in their favorite activities.

goals

  • Find hobbies for a user that best suit their lifestyle

  • Motivate users to participate in their hobby of choice

  • Connect users to like minded individuals

  • Expose users to other hobbies and past times

solution

Utilizing data from user research, create a multi use platform that :

1) Creates a hobby quiz asking users various questions about their lifestyle and preferences, which will lead them to a recommended hobby that could fit best in their lifestyle

2) Implement rewards and a streak system to motivate users to consistently engage in their hobby of choice

3) Have an interactive friends list and search function to find others that do the same hobby as you, and help connect the user to local communities

USER RESEARCH

INTERVIEWS

Through interviews, I aimed to understand the unique relationship people have with their favorite hobbies. By exploring their pain points and frustrations, I gained insights into the challenges they face. This helped me brainstorm solutions to enhance their experience and make these activities even more enjoyable.

“I think it’s in our nature as humans to be active and creative. When we tap into that side of life it’s natural for us to feel more alive.”

- Interviewee

INTERVIEW Questions

    1. How did you get into your current hobby?

    2. What do you like about it?  What don’t you like about it?

    3. Is this a hobby you would have picked up earlier in life?  Is it something you picked up based off of your current age and situation?

    4. Is this a hobby you think you can make money off of?  Is that even something you’re interested in?

    5. What resources do you use to get better and stay in the loop?

    6. Is there an active community?  Is this something you do alone or with others?

    7. How much time do you put towards your hobby?

    8.  Is the cost of doing the hobby something that affected you first getting into it, and how does it affect how much you partake in it?

    9. Is there a hobby you used to do that you don’t anymore?  What stopped you?

    1. How likely are you to get into something if a friend recommends it?

    2. How likely are you to get into something if seen in the media?

    3.  Are the skills you learn related to your current interests or are they out of your comfort zone?

    4. How much does the learning curve matter for you when learning something new?

    5. What would you say is the most important factor when it comes to peaking your interest in a new hobby?

    6. What importance do hobbies bring into your everyday life?

    7. Have you ever used an online resource like a website or app to help you find new activities to learn?

    1. Ask any extra questions you might find interesting based off of some answers

    2. Do you see yourself wanting to find new hobbies, or are you content with what you do now?

    3. If there could be some type of online feature to aid or elevate your experience with your current hobby, what would it be?

    4. Do you have any questions for me or have anything else you want to bring up that you weren’t able to in previous questions?

AFFINITY MAP

I organized my interview findings into an affinity map to uncover the motivations behind different hobbies, what people enjoy about them, and their common frustrations. Grouping this information revealed patterns in how people connect with and experience their activities. These insights guided me toward potential improvements that could help address the challenges people face in enjoying their hobbies fully.

main insights

100% of interviewees agreed that hobbies are essential for their mental health

100% of interviewees felt like they wish they could partake in their favorite hobby more often

100% of interviewees felt like there are times where they lack of motivation to engage in their hobby of choice

80% of interviewees enjoyed their hobbies more when there was an active community available

UNDERSTANDING THE USER

competitive analysis

To better understand the landscape for my platform, I researched existing websites and apps in the hobby space. I discovered that few platforms address the specific needs I aim to meet, and there is no dominant outlet with a majority of the user base. This gap highlights an opportunity to create a unique solution that stands out in the market.

MAIN INSIGHTS

All platforms had a quiz that helped users find a hobby that best fits their lifestyle and preferences

All platforms seemed to not be updated very often and seemed outdated

All platforms had information and resources to learn more about various hobbies

No platform has an available app for its users to use on the go

No platform had a way to help motivate their users to partake in their hobby

povs and hmws

Understanding users’ perspectives helps us empathize with their true needs. Using “Point of View” statements and “How Might We” questions allows us to identify creative ways to address their pain points related to hobbies. This approach guides us in designing solutions that truly enhance their experience.

POV STATEMENTS

I’d like to explore ways to help people remember the significance of hobbies in their lives because often people forget how important it is in their everyday life 

I’d like to explore ways to help people find more time to indulge in their hobbies more because it is something that can help people more stress free from work

I’d like to explore ways to help people find more time efficient ways to do their hobbies because sometimes the hardest part of doing a hobby, is finding the time to go do it in itself 

I’d like to explore ways to give reminders to people to take a break from work because often people are extremely overworked and in need of relaxation and fun

HMW QUESTIONS

How might we use technology to create an intuitive scheduling app that can prioritize and carve out dedicated time for individuals to enjoy their favourite hobbies, fostering a healthier work life balance?

How might we integrate mindfulness and relaxation techniques into existing productivity tools to encourage users to take regular breaks and allocate time for hobbies?

How might we design physical spaces, in offices or homes, that inherently promote doing hobbies to save time for our users

How might we find a way to give subtle but impactful reminders to how important hobbies are to one's mental health, to help them make more time amidst their daily routines?

USER PERSONAS

Using insights from the competitive analysis and the development of POVs and HMWs, I crafted two user personas to capture our ideal consumer’s needs and goals. These personas serve as guides to ensure the platform aligns closely with user expectations. By focusing on their unique motivations, I can design with a clearer sense of purpose and empathy.

flows and prioritization

task flows

As a multi-functional platform, creating an intuitive flow for users is a top priority. I mapped out a detailed task flows to illustrate how users would navigate the platform to complete key actions. This flows focused on ensuring each step was intuitive and efficient, minimizing friction for the user.

user flows

I designed user flows to map out the journey users take while interacting with the platform. These flows focus on guiding users through key processes, ensuring each step is seamless and logical. By understanding these pathways, I refined the experience to align with user behaviours and expectations. Also by visualizing these paths, I was able to refine the user journey and align it with their expectations.

SITE MAP

Now with the flow of the platform designed, it’s almost time to actually design the app. But before all that, I have to work on the branding of Hobby Hub and give it an identity.

I developed a comprehensive site map to organize the platform’s features and structure its navigation. This visual layout clarifies where each function lives, making it easier for users to find what they need and move through the platform intuitively. By structuring the content in a logical flow, the site map supports a seamless user experience, helping ensure that all core features are easily accessible.

feature set

I carefully selected key features that would provide the most value to users at launch, prioritizing functionality that directly addresses their needs. By distinguishing between essential and secondary features, I ensured that the core experience would be streamlined and impactful. This approach allowed for a focused rollout, with room to introduce additional features in future updates based on user feedback.

Card sorting similarity matrix

I carefully selected key features that would provide the most value to users at launch, prioritizing functionality that directly addresses their needs. By distinguishing between essential and secondary features, I ensured that the core experience would be streamlined and impactful. This approach allowed for a focused rollout, with room to introduce additional features in future updates based on user feedback.

card sorting key takeaways

  • 6 participants is not enough to get hard facts on how people relate the given words to the categories

  • The overall results were a lot surprising than I thought it would be

  • One person had no idea what “Streak” was without context. May have to add the word “Hobby Streak” in the final build

  • Some words had a very split result such as “fun facts”, which is fair because it could easily be put into any category

  • Some words that I personally associated to “events” ended up being put in “hobbies” and I can understand why. I think when those group outings get put under the actual “events” tab, it’ll still make a lot of sense to the user once they see the context

BRANDING

SIGNIFICANCE

Branding plays a key role in defining how users perceive the platform, shaping their overall experience and trust. A strong, consistent brand helps distinguish the platform from competitors while fostering loyalty and recognition. By creating an emotional connection, effective branding encourages users to engage and become advocates for the platform.

mood board

I created a mood board to visually capture the essence of the platform’s design direction. It includes a mix of color palettes, typography, and imagery that align with the brand's identity and the emotions we want to evoke. This visual guide helps ensure that the design remains cohesive, appealing, and resonates with the target audience throughout the development process.

color palette

logo choice

UI COMPONENT LIBRARY

I developed a UI component library to establish a consistent design system for the platform. This library includes reusable elements such as buttons, form fields, and navigation components, ensuring a unified look and feel across the app. By organizing these components, I streamlined the design process and made it easier to maintain consistency as the platform evolves.

LOW AND HIGH FIDELITY WIREFRAMES

low FIDELITY WIREFRAME sketches

I created low-fidelity wireframes to outline the basic structure and layout of the platform. These wireframes focused on functionality and user flow, prioritizing usability over visual details. This allowed me to quickly iterate on the design and gather feedback before moving on to higher-fidelity versions, ensuring a solid foundation for the user experience.

mid fidelity WIREFRAMEs

I developed mid-fidelity wireframes to refine the platform's layout and interactions, adding more detail to the basic structure. These wireframes incorporated elements like typography, spacing, and placeholder content, providing a clearer representation of the user interface. This stage allowed for a better understanding of the design’s functionality and user flow while remaining flexible for further adjustments based on feedback.

high fidelity WIREFRAMEs

I created high-fidelity wireframes to bring the platform’s design to life with detailed visuals, including final typography, color schemes, and UI elements. These wireframes closely resemble the final product, offering a realistic view of how the app will look and function. This phase helped validate design choices, ensuring a polished user experience before moving into development and user testing.

user testing results

I conducted thorough user testing with the high-fidelity wireframes to gather feedback on the app's usability and overall experience. Based on user interactions and insights, I identified areas for improvement and made revisions to enhance functionality and flow. This iterative process ensured that the final design was both user-friendly and aligned with the platform's goals.

revisions

After gathering user feedback, I made revisions to address pain points and improve the overall user experience. These changes focused on refining functionality, streamlining navigation, and enhancing visual clarity. By continuously iterating, I ensured that the design not only met user needs but also delivered a more intuitive and engaging experience.

final screens

The final screens reflect the polished design, incorporating all revisions and user feedback. These screens showcase the completed user interface, with refined visuals, seamless interactions, and a cohesive experience. With the design now fully optimized, the final screens offer a clear representation of how users will interact with the platform in its finished form.

final thoughts

This being my first project ever in UX/UI Design was very eye opening! It was fun learning new things and navigating through new discoveries while finishing this project. I’d love to go back to this project one day flesh out more of the features especially as I grow as a designer.