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iKnow

Know every business news here

One Organization, One Communication Channel, for 66K users​
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OVERVIEW​

iKnow is a global business news reader app designed for employees, offering real-time updates and announcements across all organizational units. The app ensures quick and seamless access to news, events, achievements, policy updates, and more, through a user-friendly mobile interface. It keeps employees connected and informed on the go, providing an intuitive experience for staying updated with the latest happenings within the company.

PROBLEM​
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The existing intranet web interface, which includes a section for viewing the latest news and updates, has experienced declining adoption and usage over the past few years. The current web interface is not user-friendly or interactive and requires employees to log in from a laptop or desktop, limiting accessibility and convenience. As a result, employees are increasingly bypassing the intranet news portal, opting instead for email communications and subscribed newsletters.

This shift is placing a significant burden on the HR and communications departments, leading to increased costs and workforce investment to keep employees informed and engaged.

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Potential Opportunities:

Enhanced Accessibility: Develop a mobile-first news application that provides real-time updates and seamless access to company news on the go, eliminating the need for employees to log in from a desktop system.


User Engagement: Create a more interactive and intuitive user experience that encourages employees to stay engaged with company updates directly through the app, reducing reliance on email communications.


Cost Efficiency: By improving the delivery and engagement of internal communications through the app, the company can reduce the burden on HR and communications teams, leading to cost savings and more efficient resource utilization.


Personalization: Incorporate features like personalized news feeds based on employees’ preferences, increasing relevance and engagement, and making the platform an indispensable tool for staying connected with the company’s latest developments.

GOAL​
 

The communications unit aims to unify all employees on a single platform that delivers fast, seamless, and on-the-go updates about company-wide events and developments. The platform will enhance the user experience by allowing streaming of external media channels and videos, providing real-time access to content. Employees will be able to check the latest trending news on their preferred topics at the start of their day, ensuring they stay informed and engaged effortlessly.

Success Metrics:

Adoption Rate: Achieve an 80% employee adoption rate within the first 6 months of the platform launch.


Engagement Levels: Increase employee engagement with company news by 50%, measured through app interactions and time spent on the platform.


Reduction in HR and Communication Costs: Decrease the reliance on traditional email communications by 60%, leading to a 25% reduction in costs associated with internal communications within the first year.


User Satisfaction: Attain a user satisfaction score of 90% or higher based on post-launch surveys and feedback.

MY ROLE​


​I led the design and development of the reading experience for the iKnow app, creating an intuitive and seamless user journey that resonated with employees globally. In this role, I collaborated closely with product managers and stakeholders from the U.S., engaging in thorough research to understand the existing communications system and the unique needs of our users. Additionally, I partnered with the central brand team to ensure that the interface was consistent with our brand guidelines, while also meeting the high standards of usability and visual appeal.

DURATION

3 Sprints (2 weeks sprint)
2 phases

DESIGN TOOL

Early wireframes

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Visual designs

Home

  • A personalized list of important news articles based on user preferences.

  • Each article shows its top three topics upfront, providing quick context.

  • Users can add articles to a read later list for future reading.

  • The design emphasizes quick readability and seamless navigation.

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Article details

  • ​Immersive reading experience with a clean layout that prioritizes content for maximum readability.

  • Expandable sections offer detailed information, related articles, and multimedia, providing a seamless and engaging exploration of each news story.

  • Relevant images, videos, and embedded media are included to enrich the content and keep users engaged.

  • In-content search allows users to find specific information within the article effortlessly.

  • Users can share and bookmark articles directly from this screen, enhancing interactivity.

  • Related articles and topics are suggested at the bottom to encourage continuous reading and exploration.

User profile

Provides users with control over their experience, offering intuitive options to edit personal details, manage notification settings, subscribe to topics, and access support.

 

The design is user-friendly, making customization of the news feed simple and efficient.

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Topic subscriptions

Allows users to personalize their news feed by selecting or removing topics of interest from a comprehensive master list.

 

The interface is designed to be clear and straightforward, enabling users to quickly adjust their subscriptions to match their evolving preferences.

MY LEARNING REFLECTION

"Study the diverse user base"

Initially, our approach lacked sufficient focus on understanding the diverse needs and behaviors of our global user base, particularly in specific regions. This oversight led to notable performance and usability challenges post-launch, which were clearly reflected in the user feedback and the drop-off from the enterprise app store.

As a designer, this experience emphasized the critical role of performance as a key component of the overall user experience. The underestimation of performance testing was a major factor in user dissatisfaction, underscoring that even the most well-designed interface can fall short if it doesn't perform efficiently in real-world conditions.

Through this challenge, we learned the importance of integrating more rigorous performance testing and user research into our design process. The launch of version 2.0, backed by enhanced load testing and improved performance, allowed us to realign with our user satisfaction goals. This iteration taught me that successful UX design not only prioritizes aesthetic and interaction design but also ensures that the product is resilient, responsive, and fully aligned with the end-users' needs.

A holistic design approach that marries user insights with technical performance to truly deliver a satisfying user experience.

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