The client came to us with a business idea and industry knowledge. He asked us to explore the idea, research the industry on our own, and provide guidance and materials he could take to find investors.Extract product concepts from business owner's brain, generate concepts and plans, and create beginnings of a deck to use for pitch meetings
When we started the project, the understood output was a set of screens and some research. By the end of the engagement, the list of deliverables had grown to include the beginning of a pitch deck, more screens than initially agreed on, and research information included in the deck.
The process for this project was short and the scope and intent were ill-defined.
Since this was a Visioning engagement, the team consisted of myself and a UX Researcher, a Dev Architect, and and Project Manager/Business Analyst
To kick off the project, our team had a call with the client where we did our best to learn about his ideas, figure out his competitive advantage, and figure out exactly what he was looking for from this engagement.
Since the client does not have any technical knowledge or background we had to elicit the ideas for the business and the business's core product from the vague concepts he had in his brain.
We had opportunities to ask all the questions we wanted during weekly meetings following the initial kickoff/visioning workshop. The feedback and answers we acquired usually defined the direction we would take the project over the next week.
Embracing the yellow that seems to be standard for the construction industry, I used this landing screen to convey some of the basic hypothetical branding elements up front.
This screen helped us convey a potential future for the product that included more of the additional features the the client wanted that were not discussed as part of the MVP product.
Centering the app around finding equipment to rent made the most sense for this product.
This also hints at the ability to manage current rentals, and provides insights and awareness into other account metrics.
Searchability was basically one of the core selling points from the client's point of view. He emphasized the need to be able to filter and sort results based on variables that will be specific to different pieces of equipment.
Each item that can be rented needs a page that includes the important details. The client requested that equipment include datasheets and manufacturer details as well.
The client has a set of other ideas to use the platform as a marketplace for two additional parts of the rental business: Insurance and Transportation/Delivery. Those marketplaces are hinted to on these screens for the pitch decks, and were understood that they would be developed later in the product lifecycle.
One of the final features that the client continually talked about being important was the Uber-esque ability to track your order as it travels to you.
At the end of the engagement, the client was really satisfied with the work we did for them. The information architecture work created some buzz and excitement with the stakeholders, and the new visual design approach definitely had many of the members of the client very excited for the potential future, while keeping the marketing group satisfied with the capabilities and priorities that the new design incorporates.