In Our Skin

Overview

Summary

InOurSkin.com provides In Our Skin Podcast listeners a place to learn more about the podcast, its host, gain access to additional resources, and make special requests for future episodes and potential partnerships. 

Business Requirements

1. Ensure that all users have the ability to find and listen to the podcast.

2. Ensure that all users understand what topics the podcast covers and learn about the podcast host.

3. Ensure that all users have the ability to find the podcast host on social media.

Roles & Responsibilities 

I worked autonomously on this project as the sole UX and UI designer. I completed all tasks end to end, starting with user research and ending with design solutions. The research and discovery process included competitive analysis, user surveys, and interviews. From there, I took the information I had just gathered to develop personas, user journeys, and user flows. Then, sketched out wireframes and their iterations, oversaw brand development, led usability testing, and produced a final prototype of InOurSkin.com.

The Problem 

My dear friend Ashley McHan is an all around fabulous human and lot of wonderful things, including a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Around the new year, I spoke with Ashley about our individual goals for 2023. We were both toying around with several ideas. After multiple cups of coffee, a few weeks of research, and a splash of gut instinct, Ashley decided to start a podcast. 

The next time we met, Ashley told me her news. Naturally I was very excited for my friend! When we talked about her new project, ideas started coming out. Together, we realized there wasn't one place where her future listeners could learn more about the podcast. Ashley needed a website!

The Solution

InOurSkin.com was created to welcome podcast listeners to Ashley's corner of the Internet. Here, listeners can find information on the podcast host, gain access to the podcast episodes, additional resources, and contact the podcast host. 

Process

Discovery & Research

Competitive Analysis

I conducted a full SWOT analysis of three leading podcast websites in the marketplace currently. Below are highlights of what I discovered.

User Surveys 

The survey, with 18 respondents, was completed by participants from varying socio-economic backgrounds, occupations, gender, and age via Google forms and Survey Swap. Here’s what I learned:

User Interviews

I conducted user interviews with 4 participants from my survey that were in the targeted audience demographic and who regularly listen to new podcasts for self improvement. Here are the key takeaways:

1. Users want the ability to contact the host to ask about previous episodes and make requests for future episodes. 

2. Users not only want the ability to listen to a podcast, they want blog posts and recommendations from their favorite podcast hosts. 

3. Users want the ability to sign up for a semi-regular newsletter to receive updates on episodes, blog posts, courses, and more. 

Personas

I developed three personas to reflect the anticipated listener demographic across generations and represent their needs and wants.

Information Architecture

High Priority User Stories

• As a listener, I want the ability to access all podcast episodes, blog posts, and additional resources.

• As a listener, I want the ability to learn more about the podcast host.

• As a listener, I want the ability to contact the podcast host to ask questions about past episodes and make requests for future episodes.

• As a potential partner, I want the ability to contact the podcast host to discuss the opportunity to work together.

User Flows

Site Map

User Journey

Wireframes

My paper prototypes were then translated into the wireframes below. Here are the key highlights:

• The order of information changed on the home screen 

• Blog posts and resources were separated from one page to two pages

• The contact form on the home page changed to a link to the contact page

• Social media links were added to the bottom of each page

Brand & Visual Development

Style Tile

Prototyping

1st Iteration Prototype
The wireframes were then translated into the 1st iteration prototype below. Here are the key highlights: 

• A listen button was added to top navigation bar so it's accessible on every screen

• A section on homepage was added outlining topics discussed so users can get an idea of what to expect

• A "Listen and Follow" section was added to the homepage to increase traffic to In Our Skin's social media pages

• Reviews from both listeners and guests were added to the homepage

• The contact form now has two forms (one for listeners and one for potential partners)

2nd Iteration Prototype
The 1st iteration mockups were then translated into the 2nd iteration prototypes below which incorporated content and branding elements like color scheme, font, logo.

Usability Testing

I completed several rounds of usability testing with four different people across 3 generations. Here are the tasks they were asked to complete:

• Find and select a resource to utilize

• Sign up for the In Our Skin newsletter

• Contact the host about a future episode or potential partnership

Preference Testing

After a round of formal usability testing, I updated the prototype to reflect user feedback. Then, realized I made a (somewhat massive) oversight by accidentally omitting an episodes page. So I created two options for an episodes page and two options for how users could access it. 

Final Thoughts

Key Takeaways

If I had additional time and resources, I would...

• Create a "My Favorite Things" page for affiliate marketing links to increase potential earnings for the stakeholder and provide additional resources for users

• Create mockups for site on mobile devices