Empowering Instagram Users

Project Overview 06/23 - 08/23

User-centric Instagram feature for tailored content control.

My Role

This is my independent concept project where I am the sole UX Designer with responsibility for the following:

User Research & Analysis
Problem Definition
Conceptualization & Ideation
Information Architecture
Wireframing & Prototyping
User Testing

Problem

Frustration with Instagram’s feed fuels the “Social Connector’s” desire for a more personalized experience, seeking meaningful content alignment.

Goal

My aim is to provide users with the means to shape their feeds and personalize their content, driving higher levels of satisfaction and engagement.

Initial Survey

To kickstart my UX project with robust research, I initiated a survey to capture user feedback on their app usage and pain points. This approach allowed me to gain valuable insights into user behaviors and the specific challenges they encounter with existing apps.

App Questionnaire Link

The survey results not only indicated Instagram as the most frequently used app, as shown in the daily app votes graph, but also revealed that it was the most commonly cited source of frustrating experiences among users.

This compelling data led me to select Instagram as the primary focus for my solution, highlighting the need to address and improve the user experience on this platform.

User Interviews

To gain a deeper understanding of users' frustrations with Instagram, I first created a comprehensive interview script that included both qualitative and quantitative questions. This script was designed to provide a holistic view of their current experiences and identify opportunities for improvement. I then reached out to five primary users who had expressed frustration with Instagram, aiming to gather more detailed insights into their specific pain points. This personalized approach allowed me to collect valuable feedback that will guide the development of user-centric solutions tailored to their needs and concerns.

Instagram Experience Interview

User Journey

A typical user journey for these individuals often entailed initial annoyance caused by a constant barrage of ads and the prominence of irrelevant suggested content, often taking precedence over updates from people they knew and preferred to follow. Over time, this mounting frustration culminated in them eventually closing the app when their irritation reached its peak.

A redesign of the app should prioritize enhancing user control and personalization, ensuring that content from their preferred connections takes precedence while minimizing distractions caused by ads and irrelevant suggestions, ultimately creating a more enjoyable and engaging user experience.

Quantitative

Drawing from the quantitative data collected during the interviews, users indicated that, although they can still derive some enjoyment from the app, their level of frustration has notably increased, particularly when contrasted with their initial experiences. Their satisfaction with the content in their feed only reaches a moderate level, underscoring the importance of having control over the content as a key priority for them.

Qualitative

Following a thorough analysis of the interview data, several key issues emerged. The predominant concern shared by all users was a pervasive sense of lacking control over the content displayed in their feeds. They expressed frustration with the content suggestions made by the platform, coupled with a profound lack of understanding regarding the criteria and mechanisms driving these changes.

The quotes selected played a pivotal role in shaping my approach to addressing the challenge of users' limited control over their Instagram feed content.They ultimately served as a compass guiding me toward a solution that would genuinely enhance the Instagram experience.

I focused on finding ways to represent the array of interests already present in users' feeds, but often not easily discoverable. My goal was to create an intuitive and enjoyable experience that seamlessly showcased the people they know and the diverse interests they hold dear.

This approach aimed to alleviate user frustration, ensuring that they can effortlessly navigate their Instagram experience, enjoying a platform that truly resonates with their preferences.

User Persona

Merging survey data and interview insights, I meticulously crafted a user persona encapsulating the desires and frustrations shared by Instagram users. This endeavor sparked the inception of the "Groups" feature, a novel solution designed to cater to users' content control needs by curating their interests in a user-friendly manner.

The "Groups" feature streamlines the user experience, providing a curated content journey without demanding excessive effort.

It eliminates the need to individually curate each account they follow, thereby granting users a clear understanding of how the app selects the content they see and affording them greater control in a digestible and intuitive manner.

Users can engage with every post of their choosing without worrying about sudden algorithm changes that disrupt their feed.

Ultimately, this approach is poised to significantly enhance user engagement, reduce frustration, and mitigate the likelihood of users abandoning the app due to a lack of control and a disheartening experience.

User Flow

I utilized the user flow as a foundational guide to inform my design process.

It allowed me to establish the information architecture and identify the necessary screens required to create a high-quality user experience, aligning seamlessly with the needs, preferences, and desires of the user persona I had crafted.

Design Ideation

Using the user flow as a blueprint, I embarked on the design exploration phase by crafting paper wireframes, allowing me to delve into various design possibilities that would not only captivate users but also ensure functionality and usability within the Instagram redesign concept.

Digital Mockups

Transitioning to digital wireframing illuminated the challenges I aimed to address and allowed me to envision how my designs would effectively resolve them. Witnessing my creation come to life through iterative refinement was a gratifying process. I take pride in my final designs, which comprehensively explore interactions like creating, deleting, or favoriting groups in the Your Groups feature, as well as navigating the feed and managing accounts within the group.

The introduction of the Suggestions feature further refined personalization, offering users an engaging, time-efficient method to curate their desired experience by leveraging data insights and simplified question-based interactions. This addresses a pain point identified during initial research, where users desired personalization but were reluctant to take full responsibility for it.

This design strikes a balance between user preferences and platform recommendations, exemplifying the essence of UX design—to create solutions that benefit both sides. It encapsulates the overarching goal of this project, which is to enhance user engagement and satisfaction while maintaining the platform's usability and appeal.

High-Fi Mockups

Creating high fidelity images and mockups that seamlessly align with Instagram's distinctive visual branding has proven to be a pivotal step in the platform's evolution. These meticulously crafted visuals have not only enhanced the overall user experience but have also paved the way for exciting new features.

Notably, the redesigned homepage for groups empowers users to efficiently manage their existing groups or create new ones, fostering a sense of community and personalization. Additionally, the suggestions tab presents users with data-backed recommendations, making it effortless to curate their feed content, thus transforming Instagram into a more tailored and engaging experience. These innovations reflect Instagram's commitment to staying at the forefront of social media and continually meeting user expectations.

Results & Impact

In summary, this Instagram redesign concept project has been a journey of user-centered design, where I harnessed the power of user flows, paper wireframes, and digital prototypes to create a compelling and functional experience.

While I take pride in the progress made so far, I recognize there are opportunities for further evolution.

Future steps involve A/B testing to fine-tune specific design features, soliciting feedback from users of the platform to gauge their experience improvements and increased engagement.

Additionally, I plan to incorporate interactive prototypes, allowing users to navigate the revamped features and identify any potential refinements in the user journey. With these enhancements, I aim to create a more engaging and enjoyable Instagram experience for all users.

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