Background

Vardal Gymnastics Club is part of the Innlandet Gymnastics and Turn Circuit, offering gymnastics for children, youth, and adults. Established in 1933, Vardal Gymnastics Club has not made many changes over the years in managing communication related to their activities.

Currently, they use various digital solutions such as their website, Spond, Facebook, text messages, and email to manage their affairs. While the current approach works to some extent, it is not optimal for a good user experience. The existing solution lacks efficiency, which can be improved by consolidating all communication and information in one place.

I have been assigned the task in this project and worked on it as a member of an interdisciplinary collaboration group, along with three other team members.

About the project

Main goal

The goal was to conceptualize and design a new system and solution that ensures a modern and good user experience for our target audience, including parents of different ages, board members, and coaches in Vardal Gymnastics Club. Additionally, we aimed to update Vardal's visual identity, intending to uphold their core values in the new solution

Target audience

The target audience are designed for consists of parents of performers, coaches, and board members at Vardal. Since we have a diverse audience, it is important to consider the age range as well as varying levels of technological knowledge. In addition to current users, we also aim to appeal to potential future users.

The problem

The problem addressed in this project was the inefficiency of Vardal Gymnastics Club's current communication and information management system.

The solution

Conceptualizing and designing a new communication and information management system for Vardal Gymnastics Club. Our team aimed to create a streamlined and user-friendly platform that consolidates all communication channels into one.

Design Process

During the timeline of this project, we were following the design thinking process, which offers a structured and user-centric framework. This ensured that the solutions developed are not only visually appealing but also functionally effective and emotionally resonant with users.

User interview

We interviewed a parent of a performer, and before that, we requested a consent statement for the interview and audio recording. Doing this before conducting the interview is important for ethical and legal reasons. It ensures that the participant is fully informed about the nature of the interview, including its purpose, the potential use of audio recording, and how their information may be utilized.

We also had access to interviews conducted by other groups with coaches, board members, and other parents, which was essential for defining specific strategic goals and identifying the target audience.

Doing a user interview is an important part of understanding our users. This helps us learn about the user's experiences, as well as their requirements and needs for the solution.

We also had access to interviews conducted by other groups with coaches, board members, and other parents, which was essential for defining specific strategic goals and identifying the target audience.

Doing a user interview is an important part of understanding our users. This helps us learn about the user's experiences, as well as their requirements and needs for the solution.

We also had access to interviews conducted by other groups with coaches, board members, and other parents, which was essential for defining specific strategic goals and identifying the target audience.

Doing a user interview is an important part of understanding our users. This helps us learn about the user's experiences, as well as their requirements and needs for the solution.

User personas

We developed five personas and ten scenarios to ensure a deeper understanding of users and their various needs, requirements, and goals. We then selected two personas with one scenario for each. This allowed us to create visual representations of the target audience we were designing for and contributed to a more comprehensive understanding of their experiences.

Large Project Gallery Image #2
Large Project Gallery Image #2
Large Project Gallery Image #2
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Large Project Gallery Image #3

Affinity map

We proceeded in the process by creating an affinity map to group the findings. We systematically worked through each user group, starting by analyzing the interviews conducted by both our team and the other groups. Utilizing this method enabled us to organize insights into specific categories, providing a better overview of user needs and requirements.

Need specifications based on affinity mapping

For Parents:

Parents highlighted the need for a clearer overview, especially those with multiple children. They often felt overwhelmed and struggled to track their children’s activities. The notification system was also an issue, as important alerts were easily missed among irrelevant ones. Additionally, the use of multiple platforms (like Facebook and Spond) made finding information difficult. The main needs include a better overview of children’s activities, improved access to payment and registration details, centralized communication, and a user-friendly online store.

For Coaches:

Coaches didn’t have many complaints about the current system, but they did express a need for more efficient activity planning. Key needs include knowing participant numbers in advance, being aware of assistant coaches' availability, and having a more organized, modern, and appealing system.

Need specifications based on affinity mapping

For Parents:

Parents highlighted the need for a clearer overview, especially those with multiple children. They often felt overwhelmed and struggled to track their children’s activities. The notification system was also an issue, as important alerts were easily missed among irrelevant ones. Additionally, the use of multiple platforms (like Facebook and Spond) made finding information difficult. The main needs include a better overview of children’s activities, improved access to payment and registration details, centralized communication, and a user-friendly online store.

For Coaches:

Coaches didn’t have many complaints about the current system, but they did express a need for more efficient activity planning. Key needs include knowing participant numbers in advance, being aware of assistant coaches' availability, and having a more organized, modern, and appealing system.

Need specifications based on affinity mapping

For Parents:

Parents highlighted the need for a clearer overview, especially those with multiple children. They often felt overwhelmed and struggled to track their children’s activities. The notification system was also an issue, as important alerts were easily missed among irrelevant ones. Additionally, the use of multiple platforms (like Facebook and Spond) made finding information difficult. The main needs include a better overview of children’s activities, improved access to payment and registration details, centralized communication, and a user-friendly online store.

For Coaches:

Coaches didn’t have many complaints about the current system, but they did express a need for more efficient activity planning. Key needs include knowing participant numbers in advance, being aware of assistant coaches' availability, and having a more organized, modern, and appealing system.

Functional description

For parents, the main features include:

  • A simple, easy-to-use navigation system that brings all information and communication together in one place.

  • A clean, straightforward homepage that makes it easy to access everything, especially during the registration process.

  • A waiting list indicator for new members to show where they stand.

  • Once a spot in Vardal is confirmed, parents can access a calendar and sign up for relevant training sessions.

  • The ability to customize notifications, so parents only get the alerts that matter to them.

  • A better overview of multiple children, with the option to switch between their profiles directly from the main menu.

For coaches, the layout is similar to the parents' but with features suited to their needs. Coaches can easily update training session details, track participant numbers, select assistant coaches based on availability, and use a group chat to plan and discuss upcoming sessions and events.

Functional description

For parents, the main features include:

  • A simple, easy-to-use navigation system that brings all information and communication together in one place.

  • A clean, straightforward homepage that makes it easy to access everything, especially during the registration process.

  • A waiting list indicator for new members to show where they stand.

  • Once a spot in Vardal is confirmed, parents can access a calendar and sign up for relevant training sessions.

  • The ability to customize notifications, so parents only get the alerts that matter to them.

  • A better overview of multiple children, with the option to switch between their profiles directly from the main menu.

For coaches, the layout is similar to the parents' but with features suited to their needs. Coaches can easily update training session details, track participant numbers, select assistant coaches based on availability, and use a group chat to plan and discuss upcoming sessions and events.

Functional description

For parents, the main features include:

  • A simple, easy-to-use navigation system that brings all information and communication together in one place.

  • A clean, straightforward homepage that makes it easy to access everything, especially during the registration process.

  • A waiting list indicator for new members to show where they stand.

  • Once a spot in Vardal is confirmed, parents can access a calendar and sign up for relevant training sessions.

  • The ability to customize notifications, so parents only get the alerts that matter to them.

  • A better overview of multiple children, with the option to switch between their profiles directly from the main menu.

For coaches, the layout is similar to the parents' but with features suited to their needs. Coaches can easily update training session details, track participant numbers, select assistant coaches based on availability, and use a group chat to plan and discuss upcoming sessions and events.

Site map

To help visualize and delineate the hierarchy, we created a sitemap. This is designed to illustrate the relationship between information elements and is used to display the organization and navigation of a website.

Creating a sitemap contributed to visualizing how we wanted the hierarchy on the website to be. It provided a visualization of the natural way for users to navigate through the website, giving us an understanding of the overall layout.

Site map

To help visualize and delineate the hierarchy, we created a sitemap. This is designed to illustrate the relationship between information elements and is used to display the organization and navigation of a website.

Creating a sitemap contributed to visualizing how we wanted the hierarchy on the website to be. It provided a visualization of the natural way for users to navigate through the website, giving us an understanding of the overall layout.

Site map

To help visualize and delineate the hierarchy, we created a sitemap. This is designed to illustrate the relationship between information elements and is used to display the organization and navigation of a website.

Creating a sitemap contributed to visualizing how we wanted the hierarchy on the website to be. It provided a visualization of the natural way for users to navigate through the website, giving us an understanding of the overall layout.

Concept sketches

After structuring, we began working on the 'skeleton' and generated ideas on how we wanted the interface to look and which elements should be included based on Persona 1 for parents and Persona 1 for coaches.

The focus here was on the placement of buttons, fields, and other components on the interface.

We then started with individual sketches to conceptualize how we envisioned the solution. Subsequently, we collaborated to combine elements from each sketch into a common draft, which we further developed into various wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes.

Concept sketches

After structuring, we began working on the 'skeleton' and generated ideas on how we wanted the interface to look and which elements should be included based on Persona 1 for parents and Persona 1 for coaches.

The focus here was on the placement of buttons, fields, and other components on the interface.

We then started with individual sketches to conceptualize how we envisioned the solution. Subsequently, we collaborated to combine elements from each sketch into a common draft, which we further developed into various wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes.

Concept sketches

After structuring, we began working on the 'skeleton' and generated ideas on how we wanted the interface to look and which elements should be included based on Persona 1 for parents and Persona 1 for coaches.

The focus here was on the placement of buttons, fields, and other components on the interface.

We then started with individual sketches to conceptualize how we envisioned the solution. Subsequently, we collaborated to combine elements from each sketch into a common draft, which we further developed into various wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes.

Wireframes

Wireframes

Wireframes

Design manual

To attract users and provide a great experience, we focused on the surface design, including layout, colors, typography, images, and icons. We maintained consistency on both the website and the app to make users feel familiar, regardless of how they navigate.

Our goal was to strike a balance between aesthetics and user-friendliness, ensuring every detail met user needs. This user-centric approach helped us create a visually appealing and user-friendly graphic profile that meets our audience's expectations

Design manual

To attract users and provide a great experience, we focused on the surface design, including layout, colors, typography, images, and icons. We maintained consistency on both the website and the app to make users feel familiar, regardless of how they navigate.

Our goal was to strike a balance between aesthetics and user-friendliness, ensuring every detail met user needs. This user-centric approach helped us create a visually appealing and user-friendly graphic profile that meets our audience's expectations

Design manual

To attract users and provide a great experience, we focused on the surface design, including layout, colors, typography, images, and icons. We maintained consistency on both the website and the app to make users feel familiar, regardless of how they navigate.

Our goal was to strike a balance between aesthetics and user-friendliness, ensuring every detail met user needs. This user-centric approach helped us create a visually appealing and user-friendly graphic profile that meets our audience's expectations

Final Screens

Final Screens

Final Screens