Rounded. News
AI-powered stance detection and topic analysis at an unprecedented scale, providing valuable context to thousands of articles from international news sources
Role
UX Designer
Tools
Figma
Jira
Slack
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Team
Software engineer
Product manager
Overview
Rounded News is an advanced AI-powered news aggregator that allows users to critically analyze news from various perspectives. It utilizes groundbreaking AI technology, surpassing current standards by over 100x, enabling users to break free from their news filter bubbles and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the news.
Problem
The Rounded.News website requires improvements to enhance the user experience and visual appeal. They seek assistance in developing new features and screens, making them more user-friendly, and enabling better graphical understanding without excessive explanations. The key challenges are mobile responsiveness, topic-centricity, and implementing a topic categorization system to facilitate content organization and navigation.
Solution
To address the issues with the application website, I aimed to implement a comprehensive solution. This involves developing new features and screens to improve user experience and visual appeal. I prioritize making the website mobile-responsive, ensuring smooth access on smartphones and tablets. Additionally, there was a focus on creating a topic categorization system, using an algorithmic approach to organize content and provide a user-friendly experience, allowing users to quickly find information and articles related to their preferred topics. Through this solution, we seek to achieve a more engaging and user-centric application website.
Discovery
Project Kick-Off
At the outset of the Rounded.News project, we initiated a team kick-off meeting to gain a comprehensive understanding of the project's scope and objectives. During this meeting, we carefully reviewed the existing assets provided by the client, which included an overview of the current application website and its functionalities.
The assets provided included a comprehensive video walkthrough of the existing website and a pitch deck presentation. These resources offered valuable insights into the current state of the website and the client's expectations for improvements.
Product Walk Through
Some time was taken to review the existing websites and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the overall site.
Questions for Client
To ensure the creation of an exceptional product, it is essential to ask targeted questions that aid in understanding the client's objectives for each stakeholder and their desired content for the website. Fortunately, the client responded promptly, allowing us to review their feedback, identify crucial requirements, and clarify specific textual elements that needed incorporation.
User Flows
I wanted to strategically amplify user interaction by fostering a gratifying and intuitive experience across the entire platform. We added screens to help with the flow of the existing pages on the website.
Design
Mid-Fidelity Wireframes
Upon receiving approval for the User Flows, I proceeded to initiate a comprehensive redesign effort. The approach involved segmenting each flow within the existing sections and developing medium-fidelity wireframes, which served as visual representations of the proposed new design for the client's review. The objective was to enhance the visual appeal and screen hierarchy.
During our regular weekly meeting, the team and I conducted a thorough review and discussion of each design, focusing on the screens that garnered general approval. Additionally, I meticulously selected features from various screens to amalgamate them into a final design that garnered unanimous agreement and satisfaction from the entire team.
UI Iterations
I presented these distinct designs to the client to gather feedback and conduct evaluations. The client expressed the desire for three rounds of iteration specifically for the chosen screen.
High-Fidelity Mock ups
Developer handoff
Client Handoff
I provided a comprehensive developer handoff package for the engineering team that encompasses precise measurements and instructive annotations, serving as an analytical companion to navigate through our intricate design process.
The package encompasses pixel-based measurements that encompass both prominent and subtle elements spanning the entire page. Furthermore, I diligently annotated pivotal components of our design, elucidating their intended functions and roles. Additionally, I went the extra mile by annotating dynamic elements, such as buttons and animations, to convey to developers the expected outcomes when users interact with them, whether it be clicking, scrolling, or other actions.
Reflection
Looking back
I enjoyed working with Rounded.News to improve their website by proving user-centric solutions. The team and I operated with remarkable effectiveness and efficiency from the project's commencement to its culmination. Throughout the entire duration, open and consistent communication remained a cornerstone of our collaborative efforts.
Next Steps:
App Version:
With the prototype serving as a foundation, our focus now shifts toward crafting a polished app version that harmonizes aesthetics, functionality, and user-centered design. Visual elements, selecting a cohesive color palette, typography, and imagery will be chosen in order to resonate with the brand identity while maintaining a user-friendly atmosphere. Close collaboration between designers, developers, and stakeholders is essential to ensure a seamless translation of design concepts into a functional application.
