Herald
Mobile app designed to help individuals find curated information and news easily and quickly.
Problem Statement
How can we improve the process of obtaining information about one’s favourite topics so that it is easier, centralised, and time efficient?
Problem Background
Nowadays, information is available anywhere, anytime for anyone who has access to a smartphone and internet connectivity. The Ipsos MORI US Mobile app research report states that users spend, on average, at least 31 minutes daily on mobile news applications. These news apps grew in popularity over the past decades, to the detriment of more traditional media channels such as Television, Newspapers, and Radio programs.
Information is everywhere and finding a news app is easy. However, many of the existing news apps come with their own set of constraints: not enough or too much content, not enough personalization, geographically constrained, subscription-mandatory, too distracting because of pop-up ads, etc.
As a result, most people keep switching from one platform to another and sometimes get distracted or lost in the process. In this context, finding the most relevant content can be frustrating, overwhelming, and time-consuming. It can be especially difficult to filter the content you want, while still finding diverse and curated information about your favourite topics and potential new topics of interest as well.
Research Insights
Finding news content
- 100% of the participants use online platforms as their main source of information
- 80% of the participants are interested in finding information on global news and topics
- 80% of online news readers usually start with a basic Google search, before moving to other news platforms where they hope to find more specific information about the topic they are interested in
- 50% of the participants have ever felt like their news feed was geographically constrained
Habits & preferences
- 70% of the participants would prefer receiving news about their favourite topics anytime throughout the day rather than wasting time looking for it themselves
- 50% of the participants spend a few minutes to a few hours per day reading the news
- 70% of the participants would love to find information in the language of their choosing (as opposed to English)
- Only 20% of the participants save article for online reading
- 70% of the participants find it useful to receive suggestions based on their search history
- 80% of the participants find ads distractive and invasive
Engagement
- 30% of the participants are currently paying for subscription to a news app or magazine
- 80% of the participants would consider paying for a news service if it satisfies their needs/requirements
Landing on the Solution
Based on the results of our survey, we identified 5 main opportunities:
- Reduce the time spent by users looking online for information & news
- Centralize the information on one single platform to make it easy and convenient for the users to find the information they need/want
- Offer diverse and curated content without any geographic constraint
- Personalize users' news feed to support individual discovery
- Inspire users to find possible new topics of interest and learning
Proposed Solution
A mobile app that will work as a news aggregator to offer diverse but curated content to all users.
This app will allow users to easily and quickly find relevant information on the topics of their choice, with no geographic constraint, as well as help them personalize their news feed.
By offering a large amount of content, the app will also allow users to find potential new topics of interest.
Mock-ups
Learnings
Product Manager Learnings:
Alexandrine Chambard
I learned to focus on the problem space and narrow it down as much as possible to make sure I understand the customer needs, from their pain points, desires, or jobs-to-be-done. I also learned that sometimes, the Product Manager has to read between lines to define the problem space, as customers might not express their needs or pain points clearly.
I learned how to use survey results and user interviews to validate (or invalidate) the opportunities I found within the problem space, and design the solution as a way to solve the core problem.
I learned how to prioritize opportunities, and write user stories and scenario based on the goals I have identified.
Designer Learnings:
Designer Learnings:
Jo Sturdivant
- Adapting to an Established Team: Joining the team in week 6 of 8 was challenging, as I had to quickly adapt to existing workflows, dynamics, and goals. This mirrors real-world situations where you often integrate into teams mid-project, and flexibility is essential.
- Work-Blocking for Efficiency: With only two weeks to complete the project, I learned the importance of a structured work-blocking system. This approach allowed me to manage my time effectively and meet deadlines under pressure.
- Making Data-Driven Design Decisions: Unlike my past projects, I had to rely on research conducted by others. This was a valuable experience in using pre-existing data to guide design decisions, helping me focus on the core insights without starting from scratch.
Developer Learnings:
Developer Learnings:
Vanady Beard
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As the back-end developer, I learned how important it is to create efficient and reliable systems that support the entire application. This experience also taught me the importance of optimising the database and ensuring the backend is scalable and easy to maintain.
Developer Learnings:
Stephen Asiedu
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As a back-end developer, I've come to understand the importance of being familiar with various database systems and modules. This knowledge enables me to build diverse applications and maintain versatility in my work. I've also learned that the responsibility for making the right choices rests on my shoulders, guided by my best judgement.
Developer Learnings:
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Developer Learnings:
Maurquise Williams
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- Process of Creating an MVP: Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) taught me how to focus on delivering core functionalities balancing between essential features and avoiding scope creep.
- Collaboration in a Real-World Tech Setting: This experience taught me how to collaborate efficiently in a fast-paced tech environment, keeping the team aligned and productive, even while working remotely across time zones.
- Sharpening Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: This experience honed my ability to think critically and solve problems efficiently. By tackling challenges and finding quick solutions, I sharpened my decision-making and troubleshooting skills in a dynamic, real-world setting.
Developer Learnings:
Jeremiah Williams
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All in all this experience was very awesome I learned that in coding with others being transparent is key
Developers Learnings:
Justin Farley
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I learned how important communication is when working with a team. Communication provides understanding, advice, ideas, and much more. While working with the product team, I’ve found that communication keeps everything flowing smoothly. Working with a team also showed me that every member brings something different to the table and we all have to work together in order to align and meet our end goal.