Submerge

Through research, I found that divers and snorkelers faced the same challenges. The key pain points were:

Submerge is designed to streamline the entire planning process. The app provides:

Before designing Submerge, I needed to validate whether other users faced the same frustrations I had. I conducted user research to uncover common pain points and understand how people currently plan trips.

To understand where Submerge could offer the most value, I analysed existing platforms. I found that most apps primarily functioned as digital dive logbooks, focusing on recording past dives rather than helping users plan new ones. Features for discovering dive locations or providing trip-planning details were often underdeveloped or missing entirely.

To gain a comprehensive understanding of the potential users for Submerge, I conducted a series of interviews. The participants ranged from occasional divers and snorkelers to dedicated hobbyists, providing a broad perspective on the challenges they face. The results revealed key insights, which I've highlighted with direct quotes from participants.

After uncovering key insights, I wanted to better understand who my users were and how they interact with the process of planning. To do this, I created user personas and a user journey map which helped translate the research into clear, actionable steps for design.

By visually representing the persona's experience as they navigate the process of planning and carrying out a snorkel trip, I could clearly see opportunities to make the process smoother and more enjoyable.

After gathering key insights from user research, I moved on to structuring the app's content and defining how users would interact with it. This led to the creation of the Information Architecture and User Flows, ensuring the app would be both intuitive and efficient for users.

With low-fi wireframes in place, it was crucial to test their effectiveness with real users. I conducted usability tests on six different participants who were asked to ‘think aloud’ as they used the app to try and plan for a snorkel trip.

The observations from the moderated study were organised into an Affinity Diagram, revealing underlying themes and patterns.

To ensure consistency, efficiency, and scalability, I developed a design system that streamlined the transition to responsive design.

Since Submerge will primarily be used on mobile devices, adopting a mobile-first philosophy was a logical choice. This approach enabled a sharper focus on core functionalities and the prioritisation of essential elements, laying the foundation for progressively enhancing the design to create a responsive experience for desktop and tablet users.

To make the app as inclusive as possible, I integrated accessibility considerations into the design process, including:

I was pleasantly surprised by the significant improvements between the low-fi and high-fi stages, especially in terms of user satisfaction and usability. To measure this, I conducted SUS (System Usability Scale) and CSAT (Customer Satisfaction) surveys after usability tests at both stages. The results showed noticeable improvements, with users praising the app's intuitive interface and overall ease of use.

Through this project, I gained valuable insights into how users interact with different types of content. Maps, diagrams, and photos engage users in ways that are fundamentally different from text, requiring thoughtful design to ensure they convey the necessary information effectively.

I also came to appreciate the critical role of onboarding. Information that seemed obvious to me as a designer was often overlooked by users. Even the most useful and innovative features can become irrelevant if users are unaware of their existence or unsure how to use them. Ensuring clear, intuitive onboarding is key to maximizing the value of any product.