Cards For Productivity
Working closely with a single developer, I helped to design, prototype and develop Cards for Productivity. Our main aim in this project was to build a system to help development teams quickly and effectively story point tasks remotely during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
The Problem
Since we were replicating a familiar real-life process, creating the functionality for Cards for Productivity was a straightforward task. However, our primary challenge arose from developing the product amidst a global pandemic. Our goal was to design a product that not only fulfilled its intended purpose but also infused it with an enjoyable and distinctive character. By focusing on making the product fun to use, we aimed to provide a sense of engagement and lightheartedness, overcoming the challenges posed by the pandemic.
Research & Development
Through user research, we gained valuable insights into the profound sense of isolation and detachment experienced by individuals within scrum teams working within tech companies. Prior to the lockdown imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, these teams thrived on a creative and collaborative atmosphere.
However, the pandemic disrupted this dynamic, leaving employees feeling disconnected. To address this issue, we recognised the need to infuse our application with an element of fun and collaboration. By employing bright, bold colours and using striking typefaces, we aimed to create a professional product that also exuded personality and playfulness. This approach enabled us to strike a balance between functionality and the human connection that had been temporarily lost.
Landing Page Wireframe
Creating Story Page Wireframe
Scoring Page Wireframe
Scoring Result Page Wireframe
The Solution
To cultivate a playful design language, my inspiration drew from highly popular web applications like Slack and Kahoot. These platforms are widely adopted by influential companies and educational institutions, yet they successfully maintain a lighthearted atmosphere and a sense of enjoyment. By incorporating these principles, our aim was to create a vibrant and minimalist design that not only delivers functionality but also ensures ease of use. Through this approach, we achieved a balance that infuses the application with a touch of fun without compromising on its core purpose.
A user creates a session, they are asked to enter their name and become the host. They are then taken to the session creation screen, here they have the ability to add as many stories to a session as required (being able to name a step and add a description) once they have inputted all the stories they need, they simply launch the session.
It was important to us to make joining a session super easy. Working in an agile environment meant that meetings could happen at the drop of a hat with any number of people participating because of this we got rid of the need to make an account and sign in.
After the host creates the session, joining becomes effortless for other users by inputting a randomly generated 4-digit code, provided to the host upon launch. This streamlined process ensures quick and easy participation. Once in the session, participants display their stories alongside story point cards. Users then select the card they believe is most suitable for each story, and once everyone has submitted their choices, the host reveals the collective decisions to the group.
To accommodate dynamic discussions during a session, we recognized the importance of empowering the host to be reactive. Therefore, we incorporated features that allow the host to manage stories on the fly, including adding, deleting, and duplicating stories. This agile approach aligns with the working methodology we aimed to support, providing flexibility and adaptability within the app.
After scoring all the stories, participants are presented with a comprehensive summary screen showcasing all the stories, along with the minimum, most selected, and maximum scores that were inputted. This summary screen provides a clear overview of the scoring results. Additionally, to ensure accessibility and convenience, the host of the session receives a detailed summary via email. This feature enables the host to have a comprehensive record of the session's outcomes for further analysis or reference.