Product design lead
UX designer
UI designer
UX researcher
Front-end: 5
Back-end: 2
Design:2
Product manager
Account manager
Database admin
Challenge
The client approached us with initial wireframes for a skydiving app.
But according to the market research, multiple complex features had to be added to both the application and the Web application, plus another web app for the business owner him self, and another mobile app for the dropzone staff had to be designed.
so we collaborated to refine the design, adding features to meet the needs of both target audiences:
Skydiving Enthusiasts: The initial focus, implemented in an iOS-style interface as per the client's request.
Drop Zones: Businesses that provide skydiving services.
IOS application
The resulting app empowers skydiving enthusiasts with the following functionalities:
Advanced Search: Utilize unique filtering system to find drop zones based on specific criteria.
Direct Communication: Chat directly with drop zones through the app for clear and convenient communication.
Seamless Booking: Purchase jump tickets, equipment repairs, and courses directly within the app through a secure in-app payment system.
Pre-owned Gear Marketplace: Buy and sell used skydiving equipment amongst other users, fostering a community element.
Web application
Drop zones benefit from a dedicated management panel within the app, featuring functionalities like:
Inventory Management: Track and manage specialized skydiving equipment with dedicated warehouse systems.
Automated Booking and Scheduling: Streamline booking processes and manage drop zone calendars for improved efficiency.
Dedicated Ticketing System: Issue and manage jump tickets specifically within the app.
CRM and E-commerce management
Manifest, aircraft and staff managment
Interview transcript
Name:
"What features would make you feel comfortable buying used gear within a skydiving app?"
"Have you ever bought or sold used skydiving equipment online? What were your biggest concerns?"
Do you ever plan group jumps with friends? If so, what challenges do you face using different apps?
How would you prefer to communicate with drop zone staff before booking a jump?
What information do you find most important when searching for a drop zone?
"What aspects of booking a skydiving jump do you find most frustrating?
"How do you want an app to be helpful with equipment maintenance an safety ?
Qualitative results
We interviewed 12 users from one of our main competitors to identify their needs, pain points, and the features they value.
Nina
Dubai- 24
Just show me prices, amenities, and availability in plain English!
Mani
Dubai- 21
"Trying to work out jumps with friends using different platforms is a nightmare. We need a central hub to find drop zones together and manifest or somewhat similar "
Daniël
UK - 39
"Right now, booking jumps feels like it's stuck in the Stone Age.
Dann
Dubai- 43
"There are sketchy characters out there selling used gear online. An in-app marketplace with secure payment would give me peace of mind."
Davo
Dubai- 31
"Wouldn't it be great to chat with drop zone staff or instructors directly through an app? It would save so much time.
Parker
32
"Jumping solo is great, but sometimes you crave community. An in-app forum to connect with other skydivers would be fantastic."
Manoj
UK- 35
"Keeping track of worn-out gear is a chore. An app that helps with equipment maintenance reminders would be a lifesaver."
Foad
Dubai- 28
"Jumping with a new coach can be intimidating. Seeing their profile and ratings within the app would definitely help build trust."
Kim
UK - 26
"Finding the perfect used jumpsuit is like finding a four-leaf clover online. Advanced search filters in an app would be a game-changer."
Quantitive takeaway
11 of 12
of users use ebay as platform to buy or sell equipments
3 of 12
only 2 use social media or forum like platform to connect with other jumpers.
8 of 12
Of users use dropzone websites to book their jump.
11 of 12
users enjoy arranging their tasks without contacting anyone verbally or through messages.
9 of 12
of users has to call dropzones in order to get more info.
Prices
Jump prices as a first and landing sites variations as second, seems to be priority within the users.
Verification of our Hypothesis
Jumpers DO need a reliable platform to deal gears.
Being able to check out/compare jump prices are a priority.
There is a gap between provided info on dropzones and jumper's needs.
Jumpers prefer to book and reserve their services without call or texts.
B2c- (jumpers)
NAME:
Tim Burt
AGE:
30
EDUCATION:
University
JOB:
Teacher
LOCATION:
UK
HOBBIES:
Hiking/ reading
Personality
Bio
Tim is a passionate 3rd-grade teacher who thrives on keeping his students engaged and curious.
Outside of the classroom, he transforms into an adrenaline junkie, seeking adventure and pushing his limits.
Skydiving is his escape – the feeling of weightlessness and the breathtaking views fuel his soul.
Goals
Seamless Booking: He wants a user-friendly app that streamlines the skydiving booking process, saving him time and hassle.
Safety & Transparency: An app that showcases drop zone safety ratings, equipment information, and clear communication channels would be ideal.
Equipment Management: An app that helps him track maintenance schedules and receive reminders would be a lifesaver.
Community Building: He seeks a platform to connect with fellow skydivers, discuss jumps, and potentially find jump buddies with similar skill levels.
Pain points
Limited Time: Balancing a demanding teaching schedule with skydiving adventures can be tricky. Finding drop zones with flexible jump times and efficient booking processes is crucial.
Safety Concerns: Mark prioritizes safety and gets frustrated by drop zones with unclear safety protocols or outdated equipment.
Gear Management: Keeping track of maintenance schedules and wear-and-tear on his equipment can be a hassle.
Community Connection: He wishes he had a platform to connect with other skydivers, share experiences, and find jump buddies.
B2B- (dropzones) web app
NAME:
John doe
AGE:
45
EDUCATION:
College
JOB:
DZ owner/ coach
LOCATION:
Dubai
HOBBIES:
Photography
Personality
Bio
John isn't your average businessman. When he's not running his skydiving dropzone, he's soaring through the sky, coaching aspiring skydivers and reliving the thrill of freefall himself.
John 's passion for skydiving is contagious. He combines his adventurous spirit with a deep commitment to safety, ensuring both an exhilarating and secure experience for his students and fellow skydivers.
His ability to balance his love for the sport with the responsibility of running a business makes him a pillar of the local skydiving community.
Goals
Promote the sport of skydiving and grow the skydiving community.
Ensure the safety of his students and all jumpers at his dropzone.
Help his students progress in their skydiving skills and achieve their goals.
Run a successful and profitable dropzone business
Pain points
Overcoming the fear of heights that many people have.
Ensuring that all safety regulations are followed at the dropzone.
Keeping up with the latest advancements in skydiving equipment and techniques.
Balancing the business aspects of running a dropzone with his passion for coaching.
We were excited to move on to the UI design phase based on the finalized wireframes. However, our client, understandably unfamiliar with the entire design process, wanted a significant number of new features integrated into the existing ones. The primary hurdle became ensuring a seamless user experience (UX) by leveraging information architecture (IA) and user flow to minimize any potential conflicts or inconsistencies within the interface.
Our client made a strategic choice to leverage the iOS design system for the first phase of his mobile app. This approach offered several advantages.
Firstly, the established iOS design language is known for its user-friendliness and intuitive navigation, ensuring a smooth learning curve for users familiar with iPhones and iPads.
Secondly, by building on existing iOS components, we could streamline development in this initial phase, allowing us to deliver a core, functional app quickly and efficiently. This efficiency is crucial as it gives us valuable user feedback early on, which can then inform the feature expansion planned for later phases.
Thirdly according to the client's marketing briefings it was only efficient to focus the projects resources into the niche target market that are mostly IOS users.
Key Design Principles:
Mobile-First Design: Our minimum application screen width is 375px. Most components can be stretched to fit the user's device viewport.
Body Layout: Body containers have a default margin of 16px for padding.
Spacing:
Use 16px spacing between unrelated content segments.
Use 12px spacing between related content segments to visually indicate their connection.
Cards:
The recommended padding for cards is 16px.
If a card contains a significant amount of information, consider using 12px padding on the left and right sides only to improve readability.
The self manifestation* feature was one of the newly integrated among others that was much more complex, thus we went for the prototype to ensure a smooth flow for users.
*In skydiving, "manifesting" isn't magic! It's simply signing up for your jump, like reserving your spot on the plane for a thrilling adventure.
The ios application is now available on playstore and also on google play as a web application.
The desktop application inherited some of the usable ios visuals for branding and efficiently purposes.
