Elaine DeRubbo
hatchpad:
Information Architecture Update & Community Tech Platform Redesign Concept
Using UX Research and Usability Testing to Reorganize Section Content to Maximize Attractiveness for Community Members
Role:
Project Manager/UX Researcher for a group of 3
Tools:
Axure RP 8, Otter.ai, Google Drive, Excel
"Elaine and the General Assembly team did an incredible job with the development of a V2 prototype for our hatchpad community site. The detail Elaine contributed in the areas of user research, usability testing, and then applying those features that would best suit our target audience were super useful to our firm." - Tim Winkler, CEO, HatchIT
​
Overview:
Tech start-up recruiting firm Hatch IT created hatchpad- a Washington DC area focused online community platform aimed at connecting local startups and software engineers while creating a place to network, learn, and tell stories. They wanted to see how effective the hatchpad really was. Hatch IT called on my team to analyze, research and reconstruct the current site into something that will attract and retain tech talent and encourage engagement in the community.
Outcomes:
Following the updated prototype presentation, Hatch IT paused the redevelopment efforts of their hatchpad site and refocused their community redesign to focus around our recommendation of a forum environment.
UX Methods Used:
Agile Project Management, Competitive Analysis, SWOT Analysis, User Interviews, Persona Development, Wireframes, Usability Testing, Digital Prototyping
Lessons Learned:
Our team's Research Lead got very ill the day before all of the initial discovery interviews needed to take place, so as Project Manager, I stepped in to organize and conduct 15+ interviews. The insights uncovered helped inform the design decisions I made across multiple iterations of prototyping with the team. I learned just how important it is to use insights and rationale uncovered from the UX process to guide design decisions.