TEAM
Pradeep Yellapu
TIMELINE
5 Days
TOOLS
Figma, Notion, Photoshop, After Effects, Google Meet
OVERVIEW
PROBLEM
Students in design and development often struggle to find trustworthy collaborators for quick side projects or portfolio-building tasks. Traditional platforms lack structure, trust indicators, or clear project scoping tools for short-term collaborations.
68%
of students dropped out of collab projects within 2 weeks due to unclear expectations.
3 Days
average time it took to manually find someone via Discord or DMs.
84%
wished for a trust metric or match recommendation before partnering.
SOLUTION
I designed a mobile-first platform to streamline the way students connect and collaborate. Collab App allows users to post or join short-term projects with a clear role breakdown, deadlines, and credibility markers based on past performance. The platform fosters meaningful micro-collaborations that lead to real outcomes and stronger portfolios.
APPROACH
1.
Discover
Qualitative Research
Competitor Analysis
User Interviews
2.
Define
Personas
Empathy Map
3.
Ideate
Features of Collab
User Flow
Information Architecture
4.
Prototype
Wireframes
Visual Design
5.
Test
Usability Testing
Implementing Feedback
DESIGN OUTCOME
RESEARCH
To understand user pain points around digital collaboration and online learning, I conducted a combination of primary and secondary research, including qualitative interviews, competitive analysis, and behavioral exploration. This research focused on uncovering the needs, motivations, and frustrations of key stakeholders navigating e-learning ecosystems during and post-pandemic.
SECONDARY RESEARCH
To establish a baseline, I began interviewing 8 potential users (Student, Working Professionals) by answering foundational questions:
Key Research Questions
What kind of work do you do?
I’m a final-year computer science undergrad currently interning remotely at a startup.
I work full-time in HR and mostly handle team onboarding and training.
I'm a freelance designer managing 3-4 short-term contracts at a time.
Which mode do you prefer? WFH or offline?
Offline, no doubt. Online made me lazy and disconnected.
Remote is great, but I miss team energy and spontaneous chats.
Online saved commute time, but it made learning feel passive.
A hybrid system with clear collaboration tools would be ideal.
What are the key disadvantages of WFH/Online classes?
Online lacks real accountability and peer motivation.
The biggest con is screen fatigue, back-to-back Zooms are brutal.
Hard to know who’s genuinely participating online.
Are your classes/work sessions online or offline?
I’m still remote. Our company never asked us to return, I honestly prefer it this way.
We’ve moved back to campus this semester. Online was convenient but not productive.
Hybrid, technically. Classes are offline, but submissions and reviews still happen online
We shifted completely offline, but a few courses continue to share resources via Google Classroom.
After the user interviews, I did interpret the responses and concluded them to 4 segments.
4
Team formation isn't platform-dependent.
Participants believed networking and team success relied more on physical proximity than the medium of collaboration.
3
Offline collaboration is more productive.
Projects done in-person felt smoother; online work involved platform-switching and fragmented communication (e.g., WhatsApp, Meets, Docs).
2
Students find online classes disengaging
Many reported passive learning, reduced interaction, and difficulty staying attentive during virtual sessions.
1
Remote work remains normalized.
Employees prefer WFH due to flexibility, while students are transitioning back to campus environments.
To validate the patterns observed in the user interviews, I followed up with a short quantitative survey to gather broader behavioral insights and confirm recurring preferences across a wider user group.
QUANTITATIVE SURVEY
To establish a baseline, I began interviewing 8 potential users by answering foundational questions:
Work from Home or On-Site, What do you prefer?
62.5% prefer WFH
Flexibility and convenience drive the preference for remote work, though some still value in-person structure.
Most Productive Mode for Team Projects
54.87% chose On-Site
On-site wins for collaboration and accountability; remote works but lacks active engagement.
Comfort with Online Projects (with Tools)
72.01% said Yes
Users are open to online work if the platform provides all essential tools in one place.
After the user survey, I did interpret the responses and concluded them to 4 segments.
1
Remote Preference ≠ Productivity
Even though 62.5% prefer WFH, it's not necessarily the most effective setting. Users value the comfort and flexibility, but miss in-person discipline and structure—hinting at the potential for hybrid flexibility.
2
On-Site Drives Output
With 54.87% saying on-site is better for team tasks, we learned that real-time collaboration, accountability, and brainstorming are easier in shared physical spaces. Remote needs deliberate UX intervention to replicate that energy.
3
Tool Unification Matters
72.01% said yes to working online, if everything they need is in one place. Fragmented tools create friction; a unified ecosystem improves task flow, communication, and user satisfaction.
CREATED USER PERSONAS
To better understand our users beyond the data, I developed detailed personas that capture their motivations, goals, and frustrations drawn from both qualitative and quantitative insights.
SHRIYA
UX Designer
SHRIYA
UX Designer
BIO
Shriya Saran is a third-year CS student at IIT Delhi and a freelance UI/UX designer. She values fast, well-structured tools that help her collaborate, stay productive, and showcase her work for placements.
DEMOGRAPHICS
AGE
20
LOCATION
Bandra, Mumbai
EDUCATION
Computer Science
College
IIT Delhi
Branch & Year
B.Tech 3rd year
Freelancing
Yes
GOALS
Present work to Microsoft-level employers
Join/collaborate in multiple side projects
Build the largest coffee house network in India
FRUSTRATIONS
Switching apps too often
Unplanned, unclear work
No proper team/project match
INTERESTS
TECHNOLOGY USE
Designing (Figma)
Documentation (Notion)
Communication (Instagram, Discord)
To translate individual observations into actionable design insights, I proceeded with empathy mapping. This step helped consolidate what the persona says, thinks, does, and feels, allowing a deeper understanding of user motivations and cognitive gaps within existing workflows.
EMPATHY MAPPING
Feels
Frustrated when switching tools
Driven by career clarity
Does
Does only portfolio-worthy projects
Avoids apps with messy UI
Thinks
An app with all tools in one place would be perfect.
Why are there no smart project suggestions yet?
Says
“Online tools are okay, but they lack proper collaboration.”
“It’s hard to build credibility without projects.”
The empathy map revealed that while users are motivated and career-driven, they are hindered by fragmented tool ecosystems and lack of structured collaboration opportunities.
Emotional friction stems from tool-switching fatigue and unclear project discovery, while behaviorally, users prioritize only those tasks that visibly impact their growth.
These patterns highlight a clear opportunity to design a centralized, intuitive platform that supports seamless project onboarding, credibility-building, and streamlined teamwork.
HARSHITHA
Ml Enthusiast
HARSHITHA
ML Enthusiast
BIO
Harshita is a final-year CS student at GITAM University with a passion for machine learning. She’s focused on landing a role that matches her skills and dreams of building a service-based company.
DEMOGRAPHICS
AGE
24
LOCATION
Kancheepuram, Chennai
EDUCATION
Computer Science
College
GITAM University
Branch & Year
B.Tech 3rd year
Freelancing
No
GOALS
Land a job that aligns with her ML skills and career ambitions
Build a service-based startup and hire top talent
FRUSTRATIONS
Difficulty finding relevant job opportunities despite strong skills
Time wasted on misaligned or vague openings
INTERESTS
TECHNOLOGY USE
Coding ((Jupyter)
Documentation (Notion)
Communication (Facebook, Discord)
To validate the patterns observed in the user interviews, I followed up with a short quantitative survey to gather broader behavioral insights and confirm recurring preferences across a wider user group.
EMPATHY MAPPING
Says
"Personally, I go with onsite working.”
“Work from home only works for a temporary period.”
“An app that helps skilled but unemployed people get matched would be super cool.”
Thinks
How can I find verified and serious employers?
Why isn’t there a reliable way to showcase my skills directly?
Does
Actively works on ML projects
Regularly updates skill set via online learning
Applies for jobs through various platforms
Feels
Frustrated by the mismatch between skills and opportunities
Hopeful and curious about platforms that centralize hiring tools
Having mapped out users' thoughts, behaviors, and unmet needs, it became clear that the solution must prioritize seamless collaboration, verified opportunities, and centralized tools. With these insights in hand, I moved into the ideation phase to define the core features of the product.
IDEATE
After mapping user behaviors, emotions, and goals, I transitioned into the ideation phase to transform those insights into concrete product directions. The goal was to design features that not only solve key frustrations but also align with user motivations uncovered during research.
I began by drafting user stories for each stakeholder, freelancers, students, and job seekers, capturing what they want to achieve and why. These stories helped frame the core functionality from each user's perspective.
STUDENT
“I want a platform where I can easily join short-term projects to build experience, not just submit resumes and wait.”
“I want a platform where I can easily join short-term projects to build experience, not just submit resumes and wait.”
“It’s hard to know which projects are real or worth joining, I wish there was a credibility score or reviews.”
“I only want to apply to collabs where the team is serious and tools are already in place.”
If the interface isn’t fun or motivating, I just drop off in a week
FREELANCER
“Every project uses different tools. I want one platform that does it all.”
“I wish I didn’t have to switch between Slack, Notion, and Drive for every client.”
“If the platform let me tag my past work or tools I’m good at, it’d be easier to stand out.”
GRADUATE
“Even with strong skills, I’m not finding the right project matches, I need curated, relevant opportunities.”
“I want to showcase my contributions in a project, not just my job title or role.”
“An app that verifies contributors and filters low-quality collabs would save so much time.”
Won’t Have
Must Have
“An app that verifies contributors and filters low-quality collabs would save so much time.”
C03
“I want a platform where I can easily join short-term projects to build experience, not just submit resumes and wait.”
“I want a platform where I can easily join short-term projects to build experience, not just submit resumes and wait.”
A01
“It’s hard to know which projects are real or worth joining, I wish there was a credibility score or reviews.”
A02
“I want to showcase my contributions in a project, not just my job title or role.”
C02
“I only want to apply to collabs where the team is serious and tools are already in place.”
A03
Could Have
If the interface isn’t fun or motivating, I just drop off in a week
A04
“I wish I didn’t have to switch between Slack, Notion, and Drive for every client.”
B02
Should Have
“Every project uses different tools. I want one platform that does it all.”
B01
“If the platform let me tag my past work or tools I’m good at, it’d be easier to stand out.”
B03
“Even with strong skills, I’m not finding the right project matches, I need curated, relevant opportunities.”
C01
MoSCoW METHOD
After collecting user stories like the ones from students, freelancers, and graduates, the next logical step in the UX Strategy phase is the MoSCoW Prioritization process. This helped me translate all those user needs into a clearly scoped MVP (Minimum Viable Product) by categorizing features into:
KEY FEATURES FOR THE MVP
STUDENT
Quick apply to join short-term collabs (A01)
Doubt resolution module via chat or live Q&A (C02)
Fun, gamified interface to boost motivation (A04)
FREELANCER
Unified workspace for tools like Slack, Notion, Drive (B01, B02)
Work tagging system to highlight contributions (B03)
GRADUATES
Project credibility indicators like verification & reviews (A02, C03)
Showcase contributions over job titles in portfolio (C02)
Curated project matches based on skills & interests (C01)
With the MVP features clearly mapped for each stakeholder, I then translated these insights into a streamlined user journey. The following flow visualizes how users, from onboarding to action, navigate the platform to access the core functionalities identified during ideation.
USER FLOW
Yes
No
New User
DESIGN
With the user flow now clearly defined, I transitioned into the design phase by translating core functionalities into tangible interfaces.
I began with low-fidelity sketches to outline structure and navigation, then iteratively moved to high-fidelity wireframes and visual mockups.
WIREFRAMING
Sketching & Planning
These sketches helped me visualize the core functionalities, define navigation paths, and align the layout with real user scenarios.
High Fidelity Wireframes
After validating the initial sketches, I moved to Figma to craft high-fidelity wireframes. These designs retained the core structure but added spacing, hierarchy, and interaction details.
Bringing the On-Site experience back
Establish a team, Have Board meetings, Connect on calls, Add Events
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Post collabs and get new talents onboard for the best output.
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Confirm Password
Submit
Upcoming Events
Vinci di ui
New collab
Recently Opened Projects
My Houses
VISUAL DESIGN
Home Screen
House Name
Project Name
Progress
Team
Last Edited
Project Display Card
Let’s go deeper into the design & the concept.
Screen Includes :
Projects Card Includes :
Upcoming Events
Recent Projects
Houses
Chats
Dashboard
Notifications
Build New House
HOUSE SCREEN
DISCUSSION ROOM
DISCOVER SCREEN
TASKS
PROJECT OVERVIEW
FILES
Invest feature and other screens
BUILD HOUSE
POST COLLAB
TEST
With all primary features visually designed and translated into interactive flows, the next step was to validate the solution with real users. Usability testing ensures that the interface aligns with user expectations and reveals any friction points before the product heads into development. This phase was crucial to verify whether the designed MVP genuinely met the needs unearthed in the research phase.
USABILITY TESTING
To evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the Collab platform, I conducted moderated remote usability testing sessions with 4 diverse users. The goal was to observe how intuitively they could complete key user journeys aligned with our MVP objectives.
TEST METHODOLOGY:
To evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the Collab platform, I conducted moderated remote usability testing sessions with 4 diverse users. The goal was to observe how intuitively they could complete key user journeys aligned with our MVP objectives.
FORMAT
Remote moderated testing via Google Meet
PARTICIPANTS
4 (2S, 1F, 1G)
TOOLS
Figma, Notion, Photoshop, After Effects, Google Meet
TASKS
AVG. DURATION
MISCLICK RATE
TASKS COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY
Sign up and log in to the platform
Create a house and explore the project section
Access tasks and files from the dashboard
OBSERVATIONS
1
Most users navigated directly to their intended tasks with minimal cognitive load.
2
They appreciated the clarity of the onboarding process and the centralization of features like projects, chats, and tasks
3
Most notably, they resonated with the simplicity of navigating from idea to action, especially the "Post Collab" journey
COLAB
A productivity platform to connect student designers and developers for short-term collaboration.
New House
18 Feb
Phase 2
Build & Present the Project
Saas Project
24 Mar
Phase 3
Completion & telecast it.
Saas Project
04 Apr
Phase 3
Collabcast & Test Run
Saas Project
18 Feb
Phase 2 Completion & telecast it.
Saas Project
Upcoming Events
Recently Opened Projects
My Houses
People to Follow
SaasProject
The Gigglers
46%
100%
4+
Last Edited 12h ago
Microsoft Desi.
Turbonaters
75%
100%
2+
Last Edited 12h ago
SaasProject
The Gigglers
46%
100%
4+
Last Edited 12h ago
SaasProject
The Gigglers
46%
100%
4+
Last Edited 12h ago
Microsoft Desi.
Turbonaters
75%
100%
2+
Last Edited 12h ago
The Gigglers
Turbanators
Inspirers
Sid Navi
You both are part of The Gigglers
follow
Sid Navi
You both are part of The Gigglers
follow
Sid Navi
You both are part of The Gigglers
follow
Holaa!! Vinvi di UI
We’ve organised your upcoming events for you
Vinci di UI
TEAM
Pradeep Yellapu
TIMELINE
5 Days
TOOLS
Figma, Notion, Photoshop, After Effects, Google Meet
OVERVIEW
PROBLEM
Students in design and development often struggle to find trustworthy collaborators for quick side projects or portfolio-building tasks. Traditional platforms lack structure, trust indicators, or clear project scoping tools for short-term collaborations.
68%
of students dropped out of collab projects within 2 weeks due to unclear expectations.
3 Days
average time it took to manually find someone via Discord or DMs.
84%
wished for a trust metric or match recommendation before partnering.
SOLUTION
I designed a mobile-first platform to streamline the way students connect and collaborate. Collab App allows users to post or join short-term projects with a clear role breakdown, deadlines, and credibility markers based on past performance. The platform fosters meaningful micro-collaborations that lead to real outcomes and stronger portfolios.
APPROACH
1.
Discover
Qualitative Research
Competitor Analysis
User Interviews
2.
Define
Personas
Empathy Map
3.
Ideate
Features of Collab
User Flow
Information Architecture
4.
Prototype
Wireframes
Visual Design
5.
Test
Usability Testing
Implementing Feedback
DESIGN OUTCOME
RESEARCH
To understand user pain points around digital collaboration and online learning, I conducted a combination of primary and secondary research, including qualitative interviews, competitive analysis, and behavioral exploration. This research focused on uncovering the needs, motivations, and frustrations of key stakeholders navigating e-learning ecosystems during and post-pandemic.
SECONDARY RESEARCH
To establish a baseline, I began interviewing 8 potential users (Student, Working Professionals) by answering foundational questions:
Key Research Questions
What kind of work do you do?
I’m a final-year computer science undergrad currently interning remotely at a startup.
I work full-time in HR and mostly handle team onboarding and training.
I'm a freelance designer managing 3-4 short-term contracts at a time.
Which mode do you prefer? WFH or offline?
Offline, no doubt. Online made me lazy and disconnected.
Remote is great, but I miss team energy and spontaneous chats.
Online saved commute time, but it made learning feel passive.
A hybrid system with clear collaboration tools would be ideal.
What are the key disadvantages of WFH/Online classes?
Online lacks real accountability and peer motivation.
The biggest con is screen fatigue, back-to-back Zooms are brutal.
Hard to know who’s genuinely participating online.
Are your classes/work sessions online or offline?
I’m still remote. Our company never asked us to return, I honestly prefer it this way.
We’ve moved back to campus this semester. Online was convenient but not productive.
Hybrid, technically. Classes are offline, but submissions and reviews still happen online
We shifted completely offline, but a few courses continue to share resources via Google Classroom.
After the user interviews, I did interpret the responses and concluded them to 4 segments.
4
Team formation isn't platform-dependent.
Participants believed networking and team success relied more on physical proximity than the medium of collaboration.
3
Offline collaboration is more productive.
Projects done in-person felt smoother; online work involved platform-switching and fragmented communication (e.g., WhatsApp, Meets, Docs).
2
Students find online classes disengaging
Many reported passive learning, reduced interaction, and difficulty staying attentive during virtual sessions.
1
Remote work remains normalized.
Employees prefer WFH due to flexibility, while students are transitioning back to campus environments.
To validate the patterns observed in the user interviews, I followed up with a short quantitative survey to gather broader behavioral insights and confirm recurring preferences across a wider user group.
QUANTITATIVE SURVEY
To establish a baseline, I began interviewing 8 potential users by answering foundational questions:
Work from Home or On-Site, What do you prefer?
62.5% prefer WFH
Flexibility and convenience drive the preference for remote work, though some still value in-person structure.
Most Productive Mode for Team Projects
54.87% chose On-Site
On-site wins for collaboration and accountability; remote works but lacks active engagement.
Comfort with Online Projects (with Tools)
72.01% said Yes
Users are open to online work if the platform provides all essential tools in one place.
After the user survey, I did interpret the responses and concluded them to 4 segments.
1
Remote Preference ≠ Productivity
Even though 62.5% prefer WFH, it's not necessarily the most effective setting. Users value the comfort and flexibility, but miss in-person discipline and structure—hinting at the potential for hybrid flexibility.
2
On-Site Drives Output
With 54.87% saying on-site is better for team tasks, we learned that real-time collaboration, accountability, and brainstorming are easier in shared physical spaces. Remote needs deliberate UX intervention to replicate that energy.
3
Tool Unification Matters
72.01% said yes to working online, if everything they need is in one place. Fragmented tools create friction; a unified ecosystem improves task flow, communication, and user satisfaction.
CREATED USER PERSONAS
To better understand our users beyond the data, I developed detailed personas that capture their motivations, goals, and frustrations drawn from both qualitative and quantitative insights.
SHRIYA
UX Designer
SHRIYA
UX Designer
BIO
Shriya Saran is a third-year CS student at IIT Delhi and a freelance UI/UX designer. She values fast, well-structured tools that help her collaborate, stay productive, and showcase her work for placements.
DEMOGRAPHICS
AGE
20
LOCATION
Bandra, Mumbai
EDUCATION
Computer Science
College
IIT Delhi
Branch & Year
B.Tech 3rd year
Freelancing
Yes
GOALS
Present work to Microsoft-level employers
Join/collaborate in multiple side projects
Build the largest coffee house network in India
FRUSTRATIONS
Switching apps too often
Unplanned, unclear work
No proper team/project match
INTERESTS
TECHNOLOGY USE
Designing (Figma)
Documentation (Notion)
Communication (Instagram, Discord)
To translate individual observations into actionable design insights, I proceeded with empathy mapping. This step helped consolidate what the persona says, thinks, does, and feels, allowing a deeper understanding of user motivations and cognitive gaps within existing workflows.
EMPATHY MAPPING
Feels
Frustrated when switching tools
Driven by career clarity
Does
Does only portfolio-worthy projects
Avoids apps with messy UI
Thinks
An app with all tools in one place would be perfect.
Why are there no smart project suggestions yet?
Says
“Online tools are okay, but they lack proper collaboration.”
“It’s hard to build credibility without projects.”
The empathy map revealed that while users are motivated and career-driven, they are hindered by fragmented tool ecosystems and lack of structured collaboration opportunities.
Emotional friction stems from tool-switching fatigue and unclear project discovery, while behaviorally, users prioritize only those tasks that visibly impact their growth.
These patterns highlight a clear opportunity to design a centralized, intuitive platform that supports seamless project onboarding, credibility-building, and streamlined teamwork.
HARSHITHA
Ml Enthusiast
HARSHITHA
ML Enthusiast
BIO
Harshita is a final-year CS student at GITAM University with a passion for machine learning. She’s focused on landing a role that matches her skills and dreams of building a service-based company.
DEMOGRAPHICS
AGE
24
LOCATION
Kancheepuram, Chennai
EDUCATION
Computer Science
College
GITAM University
Branch & Year
B.Tech 3rd year
Freelancing
No
GOALS
Land a job that aligns with her ML skills and career ambitions
Build a service-based startup and hire top talent
FRUSTRATIONS
Difficulty finding relevant job opportunities despite strong skills
Time wasted on misaligned or vague openings
INTERESTS
TECHNOLOGY USE
Coding ((Jupyter)
Documentation (Notion)
Communication (Facebook, Discord)
To validate the patterns observed in the user interviews, I followed up with a short quantitative survey to gather broader behavioral insights and confirm recurring preferences across a wider user group.
EMPATHY MAPPING
Says
"Personally, I go with onsite working.”
“Work from home only works for a temporary period.”
“An app that helps skilled but unemployed people get matched would be super cool.”
Thinks
How can I find verified and serious employers?
Why isn’t there a reliable way to showcase my skills directly?
Does
Actively works on ML projects
Regularly updates skill set via online learning
Applies for jobs through various platforms
Feels
Frustrated by the mismatch between skills and opportunities
Hopeful and curious about platforms that centralize hiring tools
Having mapped out users' thoughts, behaviors, and unmet needs, it became clear that the solution must prioritize seamless collaboration, verified opportunities, and centralized tools. With these insights in hand, I moved into the ideation phase to define the core features of the product.
IDEATE
After mapping user behaviors, emotions, and goals, I transitioned into the ideation phase to transform those insights into concrete product directions. The goal was to design features that not only solve key frustrations but also align with user motivations uncovered during research.
I began by drafting user stories for each stakeholder, freelancers, students, and job seekers, capturing what they want to achieve and why. These stories helped frame the core functionality from each user's perspective.
STUDENT
“I want a platform where I can easily join short-term projects to build experience, not just submit resumes and wait.”
“I want a platform where I can easily join short-term projects to build experience, not just submit resumes and wait.”
“It’s hard to know which projects are real or worth joining, I wish there was a credibility score or reviews.”
“I only want to apply to collabs where the team is serious and tools are already in place.”
If the interface isn’t fun or motivating, I just drop off in a week
FREELANCER
“Every project uses different tools. I want one platform that does it all.”
“I wish I didn’t have to switch between Slack, Notion, and Drive for every client.”
“If the platform let me tag my past work or tools I’m good at, it’d be easier to stand out.”
GRADUATE
“Even with strong skills, I’m not finding the right project matches, I need curated, relevant opportunities.”
“I want to showcase my contributions in a project, not just my job title or role.”
“An app that verifies contributors and filters low-quality collabs would save so much time.”
Won’t Have
Must Have
“An app that verifies contributors and filters low-quality collabs would save so much time.”
C03
“I want a platform where I can easily join short-term projects to build experience, not just submit resumes and wait.”
“I want a platform where I can easily join short-term projects to build experience, not just submit resumes and wait.”
A01
“It’s hard to know which projects are real or worth joining, I wish there was a credibility score or reviews.”
A02
“I want to showcase my contributions in a project, not just my job title or role.”
C02
“I only want to apply to collabs where the team is serious and tools are already in place.”
A03
Could Have
If the interface isn’t fun or motivating, I just drop off in a week
A04
“I wish I didn’t have to switch between Slack, Notion, and Drive for every client.”
B02
Should Have
“Every project uses different tools. I want one platform that does it all.”
B01
“If the platform let me tag my past work or tools I’m good at, it’d be easier to stand out.”
B03
“Even with strong skills, I’m not finding the right project matches, I need curated, relevant opportunities.”
C01
MoSCoW METHOD
After collecting user stories like the ones from students, freelancers, and graduates, the next logical step in the UX Strategy phase is the MoSCoW Prioritization process. This helped me translate all those user needs into a clearly scoped MVP (Minimum Viable Product) by categorizing features into:
KEY FEATURES FOR THE MVP
STUDENT
Quick apply to join short-term collabs (A01)
Doubt resolution module via chat or live Q&A (C02)
Fun, gamified interface to boost motivation (A04)
FREELANCER
Unified workspace for tools like Slack, Notion, Drive (B01, B02)
Work tagging system to highlight contributions (B03)
GRADUATES
Project credibility indicators like verification & reviews (A02, C03)
Showcase contributions over job titles in portfolio (C02)
Curated project matches based on skills & interests (C01)
With the MVP features clearly mapped for each stakeholder, I then translated these insights into a streamlined user journey. The following flow visualizes how users, from onboarding to action, navigate the platform to access the core functionalities identified during ideation.
USER FLOW
Yes
No
New User
DESIGN
With the user flow now clearly defined, I transitioned into the design phase by translating core functionalities into tangible interfaces.
I began with low-fidelity sketches to outline structure and navigation, then iteratively moved to high-fidelity wireframes and visual mockups.
WIREFRAMING
Sketching & Planning
These sketches helped me visualize the core functionalities, define navigation paths, and align the layout with real user scenarios.
High Fidelity Wireframes
After validating the initial sketches, I moved to Figma to craft high-fidelity wireframes. These designs retained the core structure but added spacing, hierarchy, and interaction details.
Bringing the On-Site experience back
Establish a team, Have Board meetings, Connect on calls, Add Events
Signup
Login
Find the best collabs for your projects
Post collabs and get new talents onboard for the best output.
Signup
Login
Invest & Support Innovative projects
Find ideas that require financial assistance & help them come to life.
Signup
Login
Login
Signup
Email address
Password
Submit
Forgot Password?
Signup
Login
Name
Email Address
Password
Confirm Password
Submit
Upcoming Events
Vinci di ui
New collab
Recently Opened Projects
My Houses
VISUAL DESIGN
Home Screen
House Name
Project Name
Progress
Team
Last Edited
Project Display Card
Let’s go deeper into the design & the concept.
Screen Includes :
Projects Card Includes :
Upcoming Events
Recent Projects
Houses
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BUILD HOUSE
POST COLLAB
TEST
With all primary features visually designed and translated into interactive flows, the next step was to validate the solution with real users. Usability testing ensures that the interface aligns with user expectations and reveals any friction points before the product heads into development. This phase was crucial to verify whether the designed MVP genuinely met the needs unearthed in the research phase.
USABILITY TESTING
To evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the Collab platform, I conducted moderated remote usability testing sessions with 4 diverse users. The goal was to observe how intuitively they could complete key user journeys aligned with our MVP objectives.
TEST METHODOLOGY:
To evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the Collab platform, I conducted moderated remote usability testing sessions with 4 diverse users. The goal was to observe how intuitively they could complete key user journeys aligned with our MVP objectives.
FORMAT
Remote moderated testing via Google Meet
PARTICIPANTS
4 (2S, 1F, 1G)
TOOLS
Figma, Notion, Photoshop, After Effects, Google Meet
TASKS
AVG. DURATION
MISCLICK RATE
TASKS COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY
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OBSERVATIONS
1
Most users navigated directly to their intended tasks with minimal cognitive load.
2
They appreciated the clarity of the onboarding process and the centralization of features like projects, chats, and tasks
3
Most notably, they resonated with the simplicity of navigating from idea to action, especially the "Post Collab" journey
The Collab project was a deep dive into solving real collaboration problems through a user-centered approach. From conducting qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys to defining MVP features using the MoSCoW method, each phase helped shape a streamlined product grounded in user insight.
Designing and testing features like “Post Collab” and “Invest” validated the solution’s clarity and ease of use, with user testing confirming strong task success and minimal friction. This process reinforced the power of aligning product design with stakeholder needs, balancing structure, usability, and intent. Looking ahead, there's room to scale, refine features, and deepen value for collaborators across experience levels.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Enhancing participation through lightweight attendance systems and engagement trackers.
Providing performance dashboards with real-time stats for collaborators and recruiters.
Fostering peer connections by integrating dedicated discussion and bonding spaces.
Increasing learning retention using interactive flashcards and micro-feedback tools within projects.
COLAB
A productivity platform to connect student designers and developers for short-term collaboration.
New House
18 Feb
Phase 2
Build & Present the Project
Saas Project
24 Mar
Phase 3
Completion & telecast it.
Saas Project
04 Apr
Phase 3
Collabcast & Test Run
Saas Project
18 Feb
Phase 2 Completion & telecast it.
Saas Project
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