Knot
Knot
Knot
Living with roommates can cause some tension - let us help iron out some of those knots! Knot is a roommate communication and task app that helps ease some of the uncomfortable confrontation that can come with living in a shared space.
Living with roommates can cause some tension - let us help iron out some of those knots! Knot is a roommate communication and task app that helps ease some of the uncomfortable confrontation that can come with living in a shared space.
Living with roommates can cause some tension - let us help iron out some of those knots! Knot is a roommate communication and task app that helps ease some of the uncomfortable confrontation that can come with living in a shared space.
Project
Group Course Project
with Emily Lin, Rueyu July Qi, Airu Ivy Zhang, Natalie Zhu
Brown University
CSCI 0130: User Interfaces and User Interfaces
Project
Group Course Project
with Emily Lin, Rueyu July Qi, Airu Ivy Zhang, Natalie Zhu
Brown University
CSCI 0130: User Interfaces and User Interfaces
Project
Group Course Project
with Emily Lin, Rueyu July Qi, Airu Ivy Zhang, Natalie Zhu
Brown University
CSCI 0130: User Interfaces and User Interfaces
Skills
User research, sketching, wireframing, prototyping, user-testing
Skills
User research, sketching, wireframing, prototyping, user-testing
Skills
User research, sketching, wireframing, prototyping, user-testing
*this will denote my specific contributions
*this will denote my specific contributions
Timeline
Mar 2023 - May 2023
Timeline
Mar 2023 - May 2023
Timeline
Mar 2023 - May 2023
Premise
Premise
Premise
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had to share a room with my sister, who had the same pile of clothes on her chair all throughout high school - I swear. When I got to college, I assumed it wouldn’t be all that different . . . except it was worse.
My first roommate’s desk was home to a month’s worth of moldy leftovers, until my suitemates made me a makeshift hazmat suit to dispose of the odorized toxic waste.
My second roommate gifted me with violin concerts every night . . . during my midterm week, until I finally bought myself a pair of $300 noise-cancelling-headache-inducing headphones.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had to share a room with my sister, who had the same pile of clothes on her chair all throughout high school - I swear. When I got to college, I assumed it wouldn’t be all that different . . . except it was worse.
My first roommate’s desk was home to a month’s worth of moldy leftovers, until my suitemates made me a makeshift hazmat suit to dispose of the odorized toxic waste.
My second roommate gifted me with violin concerts every night . . . during my midterm week, until I finally bought myself a pair of $300 noise-cancelling-headache-inducing headphones.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had to share a room with my sister, who had the same pile of clothes on her chair all throughout high school - I swear. When I got to college, I assumed it wouldn’t be all that different . . . except it was worse.
My first roommate’s desk was home to a month’s worth of moldy leftovers, until my suitemates made me a makeshift hazmat suit to dispose of the odorized toxic waste.
My second roommate gifted me with violin concerts every night . . . during my midterm week, until I finally bought myself a pair of $300 noise-cancelling-headache-inducing headphones.
I ended up being best friends with my first roommate, so it’s definitely a blessing in disguise sometimes - but getting past the disguise can be hard. I struggled to advocate for my needs, and I traded the comfort of a living space I deserved for the comfort of non-confrontation.
I ended up being best friends with my first roommate, so it’s definitely a blessing in disguise sometimes - but getting past the disguise can be hard. I struggled to advocate for my needs, and I traded the comfort of a living space I deserved for the comfort of non-confrontation.
I ended up being best friends with my first roommate, so it’s definitely a blessing in disguise sometimes - but getting past the disguise can be hard. I struggled to advocate for my needs, and I traded the comfort of a living space I deserved for the comfort of non-confrontation.
Preliminary Research
Preliminary Research
Preliminary Research
Context
Context
Context
What contributes to the experience of living with a roommate?
What contributes to the experience of living with a roommate?
What contributes to the experience of living with a roommate?
We conducted interviews and surveys on young adults in college to find out what some of their living preferences are.
We conducted interviews and surveys on young adults in college to find out what some of their living preferences are.
We conducted interviews and surveys on young adults in college to find out what some of their living preferences are.
Roommate relationships:
Trends in communication:
Incompatibilities:
Frequent general communication BUT
low communication on habits and schedules
Only ~30% participants cited an intervention YET
every participant noted passive frustrations
“I am just afraid of confrontation generally, especially if I don’t know the person very well. I am also just not the best at vocalizing my concerns, it takes a lot of energy for me to initiate the conversation, let alone having the interaction to begin with.”
“I find it awkward to talk about and being fully open and honest is hard. I don’t want to offend anyone or anything. Better if I know what I say won’t be taken to heart. For example, if I want her to clean something better, I don’t want her to mistake it for her personality and blow up.”
z
z
Sleep schedules
Chore distribution and reminders
Guests
Schedule
Space share
Friends
Randomly assigned by school
Mutually looking for roommate
Roommate relationships:
Trends in communication:
Incompatibilities:
Frequent general communication BUT
low communication on habits and schedules
Only ~30% participants cited an intervention YET
every participant noted passive frustrations
“I am just afraid of confrontation generally, especially if I don’t know the person very well. I am also just not the best at vocalizing my concerns, it takes a lot of energy for me to initiate the conversation, let alone having the interaction to begin with.”
“I find it awkward to talk about and being fully open and honest is hard. I don’t want to offend anyone or anything. Better if I know what I say won’t be taken to heart. For example, if I want her to clean something better, I don’t want her to mistake it for her personality and blow up.”
z
z
Sleep schedules
Chore distribution and reminders
Guests
Schedule
Space share
Friends
Randomly assigned by school
Mutually looking for roommate
Roommate relationships:
Trends in communication:
Incompatibilities:
Frequent general communication BUT
low communication on habits and schedules
Only ~30% participants cited an intervention YET
every participant noted passive frustrations
“I am just afraid of confrontation generally, especially if I don’t know the person very well. I am also just not the best at vocalizing my concerns, it takes a lot of energy for me to initiate the conversation, let alone having the interaction to begin with.”
“I find it awkward to talk about and being fully open and honest is hard. I don’t want to offend anyone or anything. Better if I know what I say won’t be taken to heart. For example, if I want her to clean something better, I don’t want her to mistake it for her personality and blow up.”
z
z
Sleep schedules
Chore distribution and reminders
Guests
Schedule
Space share
Friends
Randomly assigned by school
Mutually looking for roommate
Problem Space
Problem Space
Problem Space
How can we help non-confrontational young adults establish comfort and responsibility in their shared living spaces?
How can we help non-confrontational young adults establish comfort and responsibility in their shared living spaces?
How can we help non-confrontational young adults establish comfort and responsibility in their shared living spaces?
Personas
Personas
Personas
To further understand the user base, we created personas representing both those who may benefit from the platform in an emotionally-relieving way and those who may simply benefit from it organizationally.
To further understand the user base, we created personas representing both those who may benefit from the platform in an emotionally-relieving way and those who may simply benefit from it organizationally.
To further understand the user base, we created personas representing both those who may benefit from the platform in an emotionally-relieving way and those who may simply benefit from it organizationally.
Non-confrontational Nala
Non-confrontational Nala
Non-confrontational Nala
Nala is a pretty shy girl who struggles to communicate her boundaries and requests to her roommate, leading her to suffer quietly and feel a lot of discomfort in her living space.
*Serves as main target audience, the “sender”
Nala is a pretty shy girl who struggles to communicate her boundaries and requests to her roommate, leading her to suffer quietly and feel a lot of discomfort in her living space.
*Serves as main target audience, the “sender”
Nala is a pretty shy girl who struggles to communicate her boundaries and requests to her roommate, leading her to suffer quietly and feel a lot of discomfort in her living space.
*Serves as main target audience, the “sender”
Busy Beatrix
Busy Beatrix
Busy Beatrix
Bea lives with her friends and is swarmed! From nocturnal study seshes to late-night networking parties, her schedule is jam packed. Unfortunately, this makes communicating with her roommates quite difficult.
*Serves as secondary target audience, the “receiver”
Bea lives with her friends and is swarmed! From nocturnal study seshes to late-night networking parties, her schedule is jam packed. Unfortunately, this makes communicating with her roommates quite difficult.
*Serves as secondary target audience, the “receiver”
Bea lives with her friends and is swarmed! From nocturnal study seshes to late-night networking parties, her schedule is jam packed. Unfortunately, this makes communicating with her roommates quite difficult.
*Serves as secondary target audience, the “receiver”
Lo-fi
Lo-fi
Lo-fi
We then moved onto developing a design that focused on friendliness!
We then moved onto developing a design that focused on friendliness!
We then moved onto developing a design that focused on friendliness!
Sketching
Sketching
Sketching
We had a lot of overlapping features amongst our sketches, but our final set ended up following the layout of these initial screens from Natalie with elements of each of our sketches (i.e. dashboard separation and checklist format, multiple schedules, etc.)
Final Sketches
We had a lot of overlapping features amongst our sketches, but our final set ended up following the layout of these initial screens from Natalie with elements of each of our sketches (i.e. dashboard separation and checklist format, multiple schedules, etc.)
Final Sketches
Storyboarding
Storyboarding
Storyboarding
We envisioned how our app might affect roommates Non-Confrontational Nala and Busy Beatrix through this scene:
We envisioned how our app might affect roommates Non-Confrontational Nala and Busy Beatrix through this scene:
We envisioned how our app might affect roommates Non-Confrontational Nala and Busy Beatrix through this scene:
Wireframing
Wireframing
Wireframing
From our sketches, we moved on to creating our app layout in wireframes.
From our sketches, we moved on to creating our app layout in wireframes.
From our sketches, we moved on to creating our app layout in wireframes.
Iterations
Iterations
Personas
Dashboard
Dashboard
Dashboard
scroll→
Requests
Our Tasks
Schedule
Requests
scroll→
Our Tasks
Our Tasks
Schedule
Schedule
Profile
Profile
Dashboard
Iterations
Requests
Our Tasks
Schedule
Profile
Visual Design
Visual Design
Visual Design
scroll→
Knot’s main goal is making our users feel comfortable, which meant it was imperative that our style was friendly - so, meet our little mascot! It’s a logo of two roommates joined together, but it’s also the little character that asks you for a request; it takes some of the pressure off receiving an ambiguously-toned text, and incorporates an air of approachability.
Knot’s main goal is making our users feel comfortable, which meant it was imperative that our style was friendly - so, meet our little mascot! It’s a logo of two roommates joined together, but it’s also the little character that asks you for a request; it takes some of the pressure off receiving an ambiguously-toned text, and incorporates an air of approachability.
Knot’s main goal is making our users feel comfortable, which meant it was imperative that our style was friendly - so, meet our little mascot! It’s a logo of two roommates joined together, but it’s also the little character that asks you for a request; it takes some of the pressure off receiving an ambiguously-toned text, and incorporates an air of approachability.
Hi-fi
Hi-fi
Hi-fi
Dashboard
Our Tasks
Profile
Schedule
Requests
Accept/Decline
Send
Dashboard
Our Tasks
Profile
Schedule
Requests
Accept/Decline
Send
Requests
Accept/Decline
Send
Dashboard
Our Tasks
Profile
Schedule
Requests
Accept/Decline
Send
Prototype I
Prototype I
Prototype I
User Testing
User Testing
User Testing
Preparations
Preparations
Preparations
• Using the prototype above, tested in class on 4 peers
• Prompted with background questions
• Tasked to explore, accept/decline requests, and send requests
• Using the prototype above, tested in class on 4 peers
• Prompted with background questions
• Tasked to explore, accept/decline requests, and send requests
• Using the prototype above, tested in class on 4 peers
• Prompted with background questions
• Tasked to explore, accept/decline requests, and send requests
Analysis
Changes Made
1.
All users: Feedback
Users were confused where Requests and Task went after accepting
Added pop-up
2.
2 in 4 users: Consistency
Actionable icons and features changed position per on the page.
Made features more distinct
3.
2 in 4 users: Categorization
How is a request determined to be a task or reminder?
Task/Reminder as
well as type is predetermined
by sender
4.
1 in 4 users: Incomplete Feature
Confused how to quickly update status
Added pop-up accessible by Dashboard and Profile
5.
1 in 4 users: Icon Recognizability
Request icon isn’t really understandable
Added pop-up accessible by Dashboard and Profile
Analysis
Changes Made
1.
All users: Feedback
Users were confused where Requests and Task went after accepting
Added pop-up
2.
2 in 4 users: Consistency
Actionable icons and features changed position per on the page.
Made features more distinct
3.
2 in 4 users: Categorization
How is a request determined to be a task or reminder?
Task/Reminder as
well as type is predetermined
by sender
4.
1 in 4 users: Incomplete Feature
Confused how to quickly update status
Added pop-up accessible by Dashboard and Profile
5.
1 in 4 users: Icon Recognizability
Request icon isn’t really understandable
Added pop-up accessible by Dashboard and Profile
Analysis
Changes Made
1.
All users: Feedback
Users were confused where Requests and Task went after accepting
Added pop-up
2.
2 in 4 users: Consistency
Actionable icons and features changed position per on the page.
Made features more distinct
3.
2 in 4 users: Categorization
How is a request determined to be a task or reminder?
Task/Reminder as
well as type is predetermined
by sender
4.
1 in 4 users: Incomplete Feature
Confused how to quickly update status
Added pop-up accessible by Dashboard and Profile
5.
1 in 4 users: Icon Recognizability
Request icon isn’t really understandable
Added pop-up accessible by Dashboard and Profile
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
Demo
Demo
Demo
Figma
Figma
Figma
Key Features
Key Features
Key Features
*screen consistency clean-up!
*screen consistency clean-up!
*screen consistency clean-up!
Pop-up for personal status update
Clicking opens up room/suitemates’ profiles and preferences
Horizontal scroll to see only most relevant Reminders
Reminders and Tasks stylistically different
Able to compare different suitemates’ schedules
Included a Recently Completed section in anticipation of slips, if accidentally check off, don’t need to toggle to Task Log
Adding a shared task allows randomization to make sure everyone contributes equally
Swipe to edit
To-Dos
Reminders
Option to add a comment, but full declination helps non-confrontation
Remind after something has been sent
Can send to multiple people
Able to see progress of request
Predetermined if Task or Reminder so receiver can add to Dashboard accordingly
Tags for receiver to see
Various selectable preferences
Dashboard
Pop-up for personal status update
Clicking opens up room/suitemates’ profiles and preferences
Horizontal scroll to see only most relevant Reminders
Reminders and Tasks stylistically different
Schedule
Able to compare different suitemates’ schedules
Our Tasks
Included a Recently Completed section in anticipation of slips, if accidentally check off, don’t need to toggle to Task Log
Adding a shared task allows randomization to make sure everyone contributes equally
Swipe to edit
Requests
To-Dos
Reminders
Option to add a comment, but full declination helps non-confrontation
Remind after something has been sent
Can send to multiple people
Able to see progress of request
Predetermined if Task or Reminder so receiver can add to Dashboard accordingly
Tags for receiver to see
Profile
Various selectable preferences
Dashboard
Pop-up for personal status update
Clicking opens up room/suitemates’ profiles and preferences
Horizontal scroll to see only most relevant Reminders
Reminders and Tasks stylistically different
Schedule
Able to compare different suitemates’ schedules
Our Tasks
Included a Recently Completed section in anticipation of slips, if accidentally check off, don’t need to toggle to Task Log
Adding a shared task allows randomization to make sure everyone contributes equally
Swipe to edit
Requests
To-Dos
Reminders
Option to add a comment, but full declination helps non-confrontation
Remind after something has been sent
Can send to multiple people
Able to see progress of request
Predetermined if Task or Reminder so receiver can add to Dashboard accordingly
Tags for receiver to see
Profile
Various selectable preferences
Reflections
Reflections
Reflections
Main Takeaways
Main Takeaways
Main Takeaways
Foundation work: We were really eager to start, but we skimped out on some of the fundamental ground-layings such as a clear user flow, which led to confusion during the prototyping stage as a result.
The more, the merrier: Working in a team can be difficult to coordinate sometimes, but a huge pro is it showed me how critical proliferation is during the iteration stage. Everyone brought really great ideas to the table, and it helped to have options to choose from!
Foundation work: We were really eager to start, but we skimped out on some of the fundamental ground-layings such as a clear user flow, which led to confusion during the prototyping stage as a result.
The more, the merrier: Working in a team can be difficult to coordinate sometimes, but a huge pro is it showed me how critical proliferation is during the iteration stage. Everyone brought really great ideas to the table, and it helped to have options to choose from!
Foundation work: We were really eager to start, but we skimped out on some of the fundamental ground-layings such as a clear user flow, which led to confusion during the prototyping stage as a result.
The more, the merrier: Working in a team can be difficult to coordinate sometimes, but a huge pro is it showed me how critical proliferation is during the iteration stage. Everyone brought really great ideas to the table, and it helped to have options to choose from!
Future Work & Implications
Future Work & Implications
Future Work & Implications
This project was moreso about teamwork for me than the product. I’d been working on solo projects for a while, so it was really nice to have support from other designers as a change of pace. I was able to get direct feedback and find collaborative compromises, and I had a network to bounce ideas off of. Something I would likely do differently, though, is organization; because we had this network, we had a lot of ideas that were bouncing around, and we struggled to tackle big tasks together; instead, I would probably strengthen our design system so we could really focus on the usability of the features separately.
This project was moreso about teamwork for me than the product. I’d been working on solo projects for a while, so it was really nice to have support from other designers as a change of pace. I was able to get direct feedback and find collaborative compromises, and I had a network to bounce ideas off of. Something I would likely do differently, though, is organization; because we had this network, we had a lot of ideas that were bouncing around, and we struggled to tackle big tasks together; instead, I would probably strengthen our design system so we could really focus on the usability of the features separately.
This project was moreso about teamwork for me than the product. I’d been working on solo projects for a while, so it was really nice to have support from other designers as a change of pace. I was able to get direct feedback and find collaborative compromises, and I had a network to bounce ideas off of. Something I would likely do differently, though, is organization; because we had this network, we had a lot of ideas that were bouncing around, and we struggled to tackle big tasks together; instead, I would probably strengthen our design system so we could really focus on the usability of the features separately.
