Visited Travel App is an interactive map app that allows users to track the countries and cities they have visited. The UX audit performed for this app aimed at identifying usability issues, proposing improvement solutions, and defining a plan for enhancing the user experience. The main points analyzed include the login screen, onboarding process, visual interface, information organization, and premium functionalities.
Initial Version of the App
Issues Observed in the Initial Version
- Limited or absent onboarding: Users are asked to log in immediately without a clear presentation of the app’s benefits.
- UI and visibility problems:
- Poorly contrasting UI elements, such as blue buttons on a blue background.
- Incorrectly aligned elements and uneven font sizes.
- Confusing and redundant functionalities:
- Overlapping elements leading to a cluttered experience.
- Redundant functionalities, such as multiple lists without clear distinction of their purpose.
- Frustration in use:
- The requirement to tick the newsletter subscription box to continue using the app.
- Irrelevant or incomplete statistics (e.g., displaying percentages of 0% or 100%).
Key Issues
- Lack of a UI style guide leading to major inconsistencies in the interface.
- Poorly defined premium elements: The differences between premium packages and free functionalities are not clearly communicated.
- Accessibility problems: Text and buttons are hard to use in dark mode.
UX Audit Process
The audit took place in several stages, each analyzing specific aspects of the user experience:
1. Heuristic Evaluation
Problems were identified using general UX principles:
- Visibility and feedback: The app does not provide clear visual cues for actions or interactions.
- Control and freedom: Users cannot navigate intuitively; the menu disappears on some screens.
- Minimalist design: Too many options available at once create cognitive overload.
2. Practical Testing
- The app was tested on the Android version, in Romanian and dark mode, to evaluate adaptability.
- User interactions were analyzed to identify barriers in usage.
3. User Feedback
- App Store reviews were considered, highlighting common issues (e.g., abandonment at the privacy screen).
Improvement Recommendations
1. Onboarding Process
- Proposal: Introduce an onboarding process with a carousel of screens that present the app’s benefits and key features before login.
- Benefit: Increases new user confidence and reduces abandonment rate.
2. UI Improvements
- Improved contrast: Use shadows or outlines for buttons with colors similar to the background.
- Visual consistency: Create a style guide to standardize fonts, colors, and element sizes.
- Simplify the interface: Group options into visually pleasant cards and remove unnecessary overlaps.
3. Optimize Functionalities
- Privacy screen:
- Remove the obligation to check the newsletter box.
- Add the option to unsubscribe directly from the app.
- Premium features:
- Clarify the advantages of premium packages through detailed comparison lists.
- Move essential features to the free package (e.g., displaying visited cities).
4. Navigation and Accessibility
- Always visible menu: Keep the bottom menu visible on all screens for easier navigation.
- Simplify options: Reduce the number of map customization options and provide clear presets.
Expected Results
1. Increased Conversion Rates
A well-structured onboarding process and a consistent interface will encourage users to explore the app and upgrade to premium packages.
2. Reduced Abandonment Rates
Addressing frustration points like mandatory newsletter subscription and cluttered UI will reduce app abandonment rates.
3. Improved User Reviews
By addressing common issues mentioned in reviews, the app will gain user trust and a better reputation.
4. Increased Engagement
An intuitive design and well-structured features will improve the time users spend in the app.
The UX audit highlighted key areas for improvement so that the Visited Travel App can offer a pleasant and efficient experience to its users. By implementing the proposed recommendations, the app can become a top solution for travel enthusiasts, providing real value and a clear reason to invest in premium packages.
