Hermes Application

Nirali Parikh

Project Overview

The Hermes Application is an innovative messaging service that allows users to send messages across multiple platforms from a single interface. Designed to simplify communication, the app integrates various messaging services into one streamlined user experience. This case study explores the design and development process of the Hermes App, highlighting key UX/UI strategies employed to enhance user engagement and satisfaction.

Objective

To create a user-centric messaging application that seamlessly integrates multiple messaging platforms, ensuring a smooth and intuitive user experience while maintaining high usability standards.

Design Process

1. User Research and Needs Analysis

Approach: Conducted interviews and surveys to identify common pain points in existing  messaging apps.
Findings:
Users needed a more unified platform to manage multiple messaging services without switching apps.
Solution:
Developed an app concept that consolidates multiple messaging functionalities into a single interface.

2. Wireframing and Prototyping

Approach: Created low-fidelity wireframes to outline the basic structure and flow of the app.
Development:
Utilized Figma to develop high-fidelity prototypes, ensuring that the design was both functional and visually appealing.
Testing :
Conducted iterative testing sessions to refine the interface and improve navigational flows.

3. Final Design Implementation

Login Screen: Streamlined login process with minimal input fields to enhance user entry speed and efficiency.
Contacts Screen:
Implemented a dual-condition functionality where contacts must meet specific criteria to appear in the user’s list, enhancing the app’s usability and performance.
Messaging Services Screen:
Displayed available services per contact, simplifying the selection process.
Message Box Screen:
Focused on a clean and accessible design for message composition and sending.

Key Features and UX Enhancements

1. Unified Messaging Dashboard
 
   Challenge:
Users were frustrated by the need to use multiple apps for different messaging services.
 
  Solution:
Created a single dashboard that aggregates all messaging services, facilitating easier management of communications.

   Impact:
Increased user satisfaction and efficiency, as reflected in user feedback and usability tests.

 

2. Adaptive Contacts Management
  
  Challenge:
Users needed a quick way to identify which contacts were available on which platforms.

  Solution:
Integrated a smart filter that dynamically adjusts available contacts based on platform compatibility.
 
   Impact:
Reduced cognitive load and enhanced the decision-making process for users.

LOGIN SCREEN

The first screen on the app you’d see is the login page. This screen shows the app logo, text fields to enter username and password, and a button to sign in.

CONTACTS SCREEN

The second screen you’d see on the app is the contacts screen. This screen displays contacts that have the functionality to be able to receive messages on different platforms and that are in the user’s address book. Hence, both conditions must be met for a contact to pop up on the app’s contacts list. The screen also shows the name of the app and an option to ”signout” of the app.

AVAILABLE
MESSAGING SERVICES SCREEN

The third screen you’d see on the app is the available messaging services screen. This screen shows the messaging services that the selected contact has registered to be able to receive messages to if coming from the Hermes app. It also displays a “next” and “back” button to allow the user to either proceed to the next step or go back to the previous screen of selecting contacts.

MESSAGE BOX SCREEN

The fourth screen you’d see displays the message box for the user to type in their message to send to the selected contact. It also displays a “send” button that the user can click to proceed with the sending of the message to the contact’s selected receiving platforms.

Conclusion

The Hermes Application represents a significant advancement in messaging technology by addressing key user frustrations with existing solutions. The project showcased a comprehensive approach to user-centered design, from initial research to final implementation, emphasizing the importance of iterative development and user feedback. This case study demonstrates the strategic application of UX principles to create a product that is not only functional but also highly user-oriented.