PodConnect

Tools: Pen & Paper, Google Jamboard, Figma

Role: Researcher & UI Designer

Timeline: 8 weeks

Using the design thinking methodology, we want to answer “in a time where people are feeling disconnected, how can we leverage podcasts to build and strengthen community?”

Problem Statement: Our listener has the problem that they want to interact with other listeners and feel a sense of community when listening to their favorite podcasts. Our solution should deliver a way for our users to talk to or chat with other listeners in a variety of methods and moments.

Design Thinking & Discovery

To start the design thinking process, we came up with assumptions based on our problem statement before starting our user interviews.

Assumptions: Due to the pandemic, people are feeling lonely and craving community. Podcasts can help bring people together to create a sense of belonging based on similar interests that people are looking for.

We decided there were a few important questions that we needed answered:

• How are our users currently seeking community?

• What effect has the pandemic had on their sense of belonging?

• How have podcasts played a role in their sense of connection/belonging?

Conducting User Interviews

Between my partner and I, we interviewed 4 participants who were all over the age of 18 and listen to podcasts. To conduct our user interviews, we created an interview guide with some questions that could test our assumption. Some questions we asked were:

• How would you say the pandemic has impacted the way you interact with friends/family/acquaintances?

• What would you say has been the biggest challenge you have faced since the pandemic in keeping up with your community?

• What is your favorite podcast, and why?

After completing the user interviews, we compiled our findings and created an affinity map, grouping together similar insights. Some of the key user insights we gained from the interviews were:

1. Our users are feeling the weight of restricted socialization due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. Users would be open to the idea of a more interactive podcast experience as long as they still had the option to listen in a more traditional form.

 Ideation

The next phase was ideation. Based on our problem statement, we came up with as many solutions as we could in a 45-minute session. The point was to create as many solutions as possible, with no ideas being off-limits.

Now that we created many great (and not so great) ideas, it was time to organize them.

To do this, we approached this task by going with the “distinct & impactful” method. Some of the more outlandish ideas like a penpal program or secret messages played during episodes to get free swag was definitely distinct but weren’t impactful in solving our problem. Other ideas like a Twitch community for live streams weren’t distinct because they likely already exist. After organizing our ideas, we came up with three potential solutions that were both distinct and impactful:

1. "waiting room" chat before or after a podcast episode goes live

2. live video option with real-time chat

3. app with community similar to reddit.

Gallery Sketches

Next, it was time to create wireframes for how our top ideas would look on paper. I decided to go with the ideas of live-stream episodes with real-time chat and live chat before a new episode release because while a reddit-like application could create a sense of community, it strays from the traditional podcast experience. The two ideas I decided on held onto that idea while integrating community within.

User Feedback

I conducted a silent critique of my wireframes with 3 users, two that participated in the initial user interviews (A.B. & M.S.).

On sketch #1 (countdown and live chat), some of the users stated that while this kept the traditional podcast feel.. they wondered what happened to the chat once the new episode was released.

On sketch #2 (real-time chat and live stream), one user liked the idea of being able to see the host of the podcast during a special episode. One stated they would like this option as long as they were still able to access the podcast episodes traditionally as well.

After this feedback, I came up with PodConnect which draws on sketch #2 with expanded features such as real-time chat, live video, pre-recorded episodes, and private message capabilities amongst users.

Storyboard

Now it was time to visualize how PodConnect could positively impact the user’s experience. In this scenario, Matthew (our persona) is feeling isolated at the beginning of the quarantine. He tries to connect on social media but is sometimes reminded how alone he is. Matthew turns to PodConnect, and feels like he has a community to share his interest with.