With - Host Directory
Project Overview
With is a marketplace where anyone can pay for face-to-face calls with celebrities, professionals, experts, and more.
The marketplace consists of two personas: hosts (the individuals hosting the calls) and members (the users paying for the calls).
The goal of this project was to design a host directory that allowed members to discover, find, and access host profiles from the home page.
The Challenge
Transform the marketplace’s original directory from a bottleneck to an impetus of discovery.
User Research
A previous iteration of With’s platform, Rave, housed the directory on a page separate from the home page. In talking with members, we learned one click made it harder for users to find the type of host they were looking for — some didn’t even realize it was even there.
We also learned that host on With may host a variety of types of calls: meet-and-greets, lessons, online experiences, and more.
How could With’s marketplace allow members to find host based on both
the type of experience they’re looking for and
the type of host they want to meet with (comedian, celebrity, professional, etc.)?
Strategy
Our research led us to design a two-tier system that allows users to look for hosts by “session type” and profile tag.
The Process
I designed the system and home page in a Google Doc where we could make changes and develop the idea. Working as a team, we refined the ideas until the product was ready to be designed and prototyped.
The Solution
In its final form, the With host directory sits on the platform’s home page, directly beneath messaging about the platform and how it works.
This allows users to learn a bit about the platform, then get right into searching for the hosts they want to meet with.
A featured hosts section highlights hosts the platform wants to promote. The home page also features a search bar that allows users to search for hosts using names and tags.
The new directory lets users choose to look for hosts first by the type of session they host:
Meet & Greets,
Lessons,
Online Experiences,
Professional Consultations, and
Virtual Shopping Experiences.
Beneath these categories, users can refine their search further by clicking tags associated with host profiles.
The host directory is accessible and easy to use on both desktop and mobile devices.
Results
With will soon launch as a closed beta. We plan to measure conversion rates on the new host directory. Our hypothesis is that, with this new streamlined system, users will be able to access host profile pages more quickly and easily.
Initial testing shows that users spend around 50% less time on the home page before through to a host profile.
My Role
I played an integral role in product design, persona design, branding, information architecture, product terminology, wireframing, flow charts, research, and UX writing.