Duolingo Connect
Add a new feature for the Duolingo Mobile App
Team Members:
Yan Wei
Jasper Ling
Manideep Vangari
Role:
User Research
UI Designer
Tools:
Figma
Project Time:
2024 (May - June)
4 Weeks
OVERVIEW
What's the Duolingo Connect?
Duolingo is an educational platform uniquely designed to aid users in learning new languages. To further enhance the language learning experience, Duolingo Connect has an innovative feature that supports deeper language learning by connecting users with native speakers to improve their language proficiency. Through Duolingo Connect, users can engage in interactive practice with native speakers, receive real-world feedback and guidance, and build confidence in using the language.
Context
Our Goal
Our goal was to gather and analyze this data; we were able to design a feature that enhances the overall user experience and makes the product more complete.
USER RESEARCH
Initial Research
We employed diverse research methods to understand customer experience and the demand for Duolingo. These research methods provided a comprehensive understanding of our target audience, guiding the development of a more user-centric and impactful educational platform.
Interviews allowed us to engage directly with users, delving into their thoughts, preferences, and pain points.
Questionnaires provided broader insights from a larger sample size, offering valuable quantitative data to complement our qualitative findings.
The 'Ask-whys' technique was instrumental in uncovering underlying motivations and behaviours, revealing more profound layers of user needs.
Observations were crucial in capturing real-time interactions and behaviours, offering firsthand insights into user interactions with language learning tools.
User Feedback
Based on our research, users emphasized needing a clean, intuitive UI design with easy navigation. This feedback has guided our efforts to create a user-friendly platform that effectively meets the needs of our diverse user base.
We found the reason users quit the Duolingo :
• Lack of interpersonal interaction: Users want more opportunities to communicate directly with other language learners within the platform.
• Insufficient academic resources: Users seek deeper educational content, such as detailed grammar explanations and cultural context.
• Limited real-world application: Users desire practical language use scenarios to reinforce learning.
• Blocking after mistakes: Users feel discouraged when progress is blocked after making mistakes.
Secondary Research
Persona
We found two main types of Duolingo users: casual learners and eager learners. Casual learners quickly approach language learning, exploring new languages at their own pace. They are often interested in basic communication skills or enjoy gamified aspects.
Eager learners approach Duolingo seriously, aiming for proficiency or fluency. They use the platform as part of a structured learning program, supplemented with additional resources to accelerate their progress.
Based on these two types of users, we made a persona to understand their needs in more detail and explore more opportunities to solve our design focus.
HMW
How might we design a new experience that challenges language learners to practice language exercises in real-time with other learners and engage in realistic dialogues and scenarios to foster their language proficiency and conversational responsiveness?
CONCEPT
Affinity Map
We brainstormed and generated various potential solutions to address our user experience challenge. We listed them as affinity diagrams, which provided a better scope for narrowing our design focus. There are Gamification, Community, Academic and Additional Sources.
Possible Oppertunities
After our discussion, we decided upon three new feature candidates to pitch to our focus groups. Finally, we chose Duolingo Chat because it best addresses the need for real-time conversational practice and enhances the overall language learning experience by allowing users to engage with native speakers.
Duolingo Chat(Formerly Duolingo Chat)
Pitch: Duolingo Chat allows users to practice their favourite language with people worldwide. It enables real-time conversations, enhancing both conversational and listening skills.
Preliminary Investigation: Duolingo Chat, a convenient new feature on the Profile page, allows users to select their learning language and communicate with others through messaging or speaking. Upon entering the 'portal,' a list of users, along with their native language and learning language, is displayed, making it easy for users to find conversation partners.
Design Focus
Duolingo Connect allows users to practice and apply their oral, reading, and writing skills by messaging other native speakers in real time. Users will communicate in the language they’re currently learning and have opportunities to receive feedback from other users.
WIREFRAME
Low to Medium Fidality
Take a look at the initial stages of our planning and brainstorming process for the Duolingo Connect feature.
Style Guide
High Fidality
Personal Takeaway 😮💨 ：
01 - Insufficient Research:
The research phase lacked depth and breadth, resulting in a limited understanding of user needs and behaviours. More comprehensive research, including a larger sample size and diverse methodologies, would have provided better insights and a stronger foundation for design decisions.
02 - Incomplete User Testing:
The limited testing sessions and iterations meant the feedback loop needed more. This led to missed opportunities to refine and improve the design based on user test input. In the future, we may have enough time dedicated to iterative testing to ensure that the final product closely aligns with user expectations.
© Yan Wei. 2023-2024
UX/UI Designer