Led the design and launch of key features for Aperture, a photo-sharing app focused on enabling users to create and share engaging visual content while fostering personal branding and community building.
Note: Aperture is an academic project completed as part of my CareerFoundry coursework. While the app is conceptual, the UX/UI design process, research methods, and product management techniques applied are real and demonstrate practical skills applicable to real-world scenarios.
Problem
Aperture was losing younger users due to missing features and a lack of social connections within the app. Additionally, privacy concerns, ad intrusions, and slow content access were driving users away, resulting in decreased engagement and retention.
Solution
Leading cross-functional teams through product discovery, I established clear product goals and implemented a Product Requirements Document (PRD). Our approach combined rigorous user research with an Impact vs. Feasibility prioritization matrix to define a strategic roadmap.
Key goals included
Enhancing community engagement:
- Introduced intuitive and fun image-editing features
- Utilized RICE scoring to prioritize feature development
Improving overall user experience:
- Refined navigation and privacy controls
- Streamlined user flow based on workshop findings
Launching a new filter feature:
- Developed streamlined customization and filter management
- Aimed to attract new users and improve retention
Projected Outcomes
Based on user testing and industry benchmarks, we anticipated the following results if Aperture were launched.
Increased engagement:
- 30% increase in time spent on the app, with improved quality and volume of user-generated content.
Improved retention:
- 15% boost in user retention with the introduction of enhanced filter features.
Positive feedback:
- Improved NPS scores and a 30% decrease in churn for users engaging with new filters.
These projections are based on comparative analysis with similar apps and user feedback during testing phases.
Team
The team included executive managers, UX/UI designers, marketing specialists, and developers. Collaborative work with stakeholders was essential to ensure alignment with business goals.
My Role
As the Product Manager, I led product discovery, facilitated user research workshops, created personas, prioritized features, and managed the product roadmap. I delivered wireframes, prototypes, conducted A/B testing, iterated designs based on user feedback and presented evaluation reports to guide the successful launch of the new features.
Process
Discovery & Research:
Personas and Pain Points:
- Developed detailed personas (e.g., Elena, David, and Sophie) to represent various user types, from teenagers to influencers, helping to shape the product’s direction.
Impact vs. Feasibility Matrix:
- Prioritized insights based on potential impact and feasibility, focusing on community engagement, privacy improvements, and UX optimization.
User Research:
- Conducted interviews, surveys, and competitive analysis to gather feedback on users’ frustrations (e.g., slow content delivery, missing privacy controls) and expectations.
Ideation & Prioritization:
How Might We Workshops:
- Collaborated with stakeholders to brainstorm solutions to user pain points and align on product principles, such as enhancing privacy and security while making the app fun and easy to use.
User Stories and RICE Scoring:
- Defined epics and user stories, such as filter application, reset filters, and real-time preview. Acceptance criteria were established to ensure each story met user expectations (e.g., pre-installed filters applied in less than 1 second or batch processing for up to 10 images in under 5 seconds).
- Applied the RICE (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort) prioritization method to determine which user stories to focus on. For example, the user story for pre-installed filters was considered Critical with a high RICE score (63) due to its broad reach and high impact on user satisfaction.
Development & Testing:
Prototyping and Usability Testing:
- Developed wireframes and prototypes for the new filter management feature. Tested the solution with a subset of users, iterating based on their feedback.
A/B Testing:
- Ran tests to measure the success of the new features in driving engagement and improving the user experience.
Launch:
Product Launch Plan:
- Focused on increasing active users by 30%, improving user satisfaction, and reducing churn. Launched the new filter feature through targeted marketing campaigns and influencer partnerships.
Post-Launch Monitoring:
- Monitored metrics such as sign-ups, filter usage, and user satisfaction. Adjustments were made based on user feedback and ongoing testing.
Conclusion
While Aperture is an academic exercise, it simulated a successful product development process, projecting improvements in user engagement and retention rates. The project provided hands-on experience in UX research, product strategy, and team leadership.
By focusing on user needs and iterative feedback, we created a product concept aimed at both casual users and influencers. This process underscored the importance of balancing creativity with structured research and data-driven decision-making.
The skills and methodologies applied—from user research to agile practices—are directly transferable to real-world scenarios, preparing me for future challenges in UX design and product management.
