What is Crossingz?

What is Crossingz?

Crossingz is a networking app designed to help Gen Z build professional connections. When I joined the startup, the original UX design wasn't developed yet, and the founder wanted UX designers to update the UI to fit Gen Z's preferences.

Extra irrelevant information
Overwhelming main features
Complex referral program

The Problem

As I delved deeper into the app, I realized that the issues extended beyond an outdated UI design. Its complex functions, including eight main features and a referral program, resulting following problems:

  1. increased the app’s complexity

  2. disrupted Gen Z’s networking experience

  3. complicated the development process, at least 4 months

The Problem

As I delved deeper into the app, I realized that the issues extended beyond an outdated UI design. Its complex functions, including eight main features and a referral program, resulting following problems:

  1. increased the app’s complexity

  2. disrupted Gen Z’s networking experience

  3. complicated the development process, at least 4 months

Extra irrelevant information
Overwhelming main features
Complex referral program
Feature 3: Improve networking by AI

Before

Through heuristic evaluation, I discover there are some potential issues:

  • The button like “report”, “view full profile”, and “unmatch” are too close to each other, might causing issue of misclicking.

  • Users are less likely to recommend the user to friend or introduce a friend to this user. The recommend button is not effective to use

  • It is difficult to break the ice

After

Improvement✨:

We provide the AI chat suggestion to help them find common topic and break the ice, to make the conversation more smooth.

Before

Feature 4: Join group chat to discover more common topics

After

The new user flow guides users to join the group chat after joining the event. This approach offers several benefits:

  • Users won't need to switch between multiple platforms, which can improve customer retention.

  • It allows for smoother and more reliable conversations and connections within the group chat.

After

After

Design system

Results

Let’s connect!✨


Thanks for visiting me website! If you are interested in any project, feel free to connect me to discuss more.

Connect

cguochenxi@gmail.com
Linkedin ->

Let’s connect!✨


Thanks for visiting me website! If you are interested in any project, feel free to connect me to discuss more.

Connect

cguochenxi@gmail.com
Linkedin ->

The Problem

As I delved deeper into the app, I realized that the issues extended beyond an outdated UI design. Its complex functions, including eight main features and a referral program, resulting following problems:

  1. increased the app’s complexity

  2. disrupted Gen Z’s networking experience

  3. complicated the development process, at least 4 months

How might we streamline and improve the professional connection experience tailored to Gen Z’s needs?
How might we streamline and improve the professional connection experience tailored to Gen Z’s needs?

Design Question

How might we streamline and improve the user experience to for professional connection tailored to Gen Z’s needs?
How might we streamline and improve the user experience to for professional connection tailored to Gen Z’s needs?
How might we streamline and improve the user experience to for professional connection tailored to Gen Z’s needs?

Design Question

Design Question

Design Question

The Solution

The Solution

We conduct user research to prioritize main functions into 3, simplify the user flow for onboarding, improve the user connect and chat function, improve visual UI and branding.

Impact

User Research

Usability testing about old version

I first contact founders to prioritize the key function of this redesigned APP, then conducted unmoderated usability testing online to 5 users, to finish following tasks:

  1. sign up a new account

  2. build connection and start chat with others

  3. evaluate the effectiveness of the app to help them finding a job


Usability testing about old version

I first contact founders to prioritize the key function of this redesigned APP, then conducted unmoderated usability testing online to 5 users, to finish following tasks:

  1. sign up a new account

  2. build connection and start chat with others

  3. evaluate the effectiveness of the app to help them finding a job


Synthesizing

In order to deep understand Gen Z users, we synthesize information from usability testing into persona.

Synthesizing

In order to deep understand Gen Z users, we synthesize information from usability testing into persona.

User Research

Usability testing about old version

I first contact founders to prioritize the key function of this redesigned APP, then conducted unmoderated usability testing online to 5 users, to finish following tasks:

  1. sign up a new account

  2. build connection and start chat with others

  3. evaluate the effectiveness of the app to help them finding a job

Key Findings

Key Findings

Information Architecture

Information Architecture

Iteration

Feature 1: UI & branding upgrade

We first completed the founder's request to redesign the color palette and simplify the logo, making it more youthful and engaging

App design

Before

Gif for website

App logo

App design

After

App design

Before

Gif for website

Gif for website

App logo

App design

After

Iteration

Feature 1: UI & branding upgrade

We first completed the founder's request to redesign the color palette and simplify the logo, making it more youthful and engaging

Feature 2: Onboarding

Feature 2: Onboarding

Old Workflow

Old Workflow

  • Current workflow ask too many detailed formal information, but Gen Z is less likely to trust this platform and willing to fill in personal info.


  • Our target users typically have less than 5 years of experience. Asking them to fill in too much information can be overwhelming and stressful for them.

Current workflow ask too many detailed formal information, but Gen Z is less likely to trust this platform and willing to fill in personal info.

Our target users typically have less than 5 years of experience. Asking them to fill in too much information can be overwhelming and stressful for them.

New Workflow

New Workflow

  • Less information required about work experience.

  • Users can upload a website, resume, LinkedIn ID, or GitHub link—any of these can be proof of their work.

  • Less information required about work experience.

  • Users can upload a website, resume, LinkedIn ID, or GitHub link—any of these can be proof of their work.

Feature 3: Improve networking by AI

Before

Through heuristic evaluation, I discover there are some potential issues:

  • The button like “report”, “view full profile”, and “unmatch” are too close to each other, might causing issue of misclicking.

  • Users are less likely to recommend the user to friend or introduce a friend to this user. The recommend button is not effective to use

  • It is difficult to break the ice

After

Improvement✨:


We provide the AI chat suggestion to help them find common topic and break the ice, to make the conversation more smooth.

Feature 4: Join group chat to discover more common topics

Feature 4: Add group chat to discover more common topics

Before

In the old work flow, users are less likely to networking because it is not very natural to start conversation.

After

The new user flow guides users to join the group chat after joining the event. This approach offers several benefits:

  • Users won't need to switch between multiple platforms, which can improve customer retention.

  • It allows for smoother and more reliable conversations and connections within the group chat.

Design system

After

Clickable Prototypes

After

Clickable Prototypes

Results

Let’s connect!✨


Thanks for visiting me website! If you are interested in any project, feel free to connect me to discuss more.

Let’s connect!✨


Thanks for visiting me website! If you are interested in any project, feel free to connect me to discuss more.

Crossingz: GenZ Networking App

Crossingz: GenZ Networking App

Crossingz: GenZ Networking App

Crossingz: GenZ Networking App

Overview

Overview

Redesign the APP and successfully launched MVP in APP store. I focused on streamlining the UX workflow, upgrading the branding, reduce the development time by 50%.

→ Download the App

My role

My role

My role

UI/UX designer, Wireframing, Usability testing

UI/UX designer

Wireframing

Usability testing

UI/UX designer, Wireframing, Usability testing

Teams

Teams

Teams

2 Designers, 1 PM, 1 Engineer

2 Designers

1 PM, 1 Engineer

2 Designers, 1 PM, 1 Engineer

Duration

Duration

Duration

Mar - July 2024

Mar - July 2024

Mar - July 2024

Tools

Tools

Tools

Figma, Adobe Ae

Figma, Adobe Ae

Figma, Adobe Ae

After

After

User Research

Usability testing about old version

I first contact founders to prioritize the key function of this redesigned APP, then conducted unmoderated usability testing online to 5 users, to finish following tasks:

  1. sign up a new account

  2. build connection and start chat with others

  3. evaluate the effectiveness of the app to help them finding a job


Synthesizing

In order to deep understand Gen Z users, we synthesize information from usability testing into persona.

Key Findings

Information Architecture

Iteration

Feature 1: UI & branding upgrade

We first completed the founder's request to redesign the color palette and simplify the logo, making it more youthful and engaging

App design

Before

Gif for website

Gif for website

App logo

App design

After

Feature 2: Onboarding

Old Workflow

New Workflow

  • Less information required about work experience.

  • Users can upload a website, resume, LinkedIn ID, or GitHub link—any of these can be proof of their work.

Feature 3: Improve networking by AI

Before

Through heuristic evaluation, I discover there are some potential issues:

  • The button like “report”, “view full profile”, and “unmatch” are too close to each other, might causing issue of misclicking.

  • Users are less likely to recommend the user to friend or introduce a friend to this user. The recommend button is not effective to use

  • It is difficult to break the ice

After

Improvement✨:


We provide the AI chat suggestion to help them find common topic and break the ice, to make the conversation more smooth.

Feature 4: Add group chat to discover more common topics

Before

In the old work flow, users are less likely to networking because it is not very natural to start conversation.

After

The new user flow guides users to join the group chat after joining the event. This approach offers several benefits:

  • Users won't need to switch between multiple platforms, which can improve customer retention.

  • It allows for smoother and more reliable conversations and connections within the group chat.

Design system

After

Clickable Prototypes

After

Clickable Prototypes

Results

Let’s connect!✨


Thanks for visiting me website! If you are interested in any project, feel free to connect me to discuss more.

Let’s connect!✨


Thanks for visiting me website! If you are interested in any project, feel free to connect me to discuss more.