ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO — The Read, Record web app was designed to support people in remote communities by providing a way to read text prompts and record audio. Our goal was to create a simple tool to be used by those who have access to a computer but are unfamiliar with technology. The work involved balancing the need for a clean and easy-to-use interface with ensuring that the app could handle the complexities of multilingual language translation projects.
The Read, Record serves a unique purpose: helping people to simultaneously read and record text prompts comfortably and accurately. When I started designing, I focused on understanding the specific needs of people who would use the app, especially in environments with limited technology knowledge.
The UI was kept clean to ensure a smooth experience even for those new to technology.
We have designed the MVP and we keep iterating the product by engaging with users and stakeholders, analyzing performance data, conducting regular usability tests, and gathering general feedback. My focus on performance, clarity, and simplicity guided every decision, making sure that the interface stayed lightweight and efficient, to attain our main goal: provide the organization with faster workflows.
I've always believed that people often come up with clever ways to tackle their challenges and it's our job to observe, understand, and bring the expertise needed to enhance their solutions. This has been my motto ever since I heard Don Norman talk about it.
In Read, Record, we chose to use larger UI elements after learning that, in some remote areas, people were using magnifying glasses just to see their screens better. Rather than expecting them to keep relying on those tools, we designed larger elements to eliminate the need for them altogether.
Traditional button sizes weren't effective for many people in these overlooked and underserved communities, so we designed larger elements to accommodate visual needs.
By increasing the size of UI elements, we not only improved accessibility but also created a clearer visual hierarchy on each screen. This made it easier for people unfamiliar with technology to understand the flow and purpose of different sections within the app. Larger buttons and text sizes highlighted primary actions and important content, allowing people to navigate more confidently.
Introducing larger elements also helped establish a more distinct visual hierarchy, making it easier to distinguish tasks.
As a non-profit, the org isn't focused on sales, but saving time and effort is essential to saving money while reaching all the people we want as an organization. Every design decision is made with efficiency and speed in mind. We optimized the user flows, reduced the time it takes to complete key tasks, and were able to minimize the effort required by people using the app.
The dashboard says things are running smoothly.
We measure performance through key metrics such as time on task, completion rate, and user error rate, and that allows us to identify areas where the design could be refined. Analyzing these metrics, alongside user interviews and direct feedback, not only helps us streamline processes like navigating through text prompts or starting and stopping recordings but also streamlines the management of the translation projects.
Detail: The dashboard.
Using larger UI elements that make navigation easier to understand alone simplified the recording process, and enhanced flows increased efficiency. My designs, in collaboration with the PM, stakeholders, and devs, translate directly into cost savings, allowing our organization to allocate more resources towards supporting its mission, rather than spending on time-consuming processes.
I am the only designer working with digital products in our organization, and I collaborate with a distributed team of developers from Europe, and two product people from the East Coast and Colorado. With the majority of our stakeholders working from Albuquerque, NM, where I work, I take on the responsibility of managing expectations and ensuring alignment on the project's direction. This role positions me as the bridge between our local stakeholders and our remote team by helping keep everyone on the same page.
We faced many challenges, especially in the beginning, but we have made it work. Despite the troubles, we remain on great terms and continue to maintain a solid working relationship.
The biggest impact comes when we start seeing people save time by completing tasks faster and more comfortably. The number of languages being recorded is jumping up and this is what matters in our org because people are on a mission here.
Hearing feedback from stakeholders and seeing how the app was making things easier for them and their users was a huge validation that our efforts were paying off. The improvements I introduce as a designer on a daily basis aren't about design, they are about making people work more comfortably, efficiently, and faster.