ObitWriter
This is ObitWriter’s product evolution. The goal for ObitWriter was to create a one-of-a-kind tool where users can be guided through the process of writing and submitting an obituary.
INITIAL CONCEPTS - BETA LAUNCH
The first round of designs focused on function above all else. A step-by-step flow guides users through all pertinent information needed to create a basic obituary. The tool then generates an obituary using natural language processing to construct the obit text from the fields entered. Users can take the final text as-is or edit and make changes. After that users are are encouraged to share, collaborate with family members and publish with a local newspaper.
A product launch video was created for stakeholders and beta test groups and was also featured at select industry conferences to attract visitors to try the beta version. The beta version was quick to market to gain user feedback and continue its evolution.
Round 2: QUICK PIVOT
Beta launch gave way to a second iteration. The design tweaks were based on unmoderated surveys and customer support communication, with additional input from industry experts.
ROUND 3: EXPANDED RESEARCH & RAPID PROTOTYPING
User interviews with early adopters helped the team understand pain points and opportunities. Patterns emerged from how the day-in-the-life users interacted the tool, which informed tweaks to prototypes and even some bigger picture issues on the global site.
Rapid prototype sketches allowed us to get the next generation of designs in front of real users to help validate iterations.
IN TIME OF NEED
The latest variation gives users two paths.
1) Show me: A guided experience, holding a users hand through each step.
2) Inspire me - for users who may have started a draft and want examples as a way to finalize the document.
Form fields can be added and removed as needed. This was meant to reduce the cognitive stress on a user when certain fields may not apply, or worse, when they offend.
Stay tuned for more ongoing research and prototyping…