Shindig: A Collaborative Event Planning Site

View the Interactive Prototype
three screens for creating an event on Shindig overlayed on a patterned background

Background

People plan events of all sizes and types every day.  How do they all come together? Is it the work of an individual with super planning powers? Is there a team of people pulling together, pooling their knowledge? How can anyone pull off planning joyful and thoughtful events in our busy lives, when we are all scattered across the country or the world, trying to keep on top of everything that needs to be done?

Opportunity
Is there a way to help people feel confident planning with others across distances, keep on top of tasks that need to be done, share details about the event with planners and attendees, and find ideas and inspiration about the events and locations that they are planning?
Potential Users
Potential users are those individuals who are likely to plan multiple small and large events per year.  The are likely to consider themselves “planners”, and although they may lack some confidence in their abilities, they are proud and excited to host events.  They typically identify as female and are generally ages 20-60.
Objectives
Research objective: We want to know how people plan events collaboratively and what challenges they experience when doing so.

Product objective: We want to make a product that alleviates pain points in the collaborative planning process.

Research

I combined primary research via interviews of potential users with competitor research of similar products to be sure I had a good vision of who plans events, how they plan them, what tools they use, how they feel through the process, and what frustrates them.  

Primary Research: Interviews

I spoke with 4 participants who had recently planned events with others. All identified as female, and were in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. Some planned personal events such as kids' birthday parties or family reunions; some planned events as part of their job responsibilities.

Affinity Mapping

Key Themes

I found these 8 themes bubbled up through the mapping:
  • Self-directed responsibility
  • The importance of thinking about others’ experience when planning
  • Virtual tools help people stay in the loop on tasks
  • Reminders need to be gentle
  • Collaboration is a double edged sword
  • How people communicate
  • Party planning as visual
  • The preference for the analog

Key Takeaways

  • No product fully encompasses collaborative event planning needs
  • Most project/event planning products are aimed at professional needs, rather than personal
  • The closest competitor ("The Knot") has no collaborative tools, and only focuses on weddings
  • All products include in-app messaging, suggesting a valuable service

Creating a User Persona

"Julie: Concerned Planner"

User Persona

One persona for this product is "Julie". Julie represents the user who is enthusiastic about hosting an event, although stressed by the planning coordination. She needs to engage other planners across distance on the tasks and decisions, but has trouble doing so. In some cases, her planners are not as tech savvy as she is, or they are too busy to schedule regular meetings with.

"Julie" wants to plan an event she is proud of hosting, guided by a clear vision of the event. She wants to be inspired and excited by event planning, not dreading it.

Creating a User Persona

User Persona

One persona for this product is "Julie". Julie represents the user who is enthusiastic about hosting an event, although stressed by the planning coordination. She needs to engage other planners across distance on the tasks and decisions, but has trouble doing so. In some cases, her planners are not as tech savvy as she is, or they are too busy to schedule regular meetings with.

"Julie" wants to plan an event she is proud of hosting, guided by a clear vision of the event. She wants to be inspired and excited by event planning, not dreading it.

Developing Solutions

Once I had a good idea of the motivations, goals, and pain points of potential users, I started to ideate on how to help solve the problems they face through Point of View Statements and turning them into How Might We...? questions.

Priority Features

I created a MoSCoW chart of all potential features to explore options for the product. From this, a list of "must-have" features was determined.

Priority Features

  • Account creation
  • Event creation and event detail management
  • Creating and managing a list of tasks and subtasks
  • Assign and track due dates to tasks
  • Assign ownership to tasks
  • Shared image board with commenting
  • Invite collaborators and collaborative management of event/task details
  • Group chat

Site Map

I outlined the site structure into three main sections behind the sign in gateway: events, communications, and account. The events pages house the majority of the features of the site. Communication is currently home to the group chat feature, but has room to grow to include future planned notifications, surveys, and guest communication features.

Site Map

I outlined the site structure into three main sections behind the sign in gateway: events, communications, and account. The events pages house the majority of the features of the site. Communication is currently home to the group chat feature, but has room to grow to include future planned notifications, surveys, and guest communication features.

User Flows and Task Flows

Symbols Key

I created user flows which helped visualize all the decision points and potential pathways users might take to complete the must-have functions of the product. 6 user flows were created: Chatting with co-planners, Checking off to-do list tasks, Adding an image to the mood board, Creating a new event, Creating a new account, and Logging in

User Flows and Task Flows

I created user flows which helped visualize all the decision points and potential pathways users might take to complete the must-have functions of the product. 6 user flows were created: Chatting with co-planners, Checking off to-do list tasks, Adding an image to the mood board, Creating a new event, Creating a new account, and Logging in

Symbols Key

Chatting with Event Collaborators

Checking Off To-do Tasks

Adding an Image to a Mood Board

Creating a New Account

Logging in/Signing up

Create New Event

Task Flows

These were then streamlined into task flows.

Task Flows

These were then streamlined into task flows.

Adding New Task to an Event

Sending a Message in a New Group Chat

Creating a New Event

Adding an Image to a Mood Board

Logging in/Signing up

Mid Fidelity Wireframes

After sharing with colleagues, some design elements were added, determinations about page variations were made, and first decisions about visual hierarchy and spacing were made.

Mid Fidelity Wireframes

After sharing with colleagues, some design elements were added, determinations about page variations were made, and first decisions about visual hierarchy and spacing were made.

Mood Board

Mood Board

a moodboard for Shindig featuring florals, pinks, organges, and browns

Orange and pink/coral colors invoke energy and warmth, while also being grounded in earthy tones.  Style should be excited but not untouchable or exclusive.

Core Brand Values:

  • Creative
  • Vibrant
  • Energetic
  • Welcoming
  • Collaborative
  • Inclusive
  • Unified

Logo/Wordmark

the word shindig in brown with a party pennant hanging between the h and the dlogo in pink with two party hats

In developing a logo and wordmark, I wanted to emphasize the product as bringing people together, hence the two party hats, while keeping the nature of the event somewhat vague.

Testing and Revising

I tested 4 tasks representing key functions of the product: Creating a new event, Adding an image to the mood board, commenting on the image, and starting a group chat.

Users responded positively to the appearance, feel, and functions of the prototype. Overall, they responded that the tasks were not difficult, the experience was enjoyable, they felt comfortable completing tasks using the site, and they were likely to use the product.

Revisions

  • Change Italiana font due to readability issues
  • Add chat widget to event dashboard
  • Build out nav drawer to have more expected functionality
  • Disable alternate input during “add a planner” step once input method has been chosen
  • Reduce bottom nav bar options for simplicity
  • Give success message on “add a planner” final page
  • Add trash icon to planner names to indicate how to remove planners
  • Recheck color contrast in key areas
  • Change event title during event creation process
  • Add ability to continue adding tasks during event creation
  • Remove button options during event creation when unnecessary and confusing
  • Allow “back” during event creation to return to previous steps rather than “My events”

Testing and Revising

I tested 4 tasks representing key functions of the product: Creating a new event, Adding an image to the mood board, commenting on the image, and starting a group chat.

Users responded positively to the appearance, feel, and functions of the prototype. Overall, they responded that the tasks were not difficult, the experience was enjoyable, they felt comfortable completing tasks using the site, and they were likely to use the product.

Revisions

  • Change Italiana font due to readability issues
  • Add chat widget to event dashboard
  • Build out nav drawer to have more expected functionality
  • Disable alternate input during “add a planner” step once input method has been chosen
  • Reduce bottom nav bar options for simplicity
  • Give success message on “add a planner” final page
  • Add trash icon to planner names to indicate how to remove planners
  • Recheck color contrast in key areas
  • Change event title during event creation process
  • Add ability to continue adding tasks during event creation
  • Remove button options during event creation when unnecessary and confusing
  • Allow “back” during event creation to return to previous steps rather than “My events”

Key Revised Screens

Product walk-through

Interact with the prototype in Figma

Video

In this video, I give a tour of the 4 flows tested during product development: Creating a new event, Adding images to a mood board, Commenting on an image, and Starting a group chat.