North-star: Plantix App ANAND CHAFEKAR

11/6/19

Background

The Plantix UX team would like to create north star design for their current app. The app solves current
agriculture problems in diagnosing plant diseases, pest damages and nutrient deficiencies affecting crops. It
also offers corresponding treatment.

Goals
Redesigning Plantix’s current app regarding information architecture and navigation.

Research Questions (Longitudinal study)

Let’s assume, these are research questions raised by the design team. They are essential for building the
Plantix North-star. Each research study will help the design team with specific research insights. It would
help them to take critical design decisions.

• Which applications are used by the user to diagnose plant diseases and why?
• How do users utilize the digital platform(s) to solve their problem?
• What are the current pain points users identify the information about diagnosing plant disease
online?
• Do users understand what the Plantix App is offering them?
• Do users understand the Plantix app's overall IA and navigation? If not, why? If yes, why?
• Do users have any concern(s) with the Plantix App If not, why? If yes, why?
• Do users find any value in the proposed design? Why? Do the Plantix app meet any unmet
need? If so, why?
• Do understand the critical step of taking a photo of the crop and uploading on the App for the
diagnosis?
• What are the user's pain points, frustrations, errors, and challenges discovered while testing
Plantix prototype versions and why?
• Which design variants have more ease of use score compared to control and why?
• Which design interactions are better in each variant, and why?
• How do the users perceive Plantix app as? A. Solution provider, B. Educational app, and why?
• How likely are the users to use Plantix app? And why?
 North-star: Plantix App ANAND CHAFEKAR
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Methods
Longitudinal study

Study flow as per Design phases

STAGE 1

User interviews

Background

This study will be conducted to understand users current plant diseases diagnosing app(s)
experience. Their current pain points with the current app(s) and how they perceive Plantix
application. Do they find any value in the app and its offerings? And how they are able to
interact with the Plantix app?
 North-star: Plantix App ANAND CHAFEKAR
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Measures/Metrics
• Discoverability: What information is discovered by the user online for plant diseases, pest
damages and nutrient deficiencies affecting crops
• Comprehension: Do users understand the content/information laid on the apps and website (s)
and how it works?
• Value: What is the perceived value of these apps/website (s) regarding the usefulness and how
it is helpful in meeting user’s agricultural needs. What is the critical information user wants to
know on Plantix apps?

Study recruitment and screener

Pre study screener

Do you know how to read?

Yes- Accept
No-Reject

Do you know how to use a smart phone?

Yes- Accept
No-Reject

What is current age?

18- 35 years – Accept

40-60 years- Reject
60 above- Reject

1.Are you a farmer who has active crop growing on the field?
Yes – Accept
No- Reject

2. Do you a smart phone with an active 3G or 4G connection?

Yes- Accept
No- Reject

3. What apps you use online on your smartphone every day? (Multiple answers apply)?
Google – Accept
YouTube- Accept
Facebook- Accept
WhatsApp- Accept
None of the above – Reject

4. Which of the following apps you have used earlier? (Have to select one)
Plantix- May select
 North-star: Plantix App ANAND CHAFEKAR
11/6/19

Agrosmart- May select

Sailog- May select
Zenvus – May select
Airwood- May select
Pestoz- May select
Others – May select (record response)

Participants

N=10

Study preparation and schedule

Visit a small town in Maharashtra. Co-ordinate with the Towns panchayat for the study and
recruitment. Set up a screener round for the participants. Once they are finalized, set up a place
for interview with Mobile Lab (camera to capture video, sound and Mobile screen or screen
recording while user is performing a study task)

Time line: 2 weeks (Study + Analysis + Report)

Study questions

Task 1 Pre-study questions

Task script: For this part we would like to know your recent plant disease diagnosing experience where you have
used multiple or a particular app to find the solution.
Expected Understand users recent experience with the particular app, pain points and workarounds
result:
Success NA
measure:
What we’ll 1. Understanding users current online experience with the app
learn: 2. How do the users find relevant information?
3. How they interact with key interactions?
 North-star: Plantix App ANAND CHAFEKAR
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Follow-up
questions: 1. Tell me about the app (s)you use for diagnosing plant disease online? [verbal response]
2. Can you walk me through the steps how you obtain the plant related information?
[verbal response]
3. How satisfied are you with your current app experience? [1 – not satisfied, 5- very
satisfied] [verbal response]
4. Could you please explain your rating and why you rated the way you did? [verbal
5. response]

Task 1 Ta Task on Plantix App

Task script: For this part we would like you to use our Plantix app. Choose any plant which is infected of your
choice from your field and find the solution for the Plantix app.
Expected Interaction with the Plantix app, engagement with the key flows (uploading the photo), synthesizing
result: Plantix solution etc.
Success NA
measure:
What we’ll 1. Understand user’s current online app experience with the Plantix app
learn: 2. How they interact/ engage with the key interactions?
3. How do the users find relevant information?
4. Do they understand the content?

Follow-up 1. Can you please explain in your own words what the overall Plantix app is?
questions: 2. Tell me what your initial thoughts are on this Plantix app?’
A. You talked me through your previous plant disease diagnosing experience, how
does this app compare to that?’
B. Do you see value in this Plantix app? If not, why? If so, what is that value?
3. Do you have any concerns about this app? Tell me about them
4. Do you feel this App fills an unmet need, when you look for plant disease
information and its solution?’
5. How likely are you to use this app? Why?
[1: not likely at all – 5: very likely]
6. Tell me what you find interesting about this app? Why?
 North-star: Plantix App ANAND CHAFEKAR
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Dairy Study

Background

A diary study is a research method that will help to collect qualitative data about user behaviors,
activities, and experiences over time about the Plantix app. In a diary study, the users can self-report the
data longitudinally. It would be in context with testing the critical interaction like uploading the crop
photos online by using their phone

The most effective method would be a user sending photos by his/her smartphone. User can take a
screenshot of the app while conducting any activity using Plantix app. By running a diary study, we can
monitor how our users are feeling every time they interact with our product. It allows us to experience
the highs and lows right there with them, as well as their thoughts, feelings, questions, frustrations,
technical errors. etc.

Study recruitment and screener

Same as study 1

Additional question:

Are you willing to share your daily experience with Plantix app over a month?
Yes- Accept
No-Reject

Study preparation and schedule

Visit a small town in Maharashtra. Co-ordinate with the Towns panchayat for the study and recruitment.
Set up a screener round for the participants. Once the screening is finalized help the user with the dairy
study instructions, conduct a dry run of the activity.

Participants

N=10
 North-star: Plantix App ANAND CHAFEKAR
11/6/19

Method

Task script: Please share your daily log with the Plantix App
Expected 1. Key issues, confusions, frustrations, errors that the user is facing during using the
result: Plantix app.

Success NA
measure:
What we’ll How are users Interacting with the Plantix app.? What kind of issues they face on a daily basis? How
learn: often they use the app and why? What kind of technical errors they face and why? How well they
communicate the issues, challenges and why?
Method 1. Log the daily activity via WhatsApp
2. Take photos where the Plantix app is going to be used
3. Perform any key interaction directed by the design team (e.g. uploading the photos
from phone gallery etc.)
4. Raise and identify any concerns using the app and communicate them via WhatsApp
by message
5. Take a screenshot on mobile and explain any key issues, confusions, frustrations,
errors that the user faced during using the Plantix app.
6. Share any additional information which the user finds it most, least and useful while
interacting with the Plantix app.

Stage 2

1.Ease of use
This study will be conducted in the second phase to evaluate the usability evaluation of Plantix
app. This study will help us to calculate the UX scorecard along with details of users and
confusion.

Study recruitment and screener

Same as study 1

Method
 North-star: Plantix App ANAND CHAFEKAR
11/6/19

User will be given a task to engage with a key interaction in Plantix app. The researcher will note the
number of errors, confusion, tasks fail and calculate the usability score for the Plantix app. This study is
advised to conduct every three months to check the usability score with the previous one.

2.Competitive bench marking lab study

Background
This study will help to have a benchmarking score for Plantix’s app competitors. It would help the design
teams to know how other competitors are performing in terms of the features, overall design, and what
are the challenges faced by the user when they use these apps. e.

Study recruitment and screener

Same as study 1

Method

User will be asked to perform a task on a competitors app. The researcher will make a note of the user’s
errors, several confusions, interaction issues and will ask the user about the overall score.

E.g. on a scale of 1-7, How would you rate your experience for the task you have completed on this app?

1-very hard, 7- very easy

Now, please explain why you rated the way you did and why?

3.Card sort
This method will be helpful to test the current IA of the design and mental model of the user. This
method will be beneficial to design the north-star IA and make necessary changes into the interactions.

Study recruitment and screener:

Same as study 1

Method
 North-star: Plantix App ANAND CHAFEKAR
11/6/19

The researcher is encouraged to conduct a study non-digital way by utilizing the post-it notes and ask
the user to bucket the information and understand why it. A reverse card sort is a follow-up study is
highly recommended.

Stage 3

Prototype evaluation lab study

Background

Once the research insights are incorporated into the design from stage 1 and stage 2 phases, the team
would like to test various design variants which would possibly solve users’ problems and improve their
user experience.

It will help the UX team to understand which elements from various design variants best help the users
to meet their needs.
Study recruitment and screener

Same as study 1

Method
User will be invited into a lab (in our case it will be a mobile lab) and will be asked to explain both
variants in their own words. He/she will be asked to do an essential task on each variant. In the end, the
user will be shown multiple variants side by side and asked which one they think is better. It will be also
in terms of achieving their task and why? What is most, least and useful information on these variants
and why?

Stage 4

Plantix North-star final design study

Background

This study will be iterative and have agile testing way. This team will understand discoverability,
comprehension, and value of the entire design.
 North-star: Plantix App ANAND CHAFEKAR
11/6/19

Study recruitment and screener

Same as study 1

Method

The user will be asked to explain each element of the design and the will to a task which would be in
relation with a key interaction. The user will to rate the overall experience on the app and a reasoning.

The researcher will be able to help the team to understand which elements are discovered by the user.
Do the users find any value in the design and why? What are the top concern users have while
interacting with the app, how likely are they to use this app and why? What is most, least and useful
information on the app and why?

THANK YOU
Anand Chafekar