[PROJECT]

TASKS

Adapting to the variability of work across different company sizes and industries, Project Tasks streamline capturing next steps and to-dos with 'at-a-glance' functionality, reducing the need for complex checklists.

Adapting to the variability of work across different company sizes and industries, Project Tasks streamline capturing next steps and to-dos with 'at-a-glance' functionality, reducing the need for complex checklists.

Platform

Mobile / Desktop

Role

Product Designer / Researcher

Delivery Time

Two Cycles, 6 Weeks Total

Platform

Mobile / Desktop

Role

Product Designer / Researcher

Delivery Time

Two Cycles, 6 Weeks Total

The image shows two smartphones displaying different screens of an app. The phone on the left shows a project overview page with tasks, notes, and checklists for the "Smith Project" in Lincoln, NE. The tasks are listed, and there is an option to add more tasks. The phone on the right displays a task creation or editing screen, where a new task "Pick up excess drywall" is being typed in. Both phones highlight the task management features of the app, showcasing the ease of adding and viewing tasks related to a project.
The image shows two smartphones displaying different screens of an app. The phone on the left shows a project overview page with tasks, notes, and checklists for the "Smith Project" in Lincoln, NE. The tasks are listed, and there is an option to add more tasks. The phone on the right displays a task creation or editing screen, where a new task "Pick up excess drywall" is being typed in. Both phones highlight the task management features of the app, showcasing the ease of adding and viewing tasks related to a project.
A user interface with icons for different actions, including a checkmark with a notification badge showing 4.
A task management interface showing a list of tasks, with one task highlighted and being edited to ‘Pick up galvanized lag screws'.

The Problem

For users needing a simple task management system or to document next steps on a job site, the existing Checklists feature was clunky and slow, forcing users to jump through hoops to create simple tasks and capture ad-hoc project details.

The Problem

For users needing a simple task management system or to document next steps on a job site, the existing Checklists feature was clunky and slow, forcing users to jump through hoops to create simple tasks and capture ad-hoc project details.

The Problem

For users needing a simple task management system or to document next steps on a job site, the existing Checklists feature was clunky and slow, forcing users to jump through hoops to create simple tasks and capture ad-hoc project details.

How Might We...

Dramatically simplify task creation and management, ensuring that both office and field users have immediate access to view, create, and manage their tasks and next steps?

How Might We...

Dramatically simplify task creation and management, ensuring that both office and field users have immediate access to view, create, and manage their tasks and next steps?

How Might We...

Dramatically simplify task creation and management, ensuring that both office and field users have immediate access to view, create, and manage their tasks and next steps?

The Solution

Tasks were placed directly on the project screen for visibility and quick access, eliminating the need for users to jump between multiple screens to view and manage tasks. They were also embedded in a core feature: Photos, allowing users to create new tasks and next steps directly from existing content.

The Solution

Tasks were placed directly on the project screen for visibility and quick access, eliminating the need for users to jump between multiple screens to view and manage tasks. They were also embedded in a core feature: Photos, allowing users to create new tasks and next steps directly from existing content.

The Solution

Tasks were placed directly on the project screen for visibility and quick access, eliminating the need for users to jump between multiple screens to view and manage tasks. They were also embedded in a core feature: Photos, allowing users to create new tasks and next steps directly from existing content.

33%

Of trials converted after using Tasks

33%

Of trials converted after using Tasks

33%

Of trials converted after using Tasks

3,600

With ~3,600 tasks created at the time of writing

3,600

With ~3,600 tasks created at the time of writing

3,600

With ~3,600 tasks created at the time of writing

1,200

By ~1,200 unique companies

1,200

By ~1,200 unique companies

1,200

By ~1,200 unique companies

Creating New Tasks - Project Screen

Task creation was streamlined based on user feedback from Checklists, enabling quick and easy task creation directly from the Project Screen. Tasks are prominently displayed as the first element when opening a project, ensuring immediate access and maintaining project context for reference.

Creating New Tasks - Project Screen

Task creation was streamlined based on user feedback from Checklists, enabling quick and easy task creation directly from the Project Screen. Tasks are prominently displayed as the first element when opening a project, ensuring immediate access and maintaining project context for reference.

Creating New Tasks - Project Screen

Task creation was streamlined based on user feedback from Checklists, enabling quick and easy task creation directly from the Project Screen. Tasks are prominently displayed as the first element when opening a project, ensuring immediate access and maintaining project context for reference.

Creating Tasks from Photos

Creating tasks directly from a photo was essential for the MVP, enabling users to contextually create tasks and next steps from existing assets.

Creating Tasks from Photos

Creating tasks directly from a photo was essential for the MVP, enabling users to contextually create tasks and next steps from existing assets.

Creating Tasks from Photos

Creating tasks directly from a photo was essential for the MVP, enabling users to contextually create tasks and next steps from existing assets.

The Context

We launched Checklists in 2021 to help customers capture next steps. As we added features like Templates and Questions, our customer base grew to include those needing repeatable lists for quality assurance and liability. However, over time, users found Checklists too clunky for quick, ad-hoc tasks, leaving them with few better alternatives. TLDR ⬇️

The Context

We launched Checklists in 2021 to help customers capture next steps. As we added features like Templates and Questions, our customer base grew to include those needing repeatable lists for quality assurance and liability. However, over time, users found Checklists too clunky for quick, ad-hoc tasks, leaving them with few better alternatives. TLDR ⬇️

The Context

We launched Checklists in 2021 to help customers capture next steps. As we added features like Templates and Questions, our customer base grew to include those needing repeatable lists for quality assurance and liability. However, over time, users found Checklists too clunky for quick, ad-hoc tasks, leaving them with few better alternatives. TLDR ⬇️

The ease of use and flow [of the app] is so intuitive, but Checklists are two or three steps outside of the normal. I feel like it should be easier.

The ease of use and flow [of the app] is so intuitive, but Checklists are two or three steps outside of the normal. I feel like it should be easier.

Checklists are fine for structured stuff, but they suck for capturing quick project details on the fly.

Checklists are fine for structured stuff, but they suck for capturing quick project details on the fly.

They're [Checklists] useful, but setting them up and maintaining them was too much work. They're not easy to use.

They're [Checklists] useful, but setting them up and maintaining them was too much work. They're not easy to use.

Checklists Require Too Many Steps

In talking with users, it was obvious why our stickiness was less than desirable. For users just looking to jot down quick to-do’s, it required them to navigate through several steps: jumping from project to checklists, deciding on creating a new list, choosing between starting from scratch or using a template, and then creating tasks. This tedious process led to frustration and poor retention.

Checklists Require Too Many Steps

In talking with users, it was obvious why our stickiness was less than desirable. For users just looking to jot down quick to-do’s, it required them to navigate through several steps: jumping from project to checklists, deciding on creating a new list, choosing between starting from scratch or using a template, and then creating tasks. This tedious process led to frustration and poor retention.

Checklists Require Too Many Steps

In talking with users, it was obvious why our stickiness was less than desirable. For users just looking to jot down quick to-do’s, it required them to navigate through several steps: jumping from project to checklists, deciding on creating a new list, choosing between starting from scratch or using a template, and then creating tasks. This tedious process led to frustration and poor retention.

Flowchart depicting the process of navigating to checklists within a project. It shows the steps of deciding whether to create a new list, choosing between starting from scratch or using a template, and creating new tasks. The flow includes options for both creating a new list and using an existing one.
Flowchart depicting the process of navigating to checklists within a project. It shows the steps of deciding whether to create a new list, choosing between starting from scratch or using a template, and creating new tasks. The flow includes options for both creating a new list and using an existing one.
Flowchart depicting the process of navigating to checklists within a project. It shows the steps of deciding whether to create a new list, choosing between starting from scratch or using a template, and creating new tasks. The flow includes options for both creating a new list and using an existing one.

Exploration

Sketches and low-fidelity whimsicals were key to this project. They helped validate some ideas and showed others were too complicated for our first go. These early design stages gave us crucial insights, letting us focus on the doable solutions for the MVP release.

Exploration

Sketches and low-fidelity whimsicals were key to this project. They helped validate some ideas and showed others were too complicated for our first go. These early design stages gave us crucial insights, letting us focus on the doable solutions for the MVP release.

Exploration

Sketches and low-fidelity whimsicals were key to this project. They helped validate some ideas and showed others were too complicated for our first go. These early design stages gave us crucial insights, letting us focus on the doable solutions for the MVP release.

  • Sketch of UI designs in a notebook, exploring task management features for web and mobile interfaces, including considerations for task size, photo attachments, and future extensibility.
  • UI mockup exploring task management features in a modal, with questions about the best way to display information and surface tasks without hiding them behind additional clicks.
  • UI mockup exploring how to display images within tasks, with considerations for use cases, the number of images, and the presentation of images in tasks.

Building Confidence

We initially considered adding future features like attachments and assignments in existing navigation tabs but decided to launch with a simplified MVP. The Figma/Whimsical hybrid design stage was crucial, allowing the visualization of interactions before high-fidelity prototypes. This mockup resolved uncertainty about placing Tasks in the web sidebar, as I was unsure whether it provided enough long-term real estate.

Building Confidence

We initially considered adding future features like attachments and assignments in existing navigation tabs but decided to launch with a simplified MVP. The Figma/Whimsical hybrid design stage was crucial, allowing the visualization of interactions before high-fidelity prototypes. This mockup resolved uncertainty about placing Tasks in the web sidebar, as I was unsure whether it provided enough long-term real estate.

Building Confidence

We initially considered adding future features like attachments and assignments in existing navigation tabs but decided to launch with a simplified MVP. The Figma/Whimsical hybrid design stage was crucial, allowing the visualization of interactions before high-fidelity prototypes. This mockup resolved uncertainty about placing Tasks in the web sidebar, as I was unsure whether it provided enough long-term real estate.

UI mockup of a project management interface showing a project named ‘My Project.’ The interface includes sections for photos, documents, reports, and to-do lists. The right sidebar features contact info, assigned users, collaborators, a project notepad, project tasks, and project conversation areas. Multiple photo placeholders are displayed under specific dates.
UI mockup of a project management interface showing a project named ‘My Project.’ The interface includes sections for photos, documents, reports, and to-do lists. The right sidebar features contact info, assigned users, collaborators, a project notepad, project tasks, and project conversation areas. Multiple photo placeholders are displayed under specific dates.

Key Takeaways

This is one of my favorite projects, not for its complexity, but for how quickly we met our target audience’s needs while adding value to our business. The key lesson: sometimes less is more. Over time, our extensive Checklists proved less ideal for users seeking a simple, quick solution. If I had to do it over again… • I would’ve prioritized gathering usability feedback early, which likely would’ve highlighted some initial shortcomings with the MVP.

Key Takeaways

This is one of my favorite projects, not for its complexity, but for how quickly we met our target audience’s needs while adding value to our business. The key lesson: sometimes less is more. Over time, our extensive Checklists proved less ideal for users seeking a simple, quick solution. If I had to do it over again… • I would’ve prioritized gathering usability feedback early, which likely would’ve highlighted some initial shortcomings with the MVP.

Key Takeaways

This is one of my favorite projects, not for its complexity, but for how quickly we met our target audience’s needs while adding value to our business. The key lesson: sometimes less is more. Over time, our extensive Checklists proved less ideal for users seeking a simple, quick solution. If I had to do it over again… • I would’ve prioritized gathering usability feedback early, which likely would’ve highlighted some initial shortcomings with the MVP.