The Problem Statement
College students face challenges managing tight schedules, particularly when required to read extensive articles for class. The lack of sufficient time often hinders comprehensive understanding and retention of essential concepts. Existing tools may not efficiently address these issues. There is a need for a solution that is easily accessible and seamlessly integrates into students' workflows, providing quick summarization and explanation of articles and concepts. Additionally, incorporating interactive features such as quizzes, a recognized effective learning technique, can enhance the learning experience and contribute to more efficient and productive studying. Our Chrome extension, Ryze aims to help students navigate their demanding lives while still practicing healthy learning strategies.
Research and Analysis
Market Research
We started by looking into existing Chrome Extensions like Evernote and Tab Wrangler. I made note of their Chrome Extension UI as well as the additional features and information on their landing pages and dashboards as a way to see what works in the market. The Pros and Cons are detailed below:
User Research
Next, we analyzed our target audience and tried to figure out their needs. After conducting some one-on-one semi-structured interviews, we found that our extension would primarily cater to students at different levels of schooling. The main findings are detailed below:
Design Process
For our product design, I started by designing a Chrome extension displaying our three central features using our predetermined color scheme: the blue-purple gradient with shades of grey.
Our main focus at the start was to have basic functionality and brand identity down, acquire users, and then expand later.
Next, I focused on creating the design for the landing page, where I tried to keep it informative and not overload the user with too much information.
Following this, I am now focussing on expanding the functionality of Ryze by designing a dashboard with more features like a way to keep track of history, pdf upload, text interactions(directly asking the text questions with the help of AI), and quizzes/flashcards to cover entire text.
Design System
Our Solution (April, 2023)
Currently, Ryze consists of the Chrome Extension Pop Up, and the Landing Page with information about the product. I am still in the process of creating the dashboard and making adjustments according to the user requirements. These are some initial wireframes I had made prior to conducting the user interviews.
