Useful Systems, Inc.
Product Strategy + Design
Identity & Brand Design
Design Systems
Promotional Design
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The Useful app was built for the field service industry (roofers, plumbers, electricians, landscapers, etc.) aimed at providing a mobile solution for a highly mobile workforce. Many apps in the space were built on old technology and weren’t mobile-first.
We came into the project in 2014. There was already an app in the market and the team had tripled it’s engineering staff so it was time to get busy with rolling out some new stuff.
Our approach throughout the project was to build on the initial concept. There wasn’t any reason to overhaul the entire app, but to provide new insights and continue to enhance the user’s mobile experience. The product needed to grow to support key features and new user goals, but also needed to continue to be something useful.
Creative Director & Principal Product Designer:
Jaron Jackson
Lead Product Designer & Art Director
Tyler Zenk
Iconography
data entry experience
Workflow forms
Much of the day-to-day is driven by data entry at any point in the workflow process. We went back to our previous form design and did additional testing on how to make things easier for our user. A lot of what we noticed is that in some instances, it’s better to have more than less. We couldn’t hide fields behind cool UI buttons or dropdowns. So based on our research we presented the fields that would be most relevant when the phone rings. We also tried to position the ordering to serve as an outline while taking the call for the new job/request.
We also wanted to improve the spacing for tappable areas. Much of the data entry is done out in the field so we needed to make sure that user with gloves on could interact with the fields and enter what they need.
Animations
Of course we had to have a little fun with it.
