Introduction

The way people live and work today is dramatically different than it was a decade ago and this can hugely be attributed to the device we hold in the palm of our hands. Our smartphones have created new ways for us to spend and make money that are as easy as setting plans for the weekend or swiping for a date.

These new ways of making money have given rise to a gig economy that seemingly provides freedom and fulfillment to those that partake in it. More and more young people are opting for these flexible work schedules while they study, travel or chase their dreams.

Companies such as Uber, Dunzo, Swiggy, Zomato act as the medium through which the worker is connected to the consumer. These companies are trying to make it easier for workers to find a quick, temporary job, which can include any kind of work through app-based technology platforms.

This is where the app my.job comes in. It is an app that is inspired by and catered to the rising gig economy. Users can easily browse and book gigs that fit their schedule with an assurance of getting paid within 24hrs. This system cuts out temp agencies and puts users in control, both on the job seeker and business sides.

Objective

Propose a platform that can make it easier for workers to find a quick, temporary job. Study the gig economy concept. Outline your fact or assumptions in terms of your target audience, problems they are facing, how did you establish the problems, what you are trying to solve and how does your design intend to solve the problems.

Benefits of Gig Work culture

From Job Seeker Perspective

Working on projects for multiple companies simultaneously can help to grow skillsets and expose workers to more opportunities.

Freedom- More independence and freedom to choose when and where to work.

Less risk of job and income loss with multiple employers.

In some fields, gig workers can earn more.

From Employer Perspective

No fixed salary, no sick pay, paid holidays etc.

Lots of flexible employees.

Agility in scaling the workforce up and down quickly to meet business demand.

Problem Statement

People with flexible lifestyles are seeking efficient ways to earn extra cash in their free time without having to go through time consuming temporary agencies or deal with unverified employers from classified ads. I also learnt that students are willing to do part time jobs while doing their studies so that they can manage their expenses on their own.

Goal

Connect job seekers and companies with immediate temp work fulfilment. Cut out the middle-man and put job seekers in control by providing a platform for them to easily fill their free time with gig work.

MVP: Due to the restricted time frame, this case study focuses only on the job seeker’s user flow and experience.

Tools Used: Pencil & paper, Adobe XD and Adobe Illustrator.

Process: Research > Planning > Design

Pre- Research (Assumptions)

WHO are the users?

      University students, unskilled labours, individuals etc.

WHERE can this product be used?

      Anywhere in city or town.

WHAT challenges does this product solves?

      Job finding and worker finding.

WHEN can the users use this product?

      In their specific needs and free time.

WHY user will be motivated to use this product?

      Because of their needs.

Research

User research provides an essential foundation for design strategy. It helps you to create an optimal product for users. Most importantly, you’ll have the data to back your strategy and design decisions. User research also helps you to identify early adopters who would use your product.

Domain & Organisational Research

I started my research by looking at the temporary work domain as a whole. I mainly focused on applications that are available in the current market. Listing down some of the apps I took to compare certain features to find the gaps.

GigSmart

Upshift

Gigpro

Workwhile

Competitive & Comparative Analysis

User Survey

By primarily asking open-ended questions in my user survey, I was able to understand the different needs of the users in their own words.

Survey Results

Majority of the market of people looking for temp work are millennials (ages 26–35) and gen z (ages 18–25) for a total of 83.3%.

The top industries they are looking to work in are: hospitality, events and promotions.

Job seekers value clear communication, close proximity and choosing their preferred industry.

Part-time is a big thing for students, as it covers living and food for them.

User Persona

Based on all the information I gathered, I created this persona for the my.job app, named Rajesh Gowda who is a university student with a flexible schedule. Rajesh is the typical user we are designing this app for. His needs will be met with the features that address his particular goals and frustrations which I have determined from user surveys and interviews.

 

User Journey Map

Mapping the experience of Rajesh’s activities and thought process throughout the job searching process.

Persona: Rajesh Gowda

Scenario(Anticipated): Rajesh is a hardworking full time student looking for part time jobs to take care of his personal expenses.

 

User Flow

The following graphic depicts the user flow for working with my.job gig app.

 

Feature Prioritization

Putting all the research together, I was able to create a list of features that I felt was necessary for the minimum viable product (MVP). I also organised the remaining features in bucket of “Not Needed” and “Nice to Have”.

 

Design

Lоw/ Mid-Fi Mockups

High Fidelity Mockups