Overview

Problem

Students often encounter lots of difficulties when writing essays, thesis, and other kinds of papers. Through research, I learned that there are two biggest difficulties for students: one is how to write a paper following the right steps, the other is how to ensure that the format is appropriate. Only a small number of students use professional paper writing softwares, most students, however, choose to use text editors that are not dedicated to paper writing, like Microsoft Word, which will create the difficulties in writing a paper.

Solution

• Students can find instruction steps according to their own writing needs, such as searching by subject.
• Students can complete the paper writing through the instructive steps and establish logical writing habits.
• Students can find format templates according to their own writing needs, such as searching according to the school.
• Students can use the format template to standardize the writing format of their papers. The format template is displayed in the form of a table, which is convenient for students to browse and modify.
• After setting (using the set or customized) paper format template and completing the content writing, students can directly set the format in the content editing interface.

Jump to Prototype

process

Research

secondary research

To better understand the problem, I conducted a literature review and a competitive analysis. For the competitive analysis, we focused on word processing and document creation products and some other products that can be used in writing paper.

Products I analyzed for the Competitive Analysis

Main findings:

• Compared to other word processors, Microsoft Word can export more compatible document.
• XMIND, Excel, and Endnote are auxiliary functions for writing paper, which indicates that Microsoft Word lacks vertical functions for writing paper.
• As a professional paper writing software, LaTex has powerful functions, but its learning threshold is high, which is not suitable for most students.

user research

To better understand how students currently write papers, I conducted 3 user interviews and consolidated my findings with persona and journey map.

Here are my research goals:
• Understand who are the users
• Understand the pain points people have when writing and editing paper
• Understand what people need for writing and editing paper more conveniently

persona

Based on the identity and background of the interviewees and the difficulties they encountered in the process of writing paper, I created the following persona.

Persona based on 3 interviewees

journey map

Based on the process of writing paper provided by the interviewees, I summarized and created a journey map.

initial insights

• The text editing function of Microsoft word is very complete and powerful, which can completely cover the function of the paper content editing part.
• Users need to use a lot of auxiliary softwares and tools in the process of writing papers. These softwares and tools can not be connected with Microsoft Word very well.

Desicion: create a plugin of writing paper in Microsoft Word.

Design

Ideation & Storyboard

With my research findings and the persona in mind, I brainstormed solutions and got six ideations. To figure out whether those ideations are useful, I invited two participants to value my storyboard.

1. Provide paper writing guidance in the form of documents.

2. Provide paper format templates to facilitate users to set the format of each part of the paper.

3. Provides video teaching on how to use the tools.

4. Provide a query function to facilitate users to query when they encounter problems when using the software.

5. Provide thesis writing guidance in the form of the taskbar.

Key Insights

Up to storyboard and speed dating, I narrowed down to the following features:

• Taskbar-style guidance of paper writing: help users to learn paper writing.
• Personalized writing step guidance(e.g. by discipline): to meet users of different disciplines and writing backgrounds.
• Paper format editing: simplify the editing process of paper format and provide standard format.
• As users feedback that they will first query through the search engine when they encounter software use problems, in addition, considering the comprehensiveness of the solutions in the query function and the possible usage frequency of users, query function is cancelled.

user flow

To define users’ actions, I created user flow to gain a better understanding of how users will use it.

wireframe screenshots

Iteration

To implement these functions, I made several versions to find a better solution. After twice speed dating and user testing, I made some iterations.
Here are some main iterations:

1. Homepage of Format

2. When Using the Guidance of Step

3. Combine format and content

Hi-Fi Prototype

Color Palette

Considering that this project is related to Microsoft Word and academic writing, and the main users are college students, I decided to use the blue and gray color of Word itself, so that the plugin can be integrated into the original software, and will not distract students' attention in writing.

Main Function

Through the analysis of userflow, I decided to divide the paper into two parts: content and format, so as to provide better help for users. Combined with the key insights from users' feedback of storyboard, I made prototypes.

Here are some important functions:

1. Search proper template of format

Users can choose different universities and institutions for the paper format requirements, or customize the format according to their own special format requirements.

2. Check/Edite the template

After selecting a suitable paper format template, the user can click and view the specific requirements in the form of a table, and at the same time can modify and save it.

Key Point: The form of the table is more convenient to show the specific requirements, and it is also convenient for users to modify.

3.Search proper guidance of content

Users can choose the essay writing steps of different disciplines or learn the writing steps suitable for general, and they can also customize the content of the steps according to their own special writing habits.

4.Follow the guidance

Beginners of writing paper can learn step by step according to the guidance, which reduces the difficulty of writing. Those with experience can not only standardize their writing habits, but also use the steps to help them clear the writing logic.

Key Point: The taskbar mode is more logical and interesting, suitable for guidance and help.

5.Filter the content to the format

Users can select the edited format template and directly set the format of the selected text area when editing the content. The selected format will mark the corresponding text part in the form of a label.

Reflection

1. Analyze users' fundamental and essential needs from their feedback: For example, when I interviewed, the interviewee said that he wanted to edit the paper format as simple as dragging a text box in Photoshop. However, the basic requirement of him is not the function of "dragging text", but a simpler and more direct way to edit the format of the paper.

2. The positioning of products needs multi angle iterative thinking: At the beginning, I positioned this product as a software (for example, LaTex) to help writing papers. However, by analyzing the characteristics of user groups and the reasons why LaTex is not popular, I come to the conclusion that target users need products with low learning threshold but can meet their functional requirements. Therefore, I position the product on Microsoft Word plugin.

3. The arrangement of functions in product interface design should follow the importance of functions: For example, the layout of Saved Format and Template in Homepage of Format in the iterative process, and the layout of pages in when using the guidance of step need to consider that the main functions need enough space.