Schnitzeljagd (German) means Scavenger Hunt. In this tech world people are coming up with physical game or activities where they can combine both and enjoy the experience. So we designed Scavenger Hunt app to enable players to enjoy social scavenger hunts for real objects and locations in their own cities.

Competitive Analysis | User Stories | User Surveys | User Interviews | User Research Analysis | Affinity Mapping | User Personas | User Journey Maps | User Flows | Content Auditing | Sitemap | Card Sorting | Low, Mid, High Fidelity Wireframes | Prototypes | A/B Testing | Usability Testing |

Balsamiq | Prott | Sketch | InVision | UsabilityHub | OptimalSort

I was given a task at CareerFoundry to design an app for a social scavenger hunt game called ‘Schnitzeljagd'. In this project, I have created a game that can be scaled upward to any supported location and involve any of users friends through social sharing. 

Keeping user friendly approach at the core of the project, I have created an app where the users can

- Play Game

- Share Game 

- Create Game.

First to understand the scavenger hunt game industry, I did Competitive Analysis to discover user expectation and current features. I choose PokemonGo for its popularity and GooseChase for its feature that could match with my app. By analyzing their marketing profile and SWOT profile, I was able to note weaknesses and prepare a well-informed strategy.

It’s mainstream popularity peaked in 2016 with it’s launch in spite of some safety concerns. It’s overall download numbers later increased to over 800 million, with 147 million monthly active users as of May 2018. 

Pokémon Go have truly illustrated the full realization of the potential of SoLoMo (Social Local Mobile) marketing -- strategy. It's motivational for players to go and explore in real places. Bringing strangers come together with common goal. But that also poses security issues. Apart from that they also have technical issues and accessibility issues. 

Goosechase Adventures was founded in 2011. Goosechase Adventures' headquarters is located in kilbride, Ontario. It has an estimated 29 employees and an estimated annual revenue of 4.8M. It has about 889 followers in Facebook,  about 3,185 in Twitter. It shows that there was 75% increase in Twitter in last two years.

They are more safer. But price is high. Only up till the size of 3, its free. Their app only supports playing game, not creating game. 

User Stories: Keeping Agile methodologies in mind created User Stories to capture end user perspective.

User Interviews: Within targeted audience, User Interview was conducted. It was an integral part of the process. The key points I gathered are listed below.

-It is not for everyone. But people were open to play or give it a try.

-Game needs to  include interesting and numerous variations with a pace that will keep users engaged. 

-One participant suggested that she would be interested to play online with distant friends and family.

Affinity Map: I was able to collect valuable data and begin sorting and mapping.

User Personas: Personas were created to dig deeper into customer needs. Meet Jonathan who wants to organize team building activity for his company. And Mary Anne who wants to play online hunt game with the kids from her church.

User Journey: Created User Journeys to visualize the interactions/process the users would follow. This step helped to identify the possible functionality at high level. Jona wants to Create Game and Invite Players where as Mary Anne wants to Play Game.

Task Analysis: Listed below, Jona wants to create scavenger hunt game and invite players as mentioned above. And Mary Anne just wants to play.

User Flows:  User flows were created to draw a path from inception of task to reaching completion of task or goal.

Card Sorting: To evaluate the information architecture of a site(app) Card Sorting was performed. This helped me to discover how people understand and categorize information.

Sitemap: Once the card sorting results were out, it was time to organize the site(app) by creating a Sitemap.

Wireframes: Once sitemap came into picture, I created low, mid and high level fidelity wireframes. There was several iterative process of correcting and tuning was involved in each level of fidelity. Based on the tasks defined created the wireframes for Create game, Sharing Game and Play Game flows. Showcasing below the flow of Share Game. In low level fidelity one step was missing in action which was included in mid level fidelity. Then on Usability Testing on mid level fidelity prototype, it was discovered that there were too many steps (3) in the second screen so addressed that issue on the high level fidelity.

Usability Testing: Testers performed Usability Testing on mid level fidelity in which valuable information was collected. During testing I was able to observe and study closely how testers performed their tasks and monitor their body language. Then analyzed my results in a Rainbow Spreadsheet. 

A/B Preference Testing: Preference Testing was performed on Splash Screen. This was done on mid level fidelity wireframe which in high fidelity the image was changed but the idea was kept same. 99 % voted for the screen which had image on the background. There were 19 participants.

Visual Design Principles: To make the app aesthetically pleasing for high fidelity wireframe I applied Visual Design Principles. I wanted the user to feel easy, comfortable while having fun at the same time.

Schnitzeljagd, a scavenger hunt game app evolved through out the process. From competitive research to the end result, it constantly focused on improvements while keeping User Centered Design at the core. It was a great experience for me.

Schnitzeljagd, Let the hunt begin…. Click here for prototype.