I’ve seen your message about the application process and given this some thought. Below are my comments as per your challenges:
• The project manager already confirmed the client requires every field on this form. We can't cut down the questions at all.
It does have a lot of questions! Is there time and resources to do any user testing, like A/B testing? If the client doesn’t want to lose any questions we could see if the order impacts completion rates, for example if we put less demanding questions up front.
Could we clarify with the client which of the questions are optional for users to complete (for example they might not have a referral code) and which are required (for example name). Then we can make this clear in the form.
On the topic of fields, could we also ask the client to provide a short blurb about why the users need to provide some of this information. For the DOB and the whole Health History section it would be nice if we could include a clickable “why do I need to provide my date of birth?” and “why do I need to provide my health history?” with pop up answers. This will encourage users to answer these slightly more intrusive questions.
• I am attempting to adapt this to mobile and it's unusable.
I agree! I would suggest that we have a desktop version like the below, which has a positive healthy image on the left and a smaller one column form on the right. This smaller form is then also the mobile version. I've outlined below a plan for getting to this smaller form.
• I am trying to figure out how to best handle error states. Example: the email used to sign up must be unique. Handling this validation with the complexity of the form is difficult. This user experience is frustrating, do you have any thoughts on how to improve it?
Let’s validate the email address right at the beginning, so that users can’t get to the form if the email is already registered. We can add inline form field validation, so that for required cells an error message appears as the user goes through the form. And we can ensure that there is a back button on each screen so that users can reverse their actions.
• What about aesthetics? How do you think this form looks? Is there anything we can do to make it feel more complete and polished?
Let’s make this feel minimalist and beautiful. Does the client have any brand guidelines around colours and imager that they would like to use? If not we can pick out a health related stock photo and an accent colour.
• Can you outline an action plan to improve this form?
1 - Can we catch up with the project manager about how much time we can spend on this? Ideally, I’d like to start with user profiling, work with the client on the question architecture, set up some A/B testing of potential forms etc. However I’m not sure what scope/time/budget we have here.
2 - Request further details from client, I assume via the project manager? (I’ve described some of this in depth above, but I’ve still listed below so that we’ve captured everything).
Intended customer base and any additional customer needs (for example language requirements)
Details of any brand guidelines, especially colour
Required questions and optional questions (for users)
What options come under each dropdown (if you don’t already have this detail)
Short blurb about why the users need to provide DOB and the Health History, what do the clients use this for that is valuable to the users.
Finally, can we get the project manager to double check they are on top of GDPR. If they intend to use the data for other marketing we will need to add in some tick boxes to get user agreement.
3 - While we are waiting for the first two points, I think you can still make a start on a simple mock-up based on the below suggestions. These would help conversations with the customer, and we could use any mock ups in user testing too.
Split the questions from top to bottom into the below sections, each on a separate page.
Join Now – Description of the program and just the email address field
Your Information
Your Health
History
Habits
Motivation
On each page/section have a clear action button at the bottom of each section (“Go” would be a nice positive action for a health form.) and include a back button.
Move all the questions into a Single-Column Layout to make it simpler.
Remove as many of the drop downs as possible. For yes/no questions can you switch to something like the below, and when you select an answer that cell changes to the accent colour to mark it's selection. Similarly all of the drop downs in current habits, could be dealt with as the below rather than drop downs. (This would work best for 3 to 4 options and we may need to reconsider if there are more.) I’m happy for you to also test out sliders if you think these would work better. For the date of birth rather than 3 separate drop downs can we combine this into one single date picker field.
The height and weights could be free text (as long as we include some validation), and it would be nice if users could toggle between metrics, in the same way to selecting a frequency or category above.
Similarly update the free text answer field - Do you have the support of your family in making a lifestyle change? To be three categories in the same style – Not yet, Some support, 100%
4 - Once we’ve heard back from the client:
Confirm if we can use select category rather than drop down in current habits section, if not we will need to reconsider.
Update colour scheme and image
Mark after any question with “- Optional” or a red Asterix if it is required. For example, First Name* and Height – Optional
Add inline form field validation, so that if a cell is required an error message appears as the user goes through the form. (And also include validation for cells like email, to include @)
Depending on the clients feedback, add in a clickable “why do I need to provide my date of birth?” and “why do I need to provide my health history?” with pop up answers.
I've just rough sketched the comments for now to give you freedom with developing, but if you want me to get involved with wireframes before you start let me know and I can work this up.
Hey Developer,
I’ve seen your message about the application process and given this some thought. Below are my comments as per your challenges:
• The project manager already confirmed the client requires every field on this form. We can't cut down the questions at all. It does have a lot of questions! Is there time and resources to do any user testing, like A/B testing? If the client doesn’t want to lose any questions we could see if the order impacts completion rates, for example if we put less demanding questions up front.
Could we clarify with the client which of the questions are optional for users to complete (for example they might not have a referral code) and which are required (for example name). Then we can make this clear in the form.
On the topic of fields, could we also ask the client to provide a short blurb about why the users need to provide some of this information. For the DOB and the whole Health History section it would be nice if we could include a clickable “why do I need to provide my date of birth?” and “why do I need to provide my health history?” with pop up answers. This will encourage users to answer these slightly more intrusive questions.
• I am attempting to adapt this to mobile and it's unusable. I agree! I would suggest that we have a desktop version like the below, which has a positive healthy image on the left and a smaller one column form on the right. This smaller form is then also the mobile version. I've outlined below a plan for getting to this smaller form.
• I am trying to figure out how to best handle error states. Example: the email used to sign up must be unique. Handling this validation with the complexity of the form is difficult. This user experience is frustrating, do you have any thoughts on how to improve it? Let’s validate the email address right at the beginning, so that users can’t get to the form if the email is already registered. We can add inline form field validation, so that for required cells an error message appears as the user goes through the form. And we can ensure that there is a back button on each screen so that users can reverse their actions.
• What about aesthetics? How do you think this form looks? Is there anything we can do to make it feel more complete and polished? Let’s make this feel minimalist and beautiful. Does the client have any brand guidelines around colours and imager that they would like to use? If not we can pick out a health related stock photo and an accent colour.
• Can you outline an action plan to improve this form?
1 - Can we catch up with the project manager about how much time we can spend on this? Ideally, I’d like to start with user profiling, work with the client on the question architecture, set up some A/B testing of potential forms etc. However I’m not sure what scope/time/budget we have here.
2 - Request further details from client, I assume via the project manager? (I’ve described some of this in depth above, but I’ve still listed below so that we’ve captured everything).
3 - While we are waiting for the first two points, I think you can still make a start on a simple mock-up based on the below suggestions. These would help conversations with the customer, and we could use any mock ups in user testing too.
Split the questions from top to bottom into the below sections, each on a separate page. Join Now – Description of the program and just the email address field Your Information Your Health History Habits Motivation
On each page/section have a clear action button at the bottom of each section (“Go” would be a nice positive action for a health form.) and include a back button.
Move all the questions into a Single-Column Layout to make it simpler.
Remove as many of the drop downs as possible. For yes/no questions can you switch to something like the below, and when you select an answer that cell changes to the accent colour to mark it's selection. Similarly all of the drop downs in current habits, could be dealt with as the below rather than drop downs. (This would work best for 3 to 4 options and we may need to reconsider if there are more.) I’m happy for you to also test out sliders if you think these would work better. For the date of birth rather than 3 separate drop downs can we combine this into one single date picker field.
Similarly update the free text answer field - Do you have the support of your family in making a lifestyle change? To be three categories in the same style – Not yet, Some support, 100%
4 - Once we’ve heard back from the client:
Confirm if we can use select category rather than drop down in current habits section, if not we will need to reconsider.
Update colour scheme and image
Mark after any question with “- Optional” or a red Asterix if it is required. For example, First Name* and Height – Optional
Add inline form field validation, so that if a cell is required an error message appears as the user goes through the form. (And also include validation for cells like email, to include @)
Depending on the clients feedback, add in a clickable “why do I need to provide my date of birth?” and “why do I need to provide my health history?” with pop up answers.
I've just rough sketched the comments for now to give you freedom with developing, but if you want me to get involved with wireframes before you start let me know and I can work this up.
Kind Regards, Hol