Event Planning
Simplifying Cvent's existing products for users with variable needs
Role
User research
Product management
Client
Cvent
Duration
May 2018 - August 2018 (3 months)
Simplifying Cvent's existing products for users with variable needs
User research
Product management
Cvent
May 2018 - August 2018 (3 months)
During my internship at Cvent, I was given the task to develop a new vision for an existing product offering. Unfortunately, due to an NDA, I am unable to disclose more details for this project. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to me through email.
After gathering quantitative and qualitative insights, I planned and facilitated an internal design sprint to reimagine the existing product offering. Then, I tested and improved a prototype we built during the design sprint. Finally, I presented the solution to Cvent's CTO, David Quattrone.
A product update: "We're live! The project is out there for customer use. Still gaining adoption during the first month in production, so exciting!" - Brandon Meiseles (my PM), March 2021.
The first step of my design process involved understanding the business case for the product offering. I conducted a competitive analysis and gathered quantitative data about customer behaviors on the product. This information fed into a report that ultimately helped me to design my qualitative research.
With the help of Kee, my user research design mentor, I was able to design a research protocol that probed current user motivations behind using the product. I was able to recruit and talk to Cvent's existing clients. During the interviews, I aimed to learn more about client needs, motivations, and pain points.
"I could swim in this data"
Using Google Ventures 5 day design sprint toolkit, I put together a plan for a 5 day design sprint. Sarah Klein provided guidance and feedback on the initial plan. Then, we lead a sprint kickoff together, before collaborating to facilitate a successful design sprint. Coming out of the sprint, the team had reached alignment on a prototype and vision for an improved Cvent product offering.
Taking the prototype that we built during the design sprint, I worked with a designer to iterate on and improve the prototype. I then conducted think-alouds and task analysis with Cvent. We went through 3 cycles of this iteration and testing.
The end of my internship culminated in a presentation of our new product offering to Cvent's CTO, David Quattrone. Then Brandon Meiseles, my manager, took over the project and began future work to implement the product vision.
Taking part in the design sprint was an awesome experience. During the sprint, we brought together members of the technology, sales, customer service, design, and product management teams to work together. Having an interdisciplinary team allowed us to keep in mind each department's perspective towards the problem, which ultimately led to a better solution.
My internship taught me about the importance of a close relationship between product managers and product designers in the software engineering world. Ultimately, all team members must understand what is best for end users when building new products and services.
This internship inspired me to pursue a career in human-centered design work! I realized that advocating for the user was what I loved to do. From this experience, I decided to pursue a Master's in Human-Computer Interaction to further hone my skills in the HCD.
A special thanks to Cvent for an amazing internship experience!