a new feature for Instagram that allows avid users and social media managers to edit and rearrange the sequence of stories after posting, minimizing errors and enhancing satisfaction.
Product Type
Mobile App
Academic Project
Role
Sole Product Designer
UX Research
Tools
Figma
Duration
4 weeks (February 2024)
Having worked as a social media manager for three years, I can attest to this truth. In my experience managing social media, I discovered that Instagram, particularly its stories feature, posed a challenge when mistakes were made. Unfortunately, once an Instagram story is posted, there's no option to edit it. If an error was made, the only solution is to delete the entire story and then repost it with the necessary changes. This can be frustrating for users, especially when posting a single story, but becomes even more so when dealing with multiple consecutive story uploads. This may only result in slight embarrassment; however, for brands, a mistake could escalate into a notable image problem.
When they introduced this update, it demonstrated Instagram's commitment to user needs. Given the ephemeral nature of Stories, making mistakes can be especially stressful for users, leading to frustration or embarrassment. I aimed to explore how users interact with Instagram Stories and perceive posting errors, as understanding the emotional and psychological effects of these mistakes is crucial for revealing their impact on user experience. My goal is to enhance Instagram’s features, improve overall user satisfaction, and create a more supportive online environment that acknowledges user errors and facilitates easy corrections.
Some other key insights were:
I talked with five individuals directly over Zoom to understand how users engage with Instagram stories and perceive posting mistakes online, with the ultimate goal of reducing user errors and enhancing overall user satisfaction. My main research objectives were the following:
Some key findings from these discussions revealed that users generally feel more comfortable posting on Stories in comparison to in-feed posts. After posting, users often view their own posts multiple times to check for mistakes and ensure everything looks just right. However, when users do make a mistake on stories, their only option is to delete the entire story, make edits, and then repost it, which they find extremely frustrating and irritating. To minimize errors, many users seek a second opinion from others, wanting reassurance that their post looks good before sharing it with their audience.
I organized the key insights by grouping them based on similarity and topic. Among the most important findings were the following:
This approach ensured that every design decision was centered around the user's needs, desires, and pain points, keeping their perspective at the core of the process. It led to the formulation of an actionable How Might We question that guided and inspired all subsequent work.
Click here to view user personasI created user personas by consolidating key motivations, goals, and frustrations from my findings to keep my focus sharp and ensure I address the most important priorities.
Edit an Instagram Story
Rearrange order of Instagram Stories after posting
Edit an Instagram Story
Rearrange order of Instagram Stories after posting
I spoke with five participants directly over Zoom and asked them to complete two tasks, editing an Instagram story and rearranging the order of stories. Each participant took approximately 20 minutes to complete the two tasks as well as provide constructive feedback. My main goals for usability testing were the following:
I received great feedback about this feature. All participants expressed how they can envision themselves, as well as their friends and family, using it.
Some other key insights from using testing were the following:
I aimed to reorganize and improve the arrangement for a more user-friendly experience. I introduced an 'Edit' button earlier in the flow to quickly access editing options. This simplifies the process by consolidating relevant choices and minimizing the need for users to navigate through multiple selections.
I wanted to create a design that shares similarities with the editing feed posts, while also taking into account Instagram's current UI for a consistent look and feel. The decision for the trash can icon to appear only when users press on the desired story.
The user posts an Instagram story, however they realize they’ve made a mistake. The user would like to edit the story and correct the mistake.
The user posted a sequence of story. After posting they realized the don’t love the original sequence of the stories and would like to rearrange the order.
To ensure your this feature succeeds, I would focus on these key metrics:
This project has significantly contributed to my growth as a UX designer. I've noticed significant improvement in my skills across various aspects, from the initial research phase to the completion of the final prototype. However, the biggest improvement I’ve noticed has been my confidence. With each project, I sense an increase in my confidence as a designer!
The biggest challenges I encountered was creating user flows. The feedback I received during a critique session pointed out that my users flows lacked the clarity I had hoped for, which led me to question the validity of this problem among users. It also made me question my understanding of user flows. I overcame this challenge by engaging in discussions with others to better my understanding and establishing clear descriptions for my flows.
I found this capstone project to be both enjoyable and challenging. I believe that the experience of working within an established design system and adhering to strict deadlines will undoubtedly be valuable and applicable to future projects. This capstone project has provided me with a more comprehensive understanding of UX design project requirements. This has, in turn, boosted my confidence in successfully navigating future endeavors!
