The HandyMan Calculator

Overview

The Handyman Calculator is one of the biggest apps in the construction space on the Google Play Store. Since 2008, the app garnered over 2 million downloads. However, it was recently removed from the App Store due to outdated design and technical standards. With thousands of users from all over the world, the app is presented with a unique opportunity to modernize a proven product. As the sole UX Intern, I got to work directly with the app's original developer to design my recommendation for what the app should look like when it goes back out onto the Play Store.

Research + Discovery Process

Interview with Original Developer

In order to guide my designs, I got the opportunity to understand the developer's original vision, current challenges, and identify opportunities for improvement through a one-on-one interview.

❓ Questions/Topics covered:

• What users have historically been using the app for

• Common user complaints

• Got access to customer emails and customer reviews

🧠 Insights gained:

1. Simplicity + Trustworthiness >>> Flashy design

2. The main goal of this project is to create better organization within the app.

User Review Analysis

In order to find out what users enjoyed and what they were struggling with in the app, I analyzed 100+ user reviews to find out what users were saying.

What users loved ✅

Versatility

“Has every calculator you would ever need… beats pen and paper.”

“Amazing app for any carpenter… concrete, roof pitch, invoices—it’s all in there.”

Practical Impact

“My material list is so accurate now… I can almost always count on minimum waste.”

“Improved my ability to give quick, precise estimates to my customers.”

UX Audit

I then conducted a UX audit keeping the 10 Usability Heuristics in mind on both the homepage and a sample calculator page.

Homepage design goals

GOAL 1️⃣ - Make Navigation Intuitive

Labels should be simplified to increase user understanding. Abbreviations should be used sparingly and features should be grouped more logically.

GOAL 2️⃣ - Use Space Purposefully

White space should be utilized more. Frequently used tools or recent actions should be highlighted from the beginning of a user's experience with the app.

GOAL 3️⃣ - Improve Visual Hierarchy

Call to action buttons need to stand out and look clickable. Visual clutter should be reduced and consistent styling should be prioritized.

Calculator Page Design Goals

GOAL 1️⃣ - Improve Readability

Margins and padding should be incorporated to reduce visual clutter. Spacing and sizing should be consistent across all calculators.

Goal 2️⃣ - Communicate More Clearly

Short descriptions of each calculator can help user understanding. Unclear disclaimers should be removed or reworded if needed.

Goal 3️⃣ - Use Consistent Wording

Spelling and terminology should be standardized across all calculators to create more consistency.

User Personas

After my research I realized there were two main types of users of the app. The first is those who use it for DIY home projects. The second main user group are contractors who are using the app professionally to give quotes.

Homepage design

V1: Rejected ❌

Newer users to the app with no favorites would see a lot of empty space which could lead to false perceptions about limited app features.

V2: Rejected ❌

Having all of the calculators listed out right away tends to be overwhelming for users. The filter/favorites toggle is too hidden.

V3: Rejected ❌

All the features are prominent and more accessible. However, it was later determined that there wasn't a need for both a pinned and favorites feature.

Final designs + Features

All Calculators 📏

When users click the "View All Calculators" button on the homepage, an easily accessible list of all the calculators comes up.

Search Bar 🔍

The search bar at the top of the screen allows users to easily search tools by using keyword search.

Advanced Search 🔎

When users click the "Advanced Search" button on the homepage, users are able to use filters to narrow down their search.

Sort 🔻

In the Advanced Search, users can use commonly used sorting methods such as alphabetical or more popular to find the tool they're looking for.

Filters ⚙️

Users are able to filter based on if they want a metric/imperial calculator. They can also filter based on user made collections.

Collections 👥

Collections give users the opportunity to create groups of calculators for specific purposes. This way, other users can save their collections and use them as filters in the Advanced Search.

Description 📄

The proposed design includes a short description at the top of each calculator to help users get a better understanding of what the calculator does. It will also help with the keyboard search.

Simplified Inputs 🔢

The input fields are more spread out and contain clear cues to the user as to what they should input in them.

Results Display 🟩

The results are displayed separately to the input fields and are more prominent on the screen. The buttons to share or save the results are only present when there's a result.

Takeaways

Business Requirements

I had to remember to include some required components in the design that pertained to the business goals of the app. One example of this is the Google Ad banner that I needed to include, something that I wouldn't normally consider adding for a personal project.

The Power of Simple

The UI of the final recommendation is simple and not super flashy. However, the design still accomplishes the intended functionality of the app. I often hear that the designers need to embrace simple designs more and completing this project helped me grasp that concept more.

Qualitative Analysis

My main form of user research for this project were the user reviews I analyzed. I experimented with different ways of analyzing and finding themes in the reviews (some successful and some unsuccessful). This process helped me gain experience in dealing with qualitative data!

Thanks for visiting, come again soon! 👋 P.S. View more of my work in “Extras”