In virtual office environments, the lack of non-verbal cues like tone and body language increases the risk of misinterpretation, making it difficult to convey nuanced meaning accurately. This challenge highlights the need for clear and intentional communication practices to ensure ideas are understood as intended.
Our strategy is to optimize the communication experience on our platform by expanding the variety of reaction options and enhancing the visibility of interactive features, ensuring more engaging and effective user interactions.
Implement a reactions menu that allows users to express emotions easily and spontaneously, enhancing engagement and fostering more meaningful, empathetic conversations in the virtual workspace.
The design was inspired by renowned video games like Grand Theft Auto and The Last of Us, gamifying the reactions menu to enhance user experience. This approach integrates gaming elements to boost motivation and deepen engagement, transforming routine communication into a dynamic and enjoyable interaction.
Derived from observations gleaned from user research, the radial menu emerged as a popular recommendation, particularly due to the prevalence of feedback from Japan, where gamification is extensively integrated into daily activities.
The radial design proved impractical for virtual office environments like oVice, as it occupies too much screen space, obstructing the view of nearby users and hindering interaction. This limits spatial awareness and detracts from the immersive experience, highlighting the need for alternatives that prioritize visibility and collaboration.
Based on new insights from user testing, inspiration was drawn from the MacBook iOS dock system. Since oVice already featured a dock menu for key actions, integrating the reactions menu into it felt intuitive. Users indicated during testing that they expected to find it within the dock as they familiarized themselves with the product.
From my experience, integrating user research is crucial not only for improving product quality but also for fostering team cohesion. During a months-long project, I initially felt siloed and pressured. However, by consistently sharing research findings with the team, I noticed a growing sense of pride as they saw user affirmation. This practice reduced ambiguity and empowered team members with clear, actionable insights, driving improvements based on direct user feedback.