Website prototype image displayed on a Mac laptop

Life Beautified

Logo with the word 'LIFE' and stylized multicolored leaves, followed by the word 'Beautified'. Text and design elements on white background.

Life Beautified is a project to build a website that allows parents of student to set up an account connected to a 529 education plan, install a browser extension that allows the user to shop and collect cash back deposited directly to the 529 educational plan.

Vision Statement

Our product should provide an easy way for students/parents/teachers/legal guardians to link their 529 savings plans and aid them on how to save money for their education while also being empowered to gain financial independence and soft skills without adding unneeded strain to their home and family life.

TLDR text with retro design style

Too Long, Didn’t Read

For this 0-1 startup, foundational research was key to defining the SaaS product’s direction. Through in-depth user and demographic research—including surveys, interviews, and competitive analysis—we identified critical user needs and market gaps. Crafting user personas and conducting SWOT analysis allowed us to shape a brand identity and initial designs that resonated with the target audience. Working in an Agile, cross-functional team, we distilled complex insights into actionable strategies, ensuring that the most impactful features were prioritized. This research-driven approach provided a clear roadmap for development, setting the foundation for a product that directly addressed user pain points and positioned itself effectively in a competitive landscape.

Impact:

  • Led foundational user and demographic research

  • Identified critical market gaps and user pain points

  • Developed user personas and conducted SWOT analysis

  • Transformed complex research into actionable strategies

  • Established a cohesive brand identity and developed the initial prototype

  • Established a research-driven roadmap

The Team

Research team members with names and roles listed underneath their portraits.

My Role
UX Research Apprentice

Design Team Liaison

Phase 1 duration
June-August 2023

Phase 1

Phase 1 Timeline
product roadmap

Phase One Summary

Screen Shot 2023-09-20 at 1.12.46 PM.png
Screen Shot 2023-09-20 at 1.12.59 PM.png
Screen Shot 2023-09-20 at 1.13.39 PM.png
Screen Shot 2023-09-20 at 1.13.53 PM.png
Screen Shot 2023-09-20 at 1.13.12 PM.png
Screen Shot 2023-09-20 at 1.13.25 PM.png
Screen Shot 2023-09-20 at 1.14.09 PM.png
Problem Statement
User Story Map
Creative Brief
User Flow
User Story Mapping

User Personas

User Persona Student
User Persona Parent

View Figma files HERE

Competitor Analysis

An initial competitive analysis was conducted with one direct competitor and three indirect competitors. A second competitive analysis with a deeper focus on direct competitors was requested by the stakeholder.

Competitor Analysis Strengths
Competitor Analysis Weaknesses
Competitor Analysis Opportunities and Threats

A second competitive analysis was conducted with a focus on direct competitors

Direct Competitor Analysis

Image of interview script

Surveys and User Interviews

Surveys and User interviews were collectively written and conducted as a team.

Our survey was repeatedly attacked by bots, but we were able to use data prior to the bot attacks, data can be viewed HERE

User Insights FigJam can be viewed HERE

User Interview: RYAN

User Interview with Ryan

A copy of the interview script as well as interviewee notes from a selected interview can be viewed HERE

Working in an AGILE Environment

Sprints

Screenshot of a virtual meeting with multiple participants displayed in a grid layout. Some participants have their video on, showing their faces, while others display their names.

Standups

Stakeholder Meetings

Screenshot of a presentation slide with research questions about target user income and financial readiness, accompanied by a video call participant panel on the right.

Retro Planning

Virtual whiteboard with project planning notes and video call participants

Teamwork

Design

As design liaison, I attended design meetings, assisted with design decisions, participated in design planning, critiques, and reviews, as well as served as mediator between UXR and UXD

Screen Shot 2023-09-20 at 2.40.16 PM.png
Screen Shot 2023-09-20 at 2.40.30 PM.png
Screen Shot 2023-09-20 at 2.40.46 PM.png
Screen Shot 2023-09-20 at 2.40.58 PM.png
Screen Shot 2023-09-20 at 2.41.11 PM.png

Next Steps

The important next step in a website design phase is proper and detailed documentation. The Phase One team painstakingly compiled all our research and design into a comprehensive handoff document. This ensured that the Phase Two team would have a clear and thorough understanding of the project's foundations, enabling them to begin their work with confidence and success.

Good Luck in Phase Two!