Curriculum - Design a Photo App for the Blind

Summary

In this mock product manager interview, Eliza discusses designing a family photo-sharing app inclusive of visually impaired members. She emphasizes the importance of user engagement for both elderly and younger family members, suggesting features like audio memos, voice commands, and progress indicators to ensure the app is accessible and engaging. The conversation highlights empathy in product design and the need for a strong feedback loop to measure success through utilization and satisfaction.

Takeaways

• 😀 The interview is a mock PM interview with Eliza La Joy, a product manager with experience in ed tech startups and currently at Stanford Business School.
• 👥 The task is to design a family-wide photo-sharing app with consideration for a vision-impaired family member, possibly an elderly grandparent.
• 🏠 The family in question is a small family located in the United States, with varying degrees of interaction among members.
• 👓 The vision-impaired person is characterized as having a full, lifelong impairment and is likely an elderly member of the family.
• 🤔 The interviewee considers different user personas based on the level of involvement and interaction the elderly person has with the family.
• 📱 The app aims to make the vision-impaired person feel involved and present in the family's day-to-day life and major events.
• 🔍 The design process involves considering logistics, the experience of using the app for the elderly, and how they can engage back with the family.
• 🎙️ The app could utilize voice commands, audio memos, and sound clips to enhance the photo-sharing experience for the vision-impaired user.
• 👶 For younger family members, the app should be easy to use and integrate with existing social media platforms to encourage regular content sharing.
• 🔗 A feedback loop is crucial to ensure that younger family members are aware of the elderly user's engagement and to address any difficulties they may have.
• 📈 Success metrics for the app would focus on sustained engagement from both the elderly user and the younger family members who provide content.

Q & A

What is the main challenge the product manager is trying to address with the family-wide photo sharing app?

The main challenge is designing a photo sharing app that is inclusive and accessible for a family member who is vision impaired, ensuring they can actively participate and feel included in the family's shared experiences.

What is Eliza's background, and how does it relate to the product manager role?

Eliza has a background in working with ed tech startups, including being a product manager and leading a team at Mentor Collective. This experience in product management and understanding user needs is directly relevant to the role of a product manager.

What are the three different user personas considered for the family-wide photo sharing app?

The three user personas are: 1) a grandparent with day-to-day involvement in the family's life, 2) a grandparent with periodic in-person interactions during holidays or special events, and 3) a grandparent who is geographically distant or unable to meet the family in person due to various reasons such as the pandemic.

How does the interviewee suggest making the app accessible for a vision-impaired elderly person?

The interviewee suggests focusing on auditory aspects, such as voice commands, audio feedback, and sound clips accompanying photos to create a more engaging and accessible experience for a vision-impaired user.

What is the importance of the younger family members in the context of this app?

The younger family members are crucial as they are likely to be the ones uploading and sharing photos, as well as potentially being the decision-makers when it comes to choosing and using the app for the elderly family member.

What are some of the logistical considerations for the app to be user-friendly for a vision-impaired person?

Logistical considerations include setting up the app with ease, using voice commands, and organizing a simple workflow that allows the elderly user to quickly access and engage with the shared photos and moments.

How can the app enrich the experience of the elderly user beyond just viewing photos?

The app can enrich the experience by incorporating voice memos recorded during significant moments, casual ambient sound clips from everyday life, and allowing the elderly user to react and engage with the content through verbal comments or audio emojis.

What are some potential success metrics for the app?

Success metrics could include the frequency of use by both the elderly and younger users, the satisfaction level of the elderly user, and whether the app is being used consistently over time, especially around key family milestones.

How can the app ensure a two-way engagement between the elderly user and the rest of the family?

The app can ensure two-way engagement by allowing the elderly user to respond to shared content with verbal reactions, and by providing feedback to the younger users about the elderly user's engagement and interactions within the app.

What is the significance of integrating the app with existing social media platforms?

Integrating the app with existing social media platforms can help mitigate the risk of insufficient content being shared within the app by allowing users to easily share content from other platforms, thus ensuring there is always something for the elderly user to engage with.

How does the interviewee reflect on their own performance during the mock interview?

The interviewee reflects that they may have focused more on the elderly user persona and could have balanced the discussion more by considering the younger user persona as well. They also acknowledge the importance of summarizing key points during the discussion to ensure clarity.