Ehlo

Ehlo is an innovative desktop-based widget that seamlessly connects colleagues and teammates with just a simple click. The development of ehlo has been an exhilarating journey for the team.

Initially known as OpenTeam, an online platform enabling chat and video calls among teammates, the decision was made to elevate it to new heights. This transformative vision gave birth to ehlo.

Serving as a communication tool for remote teams, ehlo effortlessly integrates into the user's desktop environment. Its core value lies in its ability to enhance collaboration without disrupting the user's workflow, fostering a genuine sense of togetherness akin to in-person interactions.

To shape the product, I led a series of brainstorming workshops with the team, meticulously exploring various UI options to best resonate with our users. Eventually, we discovered our winning formula: a widget. 

As part of my responsibilities, I spearheaded UX and UI design, created visually captivating assets, managed roadmap boards, and embraced the multitude of random tasks that come with working in a startup environment, including building and nurturing a talented Design team.

The first metrics

Upon closely monitoring the metrics, it became evident that the number of sign-ins was significantly lower than the sign-ups, and user retention was not as desirable as expected. Recognizing this challenge, our focus shifted towards identifying a solution that would encourage users to log in again and re-engage with the platform.

Through careful analysis and user feedback, we embarked on an in-depth exploration to address this issue. Our aim was to create a seamless and compelling experience that would motivate users to revisit the platform and harness its full potential.

The name + logo

To establish a powerful brand identity, I took the lead in organizing a series of branding workshops aimed at devising the ideal name and reimagining the product itself, along with its initial branding.

Recognizing that a strong product necessitates a strong logo, I assumed responsibility for crafting a visual representation that effectively communicated the essence of the product. To gain deeper insights into our teammates' perspectives and align our direction, I facilitated research sessions to gather their individual sentiments towards the product. This invaluable feedback played a pivotal role in shaping our branding strategy.

By combining collaborative ideation, research-driven insights, and a thoughtful approach to visual representation, we crafted a compelling brand identity that captured the true essence of our product, setting the stage for its successful launch and establishing a strong foundation for future growth.

The UI and UX

In alignment with our vision for the product as a desktop widget, we embarked on a series of collaborative whiteboard sessions to explore a concept that deviated from the conventional application paradigm while staying true to our overall vision.

As the lead, I assumed the responsibility of conducting comprehensive user research through qualitative inquiries, quantitative data analysis, and user testing. This multifaceted approach enabled me to capture user goals, needs, and expectations accurately. It was crucial for me to cultivate a deep understanding of our product's customers and users, ensuring their perspectives guided our design process and informed our product development decisions, scope, and depth.

To enhance the overall user experience, I curated a range of experience design activities, including wireframing, prototyping, and ideation workshops. These activities enabled us to refine user interfaces, optimize user flows, and ultimately improve the product's usability and desirability.

Collaboration with the development team was paramount, and I closely collaborated with them to create and effectively communicate product designs, requirements, and decisions. This collaboration spanned from the strategic planning stages to the implementation phases, encompassing the entire product development lifecycle. By prioritizing process improvement, user research, and user-centered design, we fostered an environment conducive to creating a high-quality product.

Additionally, I worked in close collaboration with the marketing team to generate compelling concepts and visuals that effectively conveyed the essence of our product to potential users across various social media platforms and marketing sites. This collaboration ensured that our product's value proposition was effectively communicated and resonated with our target audience.

Looking back at our rebranding efforts, there were crucial aspects that, if approached differently, could have amplified the impact of the transformation. One key consideration was the pace of the rebranding process. Engaging design contractors could have been a valuable investment. Their involvement would have injected efficiency and agility, ensuring a quicker rollout and enabling us to reach our target audience sooner.

Another area of reflection lies in product direction. Introducing A/B testing earlier in the process would have been instrumental in validating our decisions and refining our brand strategy. By testing different elements with our audience, we could have obtained actionable insights to align the rebrand with customer preferences and aspirations. This data-driven approach would have reduced uncertainties, resulting in a more refined and impactful rebrand that resonates deeply with our customers.

Acknowledging these points enables us to learn from our experiences and better navigate future rebranding endeavours.