Between our computers, smartphones and cameras, we have countless unshared photos and memories. PhotoRocket's founder, a successful serial entrepreneur, saw a way to resolve this universal dilemma and turn conventional photo sharing on its head.
PhotoRocket's new technology would enable users to share any number of photos to any number of people in an instant. It would eliminate the time-consuming process of resizing, attaching, uploading and emailing photo files. The vision was to allow anyone to share to family and friends, post to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr (or other favorite sites), and archive photos for safekeeping, all in one supremely simple step.
Our task was to take what was — under the hood — a highly complex and sophisticated set of technical product features and functionality and create a radically simple and elegant brand and user experience.
Solution
Early-stage tech ventures can be both incredibly exciting and fraught with unforeseen twists, turns, and a great deal of boot-strapping. And this was no exception.
First as an ICT UX consultant, then as Director of Brand and User Experience, I plunged into designing and developing this new vision for photo sharing.
Employing a user-centric approach, I worked with the technology and management teams on product and UX research, planning, design, development, testing, and launch of PhotoRocket's beta apps for Windows, Mac and the iPhone. This work touched on all phases and dimensions of product planning and production, including content creation, wireframing, user flows, rapid design comping, high-fidelity design, preparing files for development, and close collaboration with developers in building and testing the web and mobile sites and applications.
In addition to work on the product itself, I was also directly involved in the messaging and visual brand presentation for all digital marketing communications media (such as the video below).
After the launch of PhotoRocket's beta service at DEMO 2011, enthusiastic users and positive reviews like those at the top of this page began pouring in. And, though the entire launch team must be credited with the results, registrations climbed 1,500+% and marketplace virality rose significantly in the months following the redesign and beta launch in which I played a part.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the PhotoRocket team as they continue supporting the growing PhotoRocket user community and pursue their next round of funding for this very exciting venture.
Our task was to take what was — under the hood — a highly complex and sophisticated set of technical product features and functionality and create a radically simple and elegant brand and user experience.
