BeesNest is a home-based business listing app designed to empower entrepreneurs and help them effectively market their products and services, especially during the challenging times of the pandemic. The name BeesNest derives from the word "business," and it embodies the hard-working nature of home entrepreneurs who strive to succeed.
Summary of the Project
The BeesNest project was initiated to address the difficulties faced by individuals who have been laid off from their jobs and have started their own home-based businesses. These entrepreneurs often struggle to promote their offerings and attract customers. The primary goal of BeesNest is to connect more customers with home-based businesses by providing a comprehensive list of nearby establishments that offer specific products or services.
Problem Statement
The rise in unemployment due to the pandemic has led many individuals to explore home-based business opportunities. However, these budding entrepreneurs encounter significant challenges in marketing themselves and generating sales for their products or services. The lack of visibility and limited resources make it difficult for them to reach their target audience effectively. BeesNest aims to solve this problem by creating a platform that connects customers with home-based businesses, enabling entrepreneurs to showcase their offerings and gain the recognition they deserve.
Solution
BeesNest offers a user-friendly mobile application that allows home-based entrepreneurs to list their businesses and showcase their products or services. The app provides a convenient way for customers to discover nearby home-based businesses and explore the range of offerings available. By leveraging the power of technology and a centralized platform, BeesNest empowers entrepreneurs to reach a wider audience and connect with potential customers who are interested in supporting local home businesses.
My Contribution
As a creative designer specializing in UI and UX, my role in the BeesNest project was to create an intuitive and visually appealing user interface that would enhance the user experience. I collaborated closely with the development team to understand the needs of both entrepreneurs and customers, ensuring that the design reflected their requirements and preferences. I conducted user research, created wireframes and prototypes, and iteratively refined the design based on user feedback. The final result is a visually engaging and user-friendly app interface that seamlessly guides users through the process of discovering and engaging with home-based businesses.
Status of the Project
Development for the BeesNest project has been put on hold, as it is a passion project for me and my friends. Due to our personal work commitments and time constraints, we have decided to pause the development phase. However, we are pleased to share that we have successfully completed the design phase of the project.
During the design phase, we invested significant effort into understanding the needs of home-based entrepreneurs and customers, conducting user research, and creating intuitive and visually appealing user interfaces. Through iterations and incorporating valuable feedback, we have finalized the design and created wireframes and prototypes that showcase the potential of BeesNest.
While the project is currently on hold, we remain proud of the progress we have made and the value that BeesNest can bring to the home-based business community. Should circumstances change in the future, we are eager to revisit and potentially resume the development of BeesNest to make it a fully functional and impactful app for entrepreneurs and customers alike.
Key Takeaways
Through the BeesNest project, I have gained valuable insights that will shape my future endeavors in the field of home-based business listing apps. Here are the key takeaways from my experience:
What did I learn?
There are significant opportunities in creating a listing app for home-based businesses. The market demand for such platforms is evident, especially during challenging times.
Time management and dedication are crucial when working on a passion project. It is essential to allocate sufficient time to ensure steady progress and completion.
What mistakes did I make?
I failed to commit enough time and effort to push the development of the project due to work and personal commitments. This resulted in delays and limited progress.
I neglected the importance of conducting thorough research and interviews with target users, which could have provided valuable insights and improved the overall design and functionality of the app.
What would I do differently next time?
I would make a conscious effort to better manage my time and prioritize the project, ensuring consistent progress and timely completion.
I would prioritize conducting thorough research and user interviews early in the project to gather valuable insights and validate the design decisions. This would result in a more user-centered and effective product.
By reflecting on these mistakes and applying the lessons learned, I aim to improve my approach to future projects. With better time management, focus on research, and user-centric design, I will strive to create more successful and impactful solutions in the future.
Final Result
Process
During the initial phase of the BeesNest project, we organized a productive brainstorming session to kickstart the design process. In this session, we focused on identifying key aspects of the project, including the problem we aimed to solve, our goals, the target users, relevant questions to ask, and essential features to include in the app. Additionally, we conducted surveys to gather valuable insights from our target users.
