The Challenge

While platforms like Skype and Google Hangouts provide "face-to-face" video conferencing solutions, none currently allow users to monetize their time or trade their professional expertise. The challenge lies in crafting a user-friendly app that lets users barter professional services and enables non-professionals to seek advice on various topics. How do we develop a simple yet effective app that professionals such as financial advisors, dating coaches, and dog trainers can leverage as a potent income stream?

The Solution

Our design ethos was centered around practicality over pomp. There was no need for ostentatious aesthetics or unnecessary details. The app required an intuitive, clear method for locating the desired "expert" and initiating dialogue.

From an "expert's" perspective, the app should facilitate the creation of an impactful profile page, acting as a comprehensive advertisement with all requisite information for a "client" to make an informed decision. Considering the potential presence of other local experts with similar skills, each profile needed to compellingly differentiate itself to influence a potential client's choice.

These core ideas served as the pillars of the app, guiding my design process. Despite the clean aesthetic, each space was thoughtfully utilized, resulting in a design akin to Google's style—simple, clean, and purposeful.

The Design

The Breakdown

As the chief creator of this application, I was entrusted with addressing the void in the video conferencing sphere, crafting a platform that empowered users to both monetize their skills and exchange professional services. Our team aimed to develop an intuitive application accessible to a wide audience, irrespective of their professional sphere or level of expertise.

Understanding that simplicity and functionality were crucial for our application's success, we eliminated superfluous elements and ads, designing an efficient and easy-to-navigate expert search and communication feature. Users, as experts, could develop comprehensive profiles showcasing their unique expertise and essential information, enabling prospective clients to make informed decisions.

With the understanding that each profile needed to resonate in a competitive landscape, we ensured our design was impactful and unambiguous, drawing from Google's minimalistic and clean aesthetic. The outcome was a platform allowing various professionals, from financial advisors to dog trainers, to utilize their expertise as a robust income source, simultaneously providing non-professionals with the advice they required. I take great pride in spearheading the development of this pioneering platform that has enabled numerous connections and facilitated extensive knowledge sharing.