CrewView: Construction Project Management

Introduction

At Blackthorn Software, I led the UX design for CrewView, a construction project management app. As the sole UX designer, I developed a web app for admins, an offline mobile app for on-site workers, and designed the marketing site. I also created marketing materials, produced YouTube videos, and played a pivotal role in shaping the product’s vision through close collaboration with product managers and founders. This multifaceted experience allowed me to contribute significantly to the success of this dynamic startup in the software industry.

Style Guide

For the CrewView app, I took charge of crafting a comprehensive style guide to ensure visual consistency and cohesion throughout the platform. Leveraging TailWind’s vibrant color palette, I meticulously curated a set of colors that resonated with the brand’s identity, infusing the app with a dynamic and modern aesthetic. Additionally, recognizing the pivotal role typography plays in user experience, I developed a typography style guide. This guide not only established guidelines for font families, sizes, and weights but also outlined principles for hierarchy and readability, enhancing the overall legibility and visual appeal of the app’s interface.

Component Library

In developing the CrewView app, I established a comprehensive component library to uphold consistency across its user interface. This centralized repository not only housed a diverse range of standardized components but also offered clear guidelines for their application, styling, and behavior. By adhering to this framework, we ensured a seamless design and development process, maintaining a unified user experience across all app features and interactions.

The Right Persona

In the development of CrewView, personas played a pivotal role in shaping our design approach. We identified four key user roles: owners/admins, managers, supervisors, and team members. The web app was crafted for owners/admins and project managers, offering a comprehensive platform for project, task, team, and equipment management.

The Core Pillars

As the UX designer for the web app, it became clear that to succeed, we needed to focus on three main pillars: project and task management, team and time tracking, and equipment management. I crafted intuitive interfaces for efficient project planning, seamless team coordination, and streamlined equipment utilization. My user-centric approach aimed at delivering a cohesive and effective construction project management experience.

Project & Task Management

In the realm of project and task management, I dedicated my efforts to designing a comprehensive system. This included developing a user-friendly task list for efficient organization, a Gantt calendar for scheduling visualizations, and insightful summaries encompassing unit reporting and task progress. The task list aimed at providing users with a clear and organized view of their assignments, while the Gantt calendar facilitated strategic scheduling for seamless project planning. The summaries of unit reporting and task progress were designed to offer valuable insights, allowing users to monitor and assess project milestones effectively. Through these features, I aimed to enhance the overall project and task management experience, ensuring users had the tools they needed for successful project execution.

Team & Time Management

In team and time management, we implemented a user list for Admins, Managers, Supervisors, and Team Members, facilitating easy task assignment within projects. Our user-friendly timekeeping system simplified the logging of working hours, and the intuitive reassignment feature eliminated unnecessary complexity found in other apps. This approach aimed to streamline team collaboration and create a hassle-free experience for users.

Equipment Management

In the realm of equipment management, our focus extended to creating a robust system. This included the capability to generate equipment assets and assign them dynamically. Users had the flexibility to assign equipment to individuals, link equipment (e.g., attaching a trailer to a truck), and even assign equipment to specific tasks for more permanent use. Additionally, we integrated features for conducting inventories and inspections, enhancing the overall maintenance and monitoring process. This comprehensive approach aimed at providing users with a versatile toolset for effective equipment management, ensuring flexibility and control over their resources.

Mobile Offline App

To cater to users in remote areas with limited wireless service, we developed a mobile app for both iOS and Android platforms, prioritizing offline functionality. This app primarily focuses on two crucial aspects: timekeeping and unit reporting. Recognizing the challenges of connectivity in remote locations, the mobile app enables users to log working hours and report unit data seamlessly, even without an internet connection. These data inputs serve as valuable updates for project managers, feeding into the web app to provide real-time insights. By emphasizing offline capabilities and key functionalities, our mobile app ensures that users in remote areas can contribute vital information to the project management system, promoting efficient collaboration and informed decision-making.

User Testing & Research

User research and testing were integral parts of my UX design process. I conducted thorough user testing through demos, seeking direct feedback on the usability and effectiveness of our designs. This iterative approach allowed us to refine and optimize the user experience based on real-world insights. Additionally, I engaged in research through workshops with subject matter experts, gathering valuable domain-specific knowledge to inform the design decisions. This collaboration ensured that our solutions met industry standards and user expectations. Regular feedback loops with my team became a cornerstone of our design process, fostering a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives contributed to continuous improvement. This user-centric and collaborative approach played a pivotal role in refining and enhancing the overall effectiveness of our web and mobile app solutions.

Responsive Marketing Website

We updated our CrewView marketing website to better target our construction audience. Initially, our site resembled a tech hub, missing the mark for construction professionals. Our redesign focused on project, team, and equipment management, balancing visual appeal and informative content. A transparent pricing page provided clear information, while seamless integration encouraged engagement with our web and mobile apps. A new sitemap guided our UX strategy, aligning technical implementation with user needs. The revamped homepage offered an immersive experience, showcasing our solutions effectively. Additionally, a blog enhanced SEO and provided valuable industry insights. Overall, this comprehensive redesign ensured our marketing site accurately represented our commitment to serving the construction sector. View Full Case Study

Results

The culmination of our efforts has yielded promising results as we recently onboarded our first users. Notably, Willow Creek Companies is in the process of adopting CrewView company-wide. Overcoming initial hesitancy within the traditionally old-school construction industry, our platform has proven its worth. Users are consistently expressing their satisfaction with how CrewView is streamlining workflows and simplifying their jobs. Within just two weeks of adoption, the positive feedback has been resounding, underscoring the effectiveness of our design decisions and the tangible benefits our solutions bring to the construction companies embracing digital transformation. These early successes are a testament to the thoughtful UX design, extensive user research, and collaborative approach that have collectively shaped CrewView into a game-changer for the construction project management landscape.