Intro

Challenges

Process

Impact

Learnings

Amber Hsieh

Download CV

Amber Hsieh

Amber Hsieh

Download CV

Refine information navigation to improve user experience

Refine information navigation to improve user experience

UX Design

UX Design

User Research (B2C)

User Research (B2C)

Information Architecture

Information Architecture

Team & my role

I led UX research, Information Architecture, and UX/UI design, partnering with the CPO, PM, and two developers to test, iterate, and ship the navigation redesign and website updates.

I led UX research, Information Architecture, and UX/UI design, partnering with the CPO, PM, and two developers to test, iterate, and ship the navigation redesign and website updates.

Challenges

The MVP’s 3‑tab navigation and weak visual hierarchy made key features hard to find, causing confusion and disengagement; the Leaderboard feature did not resonate.

The MVP’s 3‑tab navigation and weak visual hierarchy made key features hard to find, causing confusion and disengagement; the Leaderboard feature did not resonate.

Impact

  • App usage doubled, and average session time +47%.

  • Usability testing showed 80%+ satisfaction and nearly 100% task completion, with users accessing information and the tasks faster.

  • App usage doubled, and average session time +47%.

  • Usability testing showed 80%+ satisfaction and nearly 100% task completion, with users accessing information and the tasks faster.

  • App usage doubled, and average session time +47%.

  • Usability testing showed 80%+ satisfaction and nearly 100% task completion, with users accessing information and the tasks faster.

  • App usage doubled, and average session time +47%.

  • Usability testing showed 80%+ satisfaction and nearly 100% task completion, with users accessing information and the tasks faster.

  • App usage doubled, and average session time +47%.

  • Usability testing showed 80%+ satisfaction and nearly 100% task completion, with users accessing information and the tasks faster.

View the app

User feedback

"Finding everything is so much easier now, I’m actually enjoying using the app!"

"Finding everything is so much easier now, I’m actually enjoying using the app!"

Research findings

01 Users want clear progress tracking

01 Users want clear progress tracking

Reviewing qualitative research and affinity mapping revealed a key theme: users wanted to see their daily progress in the app, instead of "Leaderboard", which adds no purpose to users' long-term ambitions of taking care of their hearing health. This shaped our redesign strategy of information building.

Reviewing qualitative research and affinity mapping revealed a key theme: users wanted to see their daily progress in the app, instead of "Leaderboard", which adds no purpose to users' long-term ambitions of taking care of their hearing health. This shaped our redesign strategy of information building.

02 The current navigation system lacked intuition for finding and grouping information

02 The Current navigation system lacked intuition for finding and grouping information

An app UX audit found that the 3-tab structure lacks a clear information architecture. Users found it hard to locate content due to poor grouping, causing frustration and lower engagement.

An app UX audit found that the 3-tab structure lacks a clear information architecture. Users found it hard to locate content due to poor grouping, causing frustration and lower engagement.

03 Short average session times suggest engagement issues

03 Short average session times suggest engagement issues

Google Analytics showed average user sessions under 1.5 minutes, despite the 3-minute training game. Data and feedback on navigation issues indicated that the app's structure contributed to low engagement and brief sessions. Improving navigation became a priority. The feedback from the user interview indicated that a lack of information clarity and a lack of sense of purpose are the main obstacles to participants engaging with the app for longer periods. This also becomes the KPI for later usability testing and GA evidence on UX improvement.

Google Analytics showed average user sessions under 1.5 minutes, despite the 3-minute training game. Data and feedback on navigation issues indicated that the app's structure contributed to low engagement and brief sessions. Improving navigation became a priority. The feedback from the user interview indicated that a lack of information clarity and a lack of sense of purpose are the main obstacles to participants engaging with the app for longer periods. This also becomes the KPI for later usability testing and GA evidence on UX improvement.

Learning

💡 Complex user preferences highlighted the need for diverse research methods.
💡 Complex user preferences highlighted the need for diverse research methods.

The Leaderboard revealed a user paradox: some found it "meaningless," while others valued it for tracking behaviour. This "love-hate" relationship highlighted the complexity of user motivations. It underscored the need to employ diverse agile research methods to fully understand user needs and preferences, particularly in feature-specific feedback.

Strategy

GET Eargym users WHO download and register the app TO quickly find key features and engage more often BY redesigning the app’s information architecture and implementing a horizontal bottom navigation bar with clear, familiar labels.

So I …

So I …

This is my first project after joining the company. The team collected user feedback, so I based my assumptions on prior research from the beta app before moving to design.

Consistency is key to this redesign, along with ensuring a smooth transition for quick user adaptation.

How

Key design implementations

Key design implementations

5 tabs navigation

The 3-tab system was replaced with a bottom navigation bar, a familiar pattern for mobile users, to create immediate intuitiveness and ease of access to core features. Based on prior user feedback and interviews, I have grouped the 5 themes that users prefer to understand in the app.

These groups also provide a transparent, well-structured thinking process and flow, reducing users' cognitive load when using the app.

The 3-tab system was replaced with a bottom navigation bar, a familiar pattern for mobile users, to create immediate intuitiveness and ease of access to core features. Based on prior user feedback and interviews, I have grouped the 5 themes that users prefer to understand in the app.

These groups also provide a transparent, well-structured thinking process and flow, reducing users' cognitive load when using the app.

Reorganised Information Architecture

The app content was reorganised to meet user expectations, providing clear categories and making information easier to find within the bottom navigation system.

Personalised progress surpassing competition as a reward

The Leaderboard was replaced with personalised progress tracking visualisations (goals, achievements, training progressions) to enhance motivation and engagement, shifting focus from competition to personal growth.

The Leaderboard was replaced with personalised progress tracking visualisations (goals, achievements, training progressions) to enhance motivation and engagement, shifting focus from competition to personal growth.

Enhanced Visual Hierarchy and Clarity

The visual hierarchy was refined throughout the app, and cards were made more concise to improve clarity and guide user interaction.

The visual hierarchy was refined throughout the app, and cards were made more concise to improve clarity and guide user interaction.

Direct impact

+47%
Average session time

+80%
Satisfaction from usability testing

+80%
Satisfaction from usability testing

Both GA and usability testing show significantly better feedback and indicate that app usage time has risen from less than 1.5 minutes to 2.2 minutes.

GA shows 31% more users start free trial, with improved engagement and retention in the first five days. Usage time nearly triples.

Learnings

In user interviews and feedback, I sometimes receive users' expressions of how they feel instead of their actual problems. So, it's important that I can identify their true goals and needs behind those feelings.

Key Takeaways

Design iteration with familiar patterns
Design iteration with familiar patterns

Add a focused wireframing phase to explore multiple options, then implement familiar UI patterns (e.g., a bottom navigation) to speed adoption and reduce cognitive load within tight timelines.

Add a focused wireframing phase to explore multiple options, then implement familiar UI patterns (e.g., a bottom navigation) to speed adoption and reduce cognitive load within tight timelines.

Combine research methods to reduce risk and inform design decisions
Combine research methods to reduce risk and inform design decisions

Use a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods—such as open card sorting, task observations, and analytics—to understand user mental models and verify navigation and labeling choices.

Use a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods—such as open card sorting, task observations, and analytics—to understand user mental models and verify navigation and labeling choices.

Website optimisation boosts qualified app traffic
Website optimisation boosts qualified app traffic

Iterating landing pages improved acquisition quality and website‑to‑app flow, with impressions 45,600 → 54,600 (+19.7%), clicks 1,940 → 5,160 (+166%), CTR 4.25% → 9.46%, and average position 12.9 → 11.3.

Iterating landing pages improved acquisition quality and website‑to‑app flow, with impressions 45,600 → 54,600 (+19.7%), clicks 1,940 → 5,160 (+166%), CTR 4.25% → 9.46%, and average position 12.9 → 11.3.

Read more

Read more

The digital hearing health gym boosts motivation and encourages habit-forming

End-to-end experience

End-to-end

Product design

Lego-style online CV editor

Product Development

MVP Launch

User Research (B2C)

Boosted the app's start free trial conversion rate by 31% in 4 months

Onboarding

Conversion rate

User Journey

Let's connect

yuyouhsieh@gmail.com

Linkedin

Medium

© 2026 Amber Hsieh • All rights reserved

Let's connect

yuyouhsieh@gmail.com

Linkedin

Medium

© 2026 Amber Hsieh • All rights reserved

Let's connect

yuyouhsieh@gmail.com

Linkedin

Medium

© 2026 Amber Hsieh • All rights reserved