Asking for feedback is one of the most valuable things an individual can do when designing. Building a product. Though, typically the way we ask and receive that feedback sets us up for failure.
For heeed, we want to expand upon the idea of asking for feedback and add powerful features that will allow for better, more targeted feedback for its users while also offering a rewarding system for those providing feedback.
At its heart, the heeed community is filled with passionate people willing to take the time to help others succeed. Because of this, we feel that the brand, experience, and site itself should embody a friendly, quirky, and fun vibe, which can adapt and grow alongside the community.
Another core concept that shaped the direction of the brand/experience is the reward-based gamification system that drives interactions between heeed users.
For individuals to provide helpful feedback, they first need to find posts in which they feel their expertise will shine.
Once one is found, they need to have the context on what it is and what the user is looking for so that they can leave targeted feedback.
Finally, there needs to be a way to discuss, not just a comment. Discussions can lead to more clarity and, therefore, more substantial feedback.
Going into this project, it was known that heeed was launching as a closed beta. A mistake many people make is to design and build a complete product before launch.
Until the users have their hands on the product, it is really unknown how it will be used.
So instead, for heed, it made sense to double down on the core concept, allowing the extra time/resources to be spent on user research & strategy to nail down the core concept on which everything else will be built.