KASKUS Forum - Indonesian social media

KASKUS is more than just a forum; it's a platform where you can be your true self! Engage in lively conversations, buy and sell items, and interact with experts in various fields - it's all right here for you!

KASKUS Forum App

Background

KASKUS is one of Indonesia’s largest internet forums with extremely active members who submit a wide variety of content. All content is organized into categories and sub-forums on the platform. One of the popular offshoots of the forum is a P2P marketplace platform with its own categories. Before the redesign, the KASKUS app was a combination of both forum and marketplace modules. Our design team was tasked to split them up as stand-alone apps in order to make each module more focused and easier to navigate. As the Android UI/UX designer, I worker on the KASKUS Forum app, the KASKUS Jual-Beli marketplace app, and the KASKUS Chat app for the redesign project.

Role

I was responsible for designing the information architecture, screen flow, and layout for the whole app, as well as creating high-fidelity screens and prototypes for the developers. I worked closely with the product manager and a small group of developers to implement the designs and collaborated with the iOS designer to ensure users have the same experience on both platforms.

Scope

The revamped app was planned to be smaller in scope with just a few core features including: thread creation, browsing for topics, and reading/replying to threads and comments. Additional improvements were then added to every development sprint to further enhance the user experience.

Tools Used

Sketch, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, InVision, Zeplin

Process

Sprint Planning

During the sprint planning the product manager and designers discussed which features would be feasible within each short sprint timeframe. This process was guided by the product roadmap established by the product managers with input from developers. We also discussed what the user flow would look like when the new features are integrated into the existing app. Designers then presented design concepts to the whole team to get feedback for improvement. Prototypes were sometimes needed for complex user flows.

When determining which features to work on, we tried to strike the right balance between user-focused features to address users’ needs and improve usability, and KASKUS initiative features to increase engagement and expand services offered to the communities.

User-Focused Features

For the new app design, we wanted to focus on two of the most prominent types of users and the way they interact with the forum. For the active users and content creators, we wanted to give them tools for content creation and content management as well as the ability to easily engage other members of the community. For the less active users and passive readers, we wanted to provide a smooth experience and easy access to a wide range of content. The app is designed so that every user group can easily find information relevant to them. Here are some of the components of the thread detail with various features built into it serving both types of users.

KASKUS Initiative Features

In addition to user-generated content, KASKUS also does various offline initiatives to engage its members. Some of these initiatives require new features to be added to the app. For example, the events feature is used for live events and festivals hosted by KASKUS. The following is the event feature user flow for admin/booth tenants and the attendees.

Designs

The launch of the revamped app also included a dedicated thread specifically for community input. The thread gave us insights into features that users requested the most, while also gathering general feedback on usability. Here are some of the features that were highly requested. A great emphasis was placed on the personalization and adaptability for the users’ individual needs.

Text Editing Tools

Originally, the web version had a wider range of tools available for thread creation than on the mobile version. After going through hundreds of threads with the help of our intern, we were able to narrow down a set of tools typically used by users when creating a thread. We then revamped the mobile apps to include this feature, giving users a more robust thread creation tool.

Night Mode

One of the most requested features on the web version is the night mode. It allows the users to use the mobile app comfortably at night or in a low-light environment.

Adjustable View Modes

Based on anecdotal observations, the majority of our users have a limited mobile internet quota because they don’t have access to free wifi or an affordable internet provider. So, in addition to different layout configurations, we also included the image-off option, allowing users to limit images in order to reduce their internet quota consumption.

- Share Your Interests & Connect with Others

Are you a fan of anime, love reading, or enjoy discussing politics? KASKUS connects you with like-minded individuals who share your hobbies and interests.

- Community Marketplace

Shopping has never been more exciting! Join a community that understands your style. Explore unique products and snag the best deals.

- Diverse Multimedia Content

Not a wordsmith? Not a problem! Express yourself through photos or videos. Unleash your creativity and inspire others.

- Chat & Exchange Ideas

Join a vibrant community. Engage in real-time chats, exchange thoughts, and form closer bonds with fellow community members through Live Chat.

What are you waiting for? Download KASKUS now and immerse yourself in this enriching online community!