PROBLEM After the launch of MyHownd, the app received numerous negative reviews from users. For many startup companies, prioritizing resources and efforts posed a significant challenge. While the company shifted its focus to another product, the Merchant Portal, I recognized that the issues with MyHownd were a significant bottleneck for the overall success of both products and the business

GOAL The goal was to improve the MyHownd mobile app experience by addressing core usability issues, rebuilding trust with users, and raising its overall app store rating. Beyond quick fixes, I aimed to uncover deeper insights into deal discovery, merchant density, and geo-location challenges to guide long-term product improvements and help the company align both consumer and merchant products for sustainable growth.

KEY TAKEAWAY Analyzing negative reviews helped us identify the pain points MyHownd users were experiencing. My research enabled the team to break down these issues into manageable pieces. Some were quick wins that we addressed immediately, while others—like redesigning the sign-up flow and reevaluating geo-location as the primary method for redeeming promotions—were scheduled for future ideation. Further exploration of the deal discovery experience revealed how significantly locality and merchant density impact the user experience. I shared these insights with the leadership team, prompting a more strategic approach to merchant intake that considers both industry and location. This case study illustrates how I leverage both qualitative and quantitative research to uncover opportunities for improvement. This approach informs design decisions and supports iterative refinement. Continue on to see a demo of the MyHownd app.