Xerox wanted to gain a better understanding of how freelancers practice, form, and maintain professional relationships. Goal was to assess and enhance the value and potential of this work platform for geographically and culturally dispersed agents who may never meet or interact in person. As part of the project, Xerox also wanted to get a better understanding of the competitive landscape, by evaluating other online platforms which target freelance design practitioners.

Based on competitive landscape and user research, the project would develop UX concepts for this new work platform. As part of the process, a user study on the real-world practice of free agents and job-based teams was directed at external freelancers and clients who use competitive online labor markets. Second, a competitive analysis was conducted of the similarly featured online platforms. The emphasis was on usage patterns, usability and user experience aspects. We also included few freelancers as participants in this evaluation. Xerox’s current platform was also evaluated for usage patterns, usability and user experience aspects.

Based on the ethnographic research, user experience and usability evaluation, a solution will be proposed for improving the existing platform. This will be done through screen designs of some of the key features required to make this platform successful for this segment of users. As part of this activity we will be evaluating the designs with freelancers and clients to understand the UX and usability issues. The designs will be modified to incorporate those changes.

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