Unpacking The WSU App

My first idea for my application assessment. Also the first few categories for the unpacking activity.

The different features on the WSU app now broken down into four categories; Location, Students, Services & Social

I still want the vUWS and emergency buttons on the main screen as these are two very important factors that students shouldn’t make to navigate to find. For example, no student should have to try and find the emergency button in the app when in an situation on campus when they don’t time.

Activity 2: User Flow on the WSU App (Booking a Library Study Room)

The main problem I found with the WSU app is the app is basically the Western Sydney University website. When the user clicks on a button it just leads to the website, so what’s the point of the app? My challenge was to book a library study room. This task took me around 3-4 mins with screens of log ins, a grind system that doesn’t work on the iPhone and having to click through a number of different screens.

This process could of been done in one minute with a good designed phone application.

Elevator Pitch Activity & Presentation Preparing

Have you ever missed a bus by seconds only for it to lead to a day full of disasters? Well, I’ve created an app that eliminates that problem. The Western Sydney Uni Shuttle bus app allows students to be updated with tracking and timetables so you’re never late for that class again.

Presentation Preparing

3-5 min presentation for the app (week 14)

XD prototype & written documentation – Landscape & PowerPoint – for presentation (stand up and pitch the app)

Talk about the features, use 1 user user scenario!

  1. STEP 1: TELL THE CLASS THE APP NAME
  2. STEP 2: 2-3 SENTENCES ABOUT THE APP
  3. STEP 3: WHAT PROBLEM THE APP IS ADDRESSING
  4. STEP 4: PLATFORM FOR THE APP – EG THE APP IS FOR APPLE IOS
  5. USER SCENARIO – TAKE PHOTOS OF SOMEONE USING IT

THEN MOVE TO THE FEATURES AND SCREENSHOTS OF THE APP – KEEP IT BRIEF ON THE SCREENSHOT

THEN TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE DIRECTIONS/SCOOPE FOR THE APP.

My 5 Links

Here are my five recommendations that are based on App Design. All five links are related to different aspects of app design. This includes the evolution of apps, creating an icon, knowing your audience, the basics and the mistakes to avoid.

LINK 1: 10 years of the App Store: The design evolution of the earliest apps

This article that’s based on a series of popular phone applications from the app store over the period of 10 years. It touches on the app design and features with updates every few years. A great article to see the evolution of apps.

https://9to5mac.com/2018/07/10/app-store-10-years-design-evolution/

LINK 2: How to design an app: the ultimate guide

An article that covers the beginning steps to creating an application. I think this link would be great for someone who is new to app design and/or someone who still in the idea process.

https://99designs.com.au/blog/web-digital/how-to-design-an-app/

LINK 3: Designing better app icons

Breaks down the different roles and needs that requires when creating an app icon/logo. I would recommend using this site as a checklist when creating an icon for your app.

https://medium.com/@flarup/designing-better-app-icons-bac276f89ead

LINK 4: Don’t Make These 10 Mistakes in Your App Design

An overview on the mistakes a designer should avoid when creating an app. This article goes over the basics yet touches on mistakes everyone makes even the professionals.

https://designshack.net/articles/ux-design/dont-make-these-10-mistakes-in-your-app-design/

LINK 5: How to Find Your Target Audience for Mobile Apps

The last link focuses on the importance of finding and knowing your target audience when developing an app. This article is major when starting the app process and was great for me when writing out my personas.

https://appradar.com/blog/how-to-find-your-target-audience-for-mobile-apps/

About Me

About Me:

Hello, my name is Brandon and I am currently a third year Bachelor of Communication student at Western Sydney University. In my spare time, you can catch me playing and watching soccer, being a cinephile and a lover of music and design. My current goal is to become a graphic designer and start off working in a studio hopefully in the future.

I enrolled into Interactive Design: Apps as I’ve always had an interest in the way application were created and the impact within the technology culture. I hope to learn more about app designing and development through this course and hopefully carry that information into the future. The challenge of bringing my design skills to an app is exciting as well. At the end of the semester, I would love to have created an app I’m proud of, and has usability for everyone.

Lecture 7

Lecture 7 – App Interface Design (UI): Launch, Tray & List

Launch/Load Screen

The load screen the user will see when the app is loading up. This screen is normally used for branding. Remember this is not the home page!

Tray Screen

The tray is normally located on the left, normally found in hamburger menu. It should be clickable and acts to allow more space for the design on the screen.

  • Make the shape unique
  • Make the design look active
  • Make a button look like it is part of the navigation
  • Make sure it is large enough for a finger
  • Make the button look different when it is touched

Use the tray to offer more to the user. Normally used for the settings, tools and user profile 40-60% of the screen.

Advanced tray: Login out button, more categories etc.

Bottom tray: the tray is located at the bottom of the screen

Gestures: Swipe/touch to open and close the tray

The Tray should:

  • Be Clean and Lean
  • Keep the Names Short
  • Don’t Scroll too much
  • Don’t add other gestures
  • Don’t overdo a good thing

The List

  • Opening second and third level pages
  • Opening or expanding details for a content section
  • Enlarging images
  • Opening screen or options

Actionable pages should provide an action button in the top navigation bar and provide an action button below the page content.

The List should:

  • Don’t overdo a good thing
  • Don’t skip a step
  • No dead ends

Summary:

This lecture helped me understand the importance of the tray and list features within the app. The app I’m currently creating requires a list feature so it was extremely insightful to understand the do’s and don’ts when developing now, and into the future.

It’s also important to never use a launch screen as a home page. This screen is great to advertise the app and show off the brand while the user is waiting. Overall, this week’s lecture was key as I’m currently still developing the app, so I still have time to change any mistakes I’ve made within the tray and list.

Lecture 6

Lecture 6 – User Scenarios

A scenario is a narrative describing foreseeable interactions of types of users (characters) and the system. Scenarios include information about goals, expectations, motivations, actions and reactions.

Scenarios are neither predictions nor forcasts, but rather attempts to reflect on or portray the way in which a system is used in the context of daily activity.

Personas & Scenario – Angela

Scenario:
Angela has a short 30-minute layover in an unfamiliar airport. She really wants to grab a cup of coffee before she heads to her connecting flight, but doesn’t know where to go.

Angela now uses the airport guide to find the store before her flights. Cooper created 2 screens with just a list and map. This makes it simply and easy for anyone to use while in the airport.

Reflection:

In this lecture, personas and scenarios show the importance when designing. Both personas and scenarios link together to create a final visual for the creator (designer) to make a final product that the audience can relate to. After this lecture, I went into more development of my user personas, and how I could add it all into my app when designing and during the process of prototyping.

Lecture 5

Lecture 5 – Personas

User Personas are broken down to certain factors such as: Sex, Age, occupation, hobbies, likes and dislikes

Other details to include: Behaviour patterns, goals, skills, attitudes and their environment

Large vs Small Audience:

  • Large Audience: eBay (used by everyone, Mass Market)
  • Small Audience: Nick Jr. (Used by children and parents, Niche Market)

How is the audience getting to that screen in the first place? Different personas take different paths when using an app/website, so keep that in mind.

Artefact Personas

Product Personality Questions:

  • If the interface were a person, what would she or he be like?
  • How would you expect users to react when they first view the product?
  • How would you describe this product to a friend?
  • How is the product from competitive products?
  • Which celebrity (or cat, movie, etc.) is the product most like? Least like? Why?

Use key words and categories to narrow it down and make easy to understand the audience and experience.

BBC Voice Mapping

Summary: Lecture 5 focused on user personas that go in depth on how to find an audience in your project. The difference between niche and mass audiences even affects the way the personas and what the person’s behaviours and hobbies are. This pod showed me the importance of having a few user personas when creating a product, such as an app, as you need to consider all the demographics and experience of everyone.

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started