Application Design 1 - Project 1: Mobile Application Proposal
⭐ 23/9/2024 - 14/10/2024 (Week 1 - Week 4)
🎀 Yan Zhi Xuan | 0369425
💜 Advanced Interactive Design | Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media | Taylor's University
📚 Application Design 1: Mobile Application Proposal
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Week 1: Introduction to Mobile Application Design
Mr. Zeon told us to take a look at MIB and download it. He also explained his
expectations for this module and emphasised the criticality of application
design. Our first assignment was to do a draft proposal.
Week 2: The Art of User-Centered Design (UCD)
During week 2, the lecture focuses on user-centred design, user experience design, user interface design, and the UCD process. We can include
extra components for Project 1's final submission with the week 2 lecture slides for guidance. We only need to focus on one
corporate app for the final proposal.
Week 3: Usability
Mr. Zeon talked about the importance of usability in application design, emphasising
characteristics such as consistency, simplicity, visibility, feedback, and
error prevention. We needed to present our final
proposal during the next class. Week 4's attendance is required, and
failure to do so will result in a deduction of presentation scores.
Week 4: Presentation
We each have five minutes to present our proposals. After presenting, Mr. Zeon gave us feedback.
2. INSTRUCTIONS ⊹ ࣪ ˖₊˚⋆˙⟡
Fig. 2.1 Module Information Booklet - Application Design 1.
Tasks:
- Redesign an existing app (regarding the user experience or interface
design).
- Do surveys, interviews, market studies and research on the selected
topic.
- Document key features of their mobile application and provide a clear app
flowchart.
- Determine whether the mobile application idea is good to continue to the
next development phase.
Things to include in the proposal:
1. Introduction
- Explain the purpose of the proposal, the importance of mobile application design and how it affects user experience.
2. Background and Context
- Describe the current design of the existing mobile applications.
- Examine the strengths and shortcomings of the current design.
- Explain the app's user demographics and needs.
3. Goals and Objectives
- Define the redesign's objectives.
- Determine the aims of the new design.
- Explain how the new design will meet user needs and enhance the user experience.
4. User Research
- Describe your user research methodology. (plans to acquire user feedback and insights)
- Prepare a plan for user testing and validation.
5. References
- Find references used for research and inspiration. (articles, books, or design examples)
3. PROJECT 1: MOBILE APPLICATION PROPOSAL ⊹ ࣪ ˖₊˚⋆˙⟡
Week 1 | App Research & Exploration
Instructions:
- Research various applications. Choose three company apps that
could have enhancements in design.
- Identify all existing drawbacks and propose potential
solutions.
- Attached is company information, take screenshots of
all pages on each application design and compile them
onto individual slides.
- In the next slides, focus on specific areas of the screenshots
that you believe might be improved in terms of user
interface design and user experience.
- Provide a justification for each analysis and provide
appropriate solutions to the identified concerns.
- Create an overview (report) detailing the discoveries, which will
be shown through slides and submitted for feedback in Week
2.
App Research and Selection
Fig 3.1 Downloaded various apps for study. (Week
1, 23/9/2024)
I downloaded some applications from the App Store across
different fields, including Entertainment & Social,
Transportation & Travel, Shopping & E-Commerce,
Food & Beverage, Productivity & Business
Financial, Lifestyle, and Education. I observed, analyzed,
and investigated, and finally selected the following
apps:
1. McDonald's
2. Trevo
3. Smart Selangor Parking
During the first week of my research, I browsed
applications by category. Delving deeper, I explore their
ratings and reviews. I chose the McDonald's app because it has a low rating of 2.1 out of 5 from over 5,900 reviews,
with users reporting frequent crashes, bugs, and
compatibility issues, especially with newer iOS versions.
Secondly, I chose the Trevo app. It has a solid rating of 4.4 out of 5 from over 7,500 reviews,
but users have raised issues regarding payment failures,
hidden cancellation charges, and account management
problems, such as auto-deleting profiles. Thirdly, the Smart Selangor Parking app has a low rating of
2.5 out of 5 from 296 reviews, with users reporting frequent
crashes, missing notifications, and poor GPS
functionality.
Screenshots of App Pages
Fig 3.2 McDonald's. (Week 1, 23/9/2024)
Fig 3.3 Trevo. (Week 1, 23/9/2024)
Fig 3.4 Smart Selangor Parking. (Week 1, 23/9/2024)
Identify Design Drawbacks & Write A Report (Slides)
After exploring and observing those app's UI/UX design, I
started identifying the design flaws of the app and write
them down in the slides with screenshots.
Week 2 | Draft Proposal
Instructions:
Make sure we use the Week 2 lecture slides for
guidance.
After Getting feedback from Mr. Zeon, I analyzed one more app
called Gaurdian. The Guardian has a rating of 3.7 out of 5 from 342 reviews and
suffers from performance issues, bugs, and a lack of smooth user
experience, which severely impacts its functionality.
Fig 3.5 Chosen apps for analysis. (Week 2,
6/10/2024)
Screenshots of App Pages
Fig 3.6 Guardian. (Week 2, 30/9/2024)
I made sure the slide included conclusions and ensured the
key strengths and weaknesses of the apps were correct.
Fig 3.7 McDonald's - Conclusion. (Week 2, 30/9/2024)
Fig 3.8 Trevo - Conclusion. (Week 2, 30/9/2024)
Fig 3.9 Smart Selangor Parking - Conclusion. (Week 2, 30/9/2024)
Fig 3.10 Guardian - Conclusion. (Week 2, 30/9/2024)
The following is my finalised draft proposal:
Fig 3.11 Draft - Mobile App Proposal. (Week 2, 30/9/2024)
Week 3 | App Selection & Final Proposal
Preparation
During week 3, feedback was given and I decided
to redesign the Guardian app. After that, I
proceeded to start my final proposal slide.
Fig 3.12 Chosen App - Guardian. (Week 2, 30/9/2024)
Instructions:
The final proposal for a company app should
focus on a single app, evaluate its potential
for advancement, and be submitted by week
4. Remember to add demographic information to the
slide by using Similarweb.
Fig 3.13 Requirements of Final Mobile App
Proposal.
Fig 3.14 Work Progress - Screenshot of Final Mobile App
Proposal. (Week 3, 7/10/2024)
Application Name: Gaurdian
Category: Health & Beauty Retailer
Target Audience: Young to middle-aged
women
Age: 25-34 years old
Table of Contents:
1.0 Introduction
1.2 Importance of Mobile App Design - 10 Roles of UI/UX Design for Mobile Application Success
1.3 Summary of the Redesign Approach
2.0 Background and Context
2.2 Ratings and Reviews
2.3 Strengths & Weaknesses
2.4 Competitive Analysis
2.5 User Demographics
2.6 User Needs & Requirements
3.0 Goals and Objectives
3.2 Primary Goals & Secondary Goals
3.3 Redesign Strategies
4.0 User Research
4.2 Plan for User Testing
Conclusion
5.0 References
Fig 3.15 Guardian - Background and
Context. (Week 3, 7/10/2024)
Fig 3.16 Guardian - Competitive
Analysis. (Week 3, 7/10/2024)
Fig 3.17 Guardian - Similarweb
Demographic Information. (Week 3, 7/10/2024)
Week 4 | Finalised Final Proposal
& Presentation
During week 4, we presented our slides
in class. He gave feedback after each
presentation. He also suggested we email
him the slide for improvement.
When I was presenting, I ensured that I
covered the objective, my analysis, as
well as my goals and strategies.
After presenting, I added some slides to
my final proposal, I thought of how to
make the Guardian app to be more
competitive:
Fig 3.18 Guardian - Store Locator
Feature's Enhancement. (Week 3, 7/10/2024)
Fig 3.16 Guardian - Competitive
Analysis. (Week 3, 7/10/2024)
The following is my final mobile
app proposal of the Guardian app:
4. FEEDBACK ⊹ ࣪ ˖₊˚⋆˙⟡
Week 1
No Feedback was given.
My action: I started the app research
by exploring the App Store.
Week 2
Mr. Zeon told me that two of my choices,
which our seniors had done. So, he suggested
me to proceed with the final mobile app
proposal with the Trevo app.
My action: I wanted to delve into
analysing the Trevo app, but it always has
so much errors so I couldn't explore more to
get the ideas to redesign it. Thus, I
explored one more app - Guardian.
Fig. 4.1 Screenshots of the Bugs.
Week 3
Mr. Zeon agreed to proceed with the
Guardian app for the final proposal.
He told me that I needed to highlight
the keywords of the ratings and
reviews.
Week 4
Mr. Zeon asked me to focus on the
Guardian app's store locator feature
which stands out from the
competitors.
My action: I added the ideas that how to make the
Guardian app to be more competitive to my final proposal. I emailed him again to
get improvement.
Mr. Zeon asked me to include the Sililarweb user
demographic slide and plan for the user testing
slide before the conclusion slide. He also wanted
me to check again the content of my slide to avoid
missing out on some parts.
5. REFLECTIONS ⊹ ࣪ ˖₊˚⋆˙⟡
Experience
Working on this proposal provided a hands-on
opportunity to analyze and evaluate a real-world
mobile app. It allowed me to apply UX/UI principles,
user research methods, and competitive analysis in a
practical context.
Observation
I observed that the Guardian mobile app has several
areas of improvement, particularly around
navigation, visual hierarchy, and user engagement.
Competitors like Watson and Sephora provide a
richer, more interactive user
experience.
Finding
Through analysis, I found that streamlining
navigation, improving visual clarity, and enhancing
the checkout process can significantly boost user
satisfaction and retention for the Guardian app.
These strategies can make the app more competitive
and user-friendly.
Comments
Post a Comment