IntroDESIGN CHALLENGE
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DurationMAY 2019
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Tasksketch, wireframe, prototype, visual design
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ToolsADOBE XD
COOLOR.CO PEXELS BURST |
THE CHALLENGE
This exercise is to design the home screen for an iOS app based around “discussions” or chat rooms. The app has a number of predetermined “channels” based on topics such as cooking, science, and movies. Users can participate in or create new “discussions” to go within any of the channels (e.g. “What is the best kind of rice?” in the cooking channel).
This app is a public app with public discussions and profiles, it is not intended for private messaging. The app should be broadly appealing and easy to use, not directed at a specific audience.
Please propose a design for the home screen while keeping in mind the apps overall structure and navigation. If you need to design a second screen to communicate your ideas, please do, but 2 screens maximum.
This app is a public app with public discussions and profiles, it is not intended for private messaging. The app should be broadly appealing and easy to use, not directed at a specific audience.
Please propose a design for the home screen while keeping in mind the apps overall structure and navigation. If you need to design a second screen to communicate your ideas, please do, but 2 screens maximum.
DESIGN ENTRY
SKETCH
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WIREFRAMES
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SUMMARY OF MY THOUGHT PROCESS
ANALYSIS
I started off by first listing out the information I had about the challenge. I did this so I could have an understanding of the requirements, the information provided and the information not provided
As I was doing that I was also writing down apps/platforms that I thought was doing something similar so I thought of slack, whatsapp, Naira land forum. I checked to see how they were displaying information for both new and returning users what kind of information they were displaying etc.
ASSUMPTIONS
So I wrote down some Rules
For New users I decided that they would have access to view discussions as guest users. Say they need to know "how to get rid of the smell of burnt food" they can come online to search on the topic and read answers to it however in order to start a discussion or comment on an already existing one they would have to create an account. This ensures that they guest users still finds the app useful as asking them to create an account before they can access can be a pain and might cause the user to Uninstall the app.
FEATURE EXPLORATION
HOME SCREEN
I decided to have just general information on the home screen which is an upgrade to my initial idea where I thought I could include both trending discussions as well as a list of active discussions. I had to consider the fact that guest users would not have access to this information and instead decided to display popular discussions.
DISCUSSIONS
If a guest user were to swipe right to the discussions page it, it would display a picture telling them that they do not have any active chats and suggest that they either log in or register to join a conversation
PROFILE PHOTO
To view a person's profile the user just has to tap on the person's profile photo
I have to explain some of the concepts because I joined the challenge a day to the deadline, i didn't have enough time to design all the screens
I started off by first listing out the information I had about the challenge. I did this so I could have an understanding of the requirements, the information provided and the information not provided
As I was doing that I was also writing down apps/platforms that I thought was doing something similar so I thought of slack, whatsapp, Naira land forum. I checked to see how they were displaying information for both new and returning users what kind of information they were displaying etc.
ASSUMPTIONS
So I wrote down some Rules
For New users I decided that they would have access to view discussions as guest users. Say they need to know "how to get rid of the smell of burnt food" they can come online to search on the topic and read answers to it however in order to start a discussion or comment on an already existing one they would have to create an account. This ensures that they guest users still finds the app useful as asking them to create an account before they can access can be a pain and might cause the user to Uninstall the app.
FEATURE EXPLORATION
HOME SCREEN
I decided to have just general information on the home screen which is an upgrade to my initial idea where I thought I could include both trending discussions as well as a list of active discussions. I had to consider the fact that guest users would not have access to this information and instead decided to display popular discussions.
DISCUSSIONS
If a guest user were to swipe right to the discussions page it, it would display a picture telling them that they do not have any active chats and suggest that they either log in or register to join a conversation
PROFILE PHOTO
To view a person's profile the user just has to tap on the person's profile photo
I have to explain some of the concepts because I joined the challenge a day to the deadline, i didn't have enough time to design all the screens
INDIVIDUAL SCREENS
DESIGN INTERACTION
FEEDBACK
Because i had very limited time, i missed out on a couple of things
Elements: a Designer pointed out that the elements in the cards within the Home section had inconsistent spacing.
Information Hierachy: whether or not it would be best to show the Channel first instead of the Topics in the Trending cards was questioned
Contrast: the contrast between the text and the image slider in the Channels section was not very good.
I also had to give clarity on a few features that i included for example;
A designer wanted to know why the little images within each card has a different number from what's in the comments. that got me and what the numbers mean.
My response :the number besides the little images is to show the number of people in that conversation
Elements: a Designer pointed out that the elements in the cards within the Home section had inconsistent spacing.
Information Hierachy: whether or not it would be best to show the Channel first instead of the Topics in the Trending cards was questioned
Contrast: the contrast between the text and the image slider in the Channels section was not very good.
I also had to give clarity on a few features that i included for example;
A designer wanted to know why the little images within each card has a different number from what's in the comments. that got me and what the numbers mean.
My response :the number besides the little images is to show the number of people in that conversation
TAKE AWAYS
I realised how difficult it was for me to critic my designs and the importance of design principles
It also reenforced the importance of feedback which helps bring to your attention things that may have been overlooked in the initial design.
It also reenforced the importance of feedback which helps bring to your attention things that may have been overlooked in the initial design.
