Application Design - Project1: Mobile Application Proposal

 23.9.2024 - 14.10.2024(week1 - week4)

Name: Itani Karen / Student ID: 0377243 / Course: Bachelor of Design in Creative Media

Application Design

Project 1 -  Mobile Application Proposal

LECTURES

-Week 1 / Introduction to Mobile Application Design

 As a first introduction, Mr.Zeon taught us why mobile application design is important in the digital era and what elements is required. 

-Week 2 / The Art of User-Centered Design

　In second week, we learned about user-centered design and consider the difference between UI and UX. Also, we were lectured about usability and the key elements that shape usability.

-Week 3 / Usability: Designing Products for User Satisfaction

  In this week, Mr.Zeon taught about Usability Heuristics which are general principles or guidelines that designers use to access and enhance the user-friendliness and overall usability of products.

INSTRUCTIONS

Project1  -  Mobile Application Proposal

-Week 1 / draft proposal

 In the first week, Mr. Zeon told to choose three applications after researching the usability and evaluation of these apps. These applications must have some room for improvement. After using some applications and looking it up on the internet, I chose the following three applications to remake.

These are applications I finally chose.

1) Tokyo Disney Resort App

 - When I use this app, I sometimes find it difficult to use. For instance, when checking waiting on the map, the pop-ups overlap and it is not easy to see. Also, the pop-ups are displayed above the buildings and there are no attraction’s names. Furthermore, even though almost of the people who visit park may use this app, the rating was 3.7 out of 5.0.

2) Water Plantly

-When I found this app, I thought it was very useful to manage plants. However, when I actually used it, there were some points that made it difficult to use. For example, when pushing the WATER button, it is hard to know whether recording is possible because there are no alerts. The rating was 3.4 and there are only 14 ratings.

3) Smartnews

-I searched for a news application in the app store and it has a high rating. However, when I saw this app design at first, I felt it was a busy design. Furthermore, when I actually used it, I thought it was a bit difficult to use because when dragging, it reacts overly sensitive.

-Week 2 

 In this week, I showed Mr.Zeon the three apps I had chosen and their weaknesses, and received feedback from the teacher.

I've proceeded making presentation of final proposal. I wondered if I choose WaterPlantly or Tokyo Disney Resort App, but in the end I selected Tokyo Disney Resort App as the app to do research, because WaterPlantly doesn't have many user and it is difficult to conduct research.

-Week 3

 In this week, I showed Mr.Zeon both my first draft and final proposal, and received feedbacks.

In the first draft, I was asked to find two more weaknesses in the smart news section and highlight important parts of the rating, so I made corrections.

Here is my first draft.

　Regarding final proposal, I was asked to make slides of weaknesses, complete user demographic and secondary goal sections. Therefore, I searched user demographic by using similar web and complete the page and also made other slides.

(Weaknesses)

(User Demographics)

(Secondary Goals)

-Week 4

  We finally did presentation in the class in 5 minutes. We shared individual analysis, redesign objectives and the strategies of each apps. Also, Mr. Zeon asked several question in the end of the presentations.

  Furthermore, I got another feedback about final proposal before I submit it, Mr. Zeon suggested to make comparison table between competitors and Tokyo Disney App and to provide a side-by-side comparison of interface design.

   

  Therefore, I introduced a table and changed some slides layout.

 

(comparison table)

(comparison of interface design)

Here is my final proposal

REFLECTIONS

  Through this project,  I was able to analyze how the apps I usually use, including those for Tokyo Disney Resort App, are designed and what elements they contain. The most difficult parts was finding the strengths and weaknesses of the app from user's perspective. I didn't notice any weaknesses before conducting this research because I was used to using Tokyo Disney Resort App on the regular basis. However, after checking the operation, color scheme, UI and UX in detail and using other app to compare, I finally found the weaknesses.

 In the researching phase, I wad able to conduct it comprehensively by using rating of Google app store, similar web and so on, and determined the redesign objectives as considering these data. Also, I think I was able to summarize the research results and considerations in the slides well.

 In the presentation, it was my first time giving a presentation in English, so I was nervous, so I had read the script for a long time, and I couldn't calmly convey what I wanted to say. Therefore, if I have the opportunity to present something again, I would like to be able to have confidence and look up my face to tell. But, this time I managed to do it.