Jun 3, 2021
Assessment 3: Overview of the app design process
This blog covers the entire process across assessment 2 and 3, to give a sneak peak into the design of the RSPCA app.
Assessment 2: Concepts
RSCPA: A pets best friend
After exploring 3 briefs, the RSCPA brief was chosen, focusing on providing an app that enhances the user’s pet care knowledge and practice for both new and old dog owners. The brief was sub-divided into 3 seperate concepts, context, accessibility and aesthetic. Whilst the original process covered all three variations, for the purpose of this blog, the chosen context variation will be covered only.
Ideation
Intended to create low quality, but high quantity concepts, the ideation process took around 10–15 minutes per concept and was relatively simple to conclude.
Context variation was focused around pet adoption screens and how this process would look in an app form. The main aim was how the app should integrate the pet into the users lifestyle, guiding the user into the process of pet adoption.
Wireframing
The wireframing was made in Adobe XD, it was a lengthy process but visually broke down the basic blueprint and process.
High Fidelity Mock-Up
Having to reflect the a polished final app within 4 selected screens without animations and transitions, the high fidelity mock-ups did not go to plan. With a lack of time management, the mock-ups were not high fidelity but rather scrambled to be completed. With this in mind please be wary of the final designs.
This variation was intended to be user friendly and easy to navigate so that the user is encouraged to complete the adoption process.
Summary
As mentioned in the previous blog; “the design process for assessment two was much more time consuming than assessment one. This is mainly due to how the app had to be made from scratch rather than treated as a feature of an existing app.”
Assessment 3: Prototyping and User Testing
Before progressing with assessment 3, each student had to present their work to the class so a vote for the best variation to complete in assessment 3 was made. The class voted for the context variation and therefore, assessment 3 was focused on this.
Storyboarding
A very difficult task considering my illustration skills are very basic, the storyboarding was painfully difficult to complete. Each storyboard uses a persona and scenario from assessment 2.
Storyboard 1
Using “Fiona” and her scenario from assessment 2, this storyboard is based mainly around pet adoptions for first timers and how the RSCPA app can help with that. More information is provided in the assessment 3 document.
Storyboard 2
Using “Katy” and her scenario from assessment 2, this storyboard is based mainly around a disobedient pet, and how a desperate scramble across the app store lead Katy to the RSCPA app. The app that will solve her problem by recommending training services closest to her. More information is provided in the assessment 3 document.
Overall the storyboarding may have been the most difficult part of this assessment, as I very much struggle with illustrations… which I’m sure is evident. The lack of illustration skills and time, meant that this rather obscure set of storyboards were made with the intention that the story and use of app screens leverage the direction and meaning of the storyboarding section.
Refinements and Prototyping
A major development and refinement was made on the previous concept from assessment 2, this was done with feedback from the tutor and peers, as well as wanting and knowing that the design can be so much better. A lot of refinements were made but most were centred around scale, size and colour.
The major refinements include the change in the background colour to greys, the use of mainly blue across interact-able elements and green in titles and the use of better contrasting colour schemes with additional help from opacified elements. Other refinements include the change in the size and scale of almost all tiles, buttons and graphical elements, the change in the navigation bar and the addition of a calendar.
The final design also better reflected aesthetic and UX principles. Such as hierarchy and alignment in every screen, with focus on better alignment. UX principles such as affordance and consistency across elements in the final design.
User Testing Report
A/B Split testing
A simple and effective way of being able to select the best screens with user input, A/B split testing is a fast and efficient way of making micro-decisions. For this app, the spit testing was used on 5 users across 3 screens with 2 variations. The split testing showed results that concluded with unbiased counts and majority votes.
User Testing
The user testing was difficult because it was hard to find people willing to have their voice recorded as they test the prototyped app. Therefore, with each user, I was aware that I had to make them feel comfortable first.
The testing itself was very positive! All the user enjoyed the final app prototype and gave more positive criticism than constructive. The overall comments were aimed at how the app was user friendly, easy to use, easy to navigate, readable, straightforward, well presented and well laid out. The only negatives to come from the tests were the lack of some finer details and screens, such as the lack of a calendar screen function that allowed for the user to set reminders to certain dates or timeframes.
In conclusion, the user testing revealed that this app prototype fulfils its role and is aimed at the right target audience. Without overwhelming the user with too much information, it lays out the correct information in a way that the user is able to easily understand and navigate. Of course, no app is perfect and there are some elements to mend and details to focus on.
Conclusion
The overall process and work behind A2 and A3 was tedious, but rewarding in the end. Previous to completing this unit, I had not had much experience in app design and research, as well as FIGMA. These assessments have given me practice encouraged me to use resources (FIGMA) to complete prototypes and wireframes. Assessment 3 was the culmination of a semesters work and although it was difficult at times, once the right choices were made aesthetically and functionally, the final design was something I was proud of. It just proves that sometimes, you have to challenge yourself!
