Wee Jun Jie / 0375271
Application Design I / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Project 1: Mobile Application ProposalLECTURE RECAP
To enhance comprehension of the course material, I have crafted a set of
flashcards featuring approximately 50 essential questions designed to
facilitate learning. You are warmly invited to
explore these resources.
My lecture notes here >> Lesson 1, Lesson 2, Lesson 3 on Notion Web.
My lecture notes here >> Lesson 1, Lesson 2, Lesson 3 on Notion Web.
To ensure a seamless experience and avoid potential performance issues with the blog website, I have uploaded the original file to my Notion Notes Web. You may access it via the link provided above. Thank you for your understanding.
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Week 1 - Task 1: Proposal
To Do List
-
Create a proposal documentation for the mobile app
project
-
Identify 3 apps with unsatisfactory user experience or
interface design
-
Focus on one app
-
Get feedback from peers and lecturer
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src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ITnUGajZKP5wtlB_7_yOr-eBvFgdEQah/preview"
width="640" height="480"
allow="autoplay"></iframe>
Week 1 - Task 1: Proposal
To Do List
- Create a proposal documentation for the mobile app project
- Identify 3 apps with unsatisfactory user experience or interface design
- Focus on one app
- Get feedback from peers and lecturer
We’ve been tasked with drafting a proposal that
involves a deep dive into various mobile applications.
The objective is to identify three company apps that
could benefit from enhancements in their design. Our
focus will be on analyzing their current user
interface (UI) and user experience (UX), highlighting
existing flaws, and proposing practical
solutions. The process involves capturing screenshots of all the
app’s pages, compiling these visuals into slides, and
zooming in on specific areas that need improvement.
Each identified issue will be accompanied by a
detailed rationale, followed by suitable
recommendations to elevate both the user interface and
the overall experience. At the end of this task, we’ll
generate a concise report based on our findings. This
report will be presented via slides and reviewed for
feedback during Week 2.
After a few days of research, here are the 3
options for apps redesign:
1. Petron Malaysia
2. Lotus's App
3. myrapid PULSE
At the very beginning, I misunderstood the task and
ended up comparing apps from the same category.
After receiving guidance from the lecturer, I began
thinking about apps that were poorly designed. I
first scrolled through my phone but couldn’t find
any apps I wanted to analyze. Then I remembered a
few apps that I use occasionally but don’t keep on
my phone. I figured there must be a reason why I
delete them when I’m not using them. So, I decided
to focus my research on apps that are part of my
daily life.
Fig 2.1 My 1st Proposal - week 2 (05/10/2024)
We’ve been tasked with drafting a proposal that involves a deep dive into various mobile applications. The objective is to identify three company apps that could benefit from enhancements in their design. Our focus will be on analyzing their current user interface (UI) and user experience (UX), highlighting existing flaws, and proposing practical solutions. The process involves capturing screenshots of all the app’s pages, compiling these visuals into slides, and zooming in on specific areas that need improvement. Each identified issue will be accompanied by a detailed rationale, followed by suitable recommendations to elevate both the user interface and the overall experience. At the end of this task, we’ll generate a concise report based on our findings. This report will be presented via slides and reviewed for feedback during Week 2.
After a few days of research, here are the 3
options for apps redesign:
1. Petron Malaysia
2. Lotus's App
3. myrapid PULSE
2. Lotus's App
3. myrapid PULSE
At the very beginning, I misunderstood the task and
ended up comparing apps from the same category.
After receiving guidance from the lecturer, I began
thinking about apps that were poorly designed. I
first scrolled through my phone but couldn’t find
any apps I wanted to analyze. Then I remembered a
few apps that I use occasionally but don’t keep on
my phone. I figured there must be a reason why I
delete them when I’m not using them. So, I decided
to focus my research on apps that are part of my
daily life.
Fig 2.1 My 1st Proposal - week 2 (05/10/2024)
Week 2 - Choosing 1 App
To-do list
- Prepare the final proposal slides
- Slides should include:
- Introduction (purpose + importance of App Design)
- Background & Context (current app design evaluation, strengths & weakness, competitive analysis, user demographics/target audience)
- Goals & Objectives (redesign objectives, primary and secondary objectives, design strategy and user needs)
- User Research (research methods, research methodology, user testing plan)
- References
- Prepare for the presentation on Week 4
After Mr. Zeon advised us to refer to the work of senior students, I
began forming clearer ideas on how to proceed and moved forward with
creating my slides.
Week 3 - Focus 1 App
By Week 3, I had finalized my proposal. As I mentioned earlier, I
had initially wanted to research all three apps because, as a
frequent user, I find them frustrating! However, I decided to focus
on my rapid PULSE as the subject of my study. This choice is
more challenging compared to the other two apps since, to date,
there isn’t a single transportation app in Malaysia that offers
truly effective service. I aim to improve it.
Week 4 - Presentation
We were given five minutes to present our final proposal, and the
slides were controlled by Mr. Zeon. It was a unique experience. I
redesigned my presentation slides, organizing the key points and
trimming unnecessary content. In the end, I successfully completed
everything within the five-minute limit. After the presentation,
Zeon gave me some suggestions, as shown in the image below, which
helped highlight the issues and areas of the app more clearly.
Fig 3.1 Improvements - week 4 (17/10/2024)
Fig 3.2 Presentation Slide, Canva - week 4 (17/10/2024)
Week 4 - Final Proposal
Fig 4.1 Final Proposal, Canva - week 4 (17/10/2024)
REFLECTION
Experience
Perhaps my keen interest in UI/UX is why I feel quite
at home with this course. Previously, I've redesigned
apps for entities like KFC, cinemas, and zoos,
although I've never had the opportunity to submit
improvement proposals directly to them. Through this
assignment, I aim to enhance applications beyond just
ordering apps, despite the poor quality of many such
apps currently on the market. Generally, I seek to
identify and solve problems encountered in everyday
life. Petrol stations serve as a prime example; I find
their apps often redundant. Nevertheless, I continue
to examine them closely. In the first week, I learned
several new terms, such as "Customer Conversion" -
essentially, closing sales, which I found quite
fascinating.
ObservationsIn my application design class, I find the design process to be equally strategic and creative, requiring a balance between following established guidelines and tailoring solutions for unique challenges. A key takeaway is that successful app design is not about following rigid formulas but involves understanding user behavior, navigating UX/UI principles, and aligning them with specific project goals. Each app presents its own set of challenges that require adapting to themes and user expectations. Paying close attention to usability, interface layouts, and the overall user journey is crucial for creating designs that resonate with users.
The second part of the project, which focuses on improving an existing app, is particularly engaging. It doesn’t require building something entirely from scratch but instead involves using my existing knowledge to identify weaknesses in the current design and offer actionable improvements. For instance, I can apply what I’ve learned about user flows, interaction patterns, and visual consistency to elevate the app’s experience.
Findings One of the most practical ways to improve design thinking is through user research and testing. By observing how users interact with the current version of an app, you can uncover areas that require enhancement. Insights often come from both structured research (like surveys) and informal observations. This exercise reinforces that a designer’s role is not merely about aesthetics but about solving real-world problems users face while interacting with the app. The continuous process of refining and testing designs leads to more informed and effective outcomes.
In summary, the exercise of analyzing and redesigning an app hones my ability to apply design principles flexibly and strategically, ensuring that I can not only meet but exceed user needs.
Fig 3.1 Improvements - week 4 (17/10/2024)
Fig 3.2 Presentation Slide, Canva - week 4 (17/10/2024)
Week 4 - Final Proposal
Fig 4.1 Final Proposal, Canva - week 4 (17/10/2024)
REFLECTION
Experience
Perhaps my keen interest in UI/UX is why I feel quite
at home with this course. Previously, I've redesigned
apps for entities like KFC, cinemas, and zoos,
although I've never had the opportunity to submit
improvement proposals directly to them. Through this
assignment, I aim to enhance applications beyond just
ordering apps, despite the poor quality of many such
apps currently on the market. Generally, I seek to
identify and solve problems encountered in everyday
life. Petrol stations serve as a prime example; I find
their apps often redundant. Nevertheless, I continue
to examine them closely. In the first week, I learned
several new terms, such as "Customer Conversion" -
essentially, closing sales, which I found quite
fascinating.
Observations
In my application design class, I find the design process to be equally strategic and creative, requiring a balance between following established guidelines and tailoring solutions for unique challenges. A key takeaway is that successful app design is not about following rigid formulas but involves understanding user behavior, navigating UX/UI principles, and aligning them with specific project goals. Each app presents its own set of challenges that require adapting to themes and user expectations. Paying close attention to usability, interface layouts, and the overall user journey is crucial for creating designs that resonate with users.
The second part of the project, which focuses on improving an existing app, is particularly engaging. It doesn’t require building something entirely from scratch but instead involves using my existing knowledge to identify weaknesses in the current design and offer actionable improvements. For instance, I can apply what I’ve learned about user flows, interaction patterns, and visual consistency to elevate the app’s experience.
Findings
One of the most practical ways to improve design thinking is through user research and testing. By observing how users interact with the current version of an app, you can uncover areas that require enhancement. Insights often come from both structured research (like surveys) and informal observations. This exercise reinforces that a designer’s role is not merely about aesthetics but about solving real-world problems users face while interacting with the app. The continuous process of refining and testing designs leads to more informed and effective outcomes.
In summary, the exercise of analyzing and redesigning an app hones my ability to apply design principles flexibly and strategically, ensuring that I can not only meet but exceed user needs.