#magneticnorth

28/11/2016 - Final Edited Video - Magnetic North

Today me and Billy both worked on the final edit of the video, we edited the video on Final Cut Pro to montage the separate clips together to create one final video.

Working with Magnetic North has definitely helped me to improve myself in many different areas, mostly my research, time management, and presentation skills. Having a relaxed brief topic made me research into Neurodiversity, a field which I knew nothing about, allowing me to learn as much or little as I wanted, and find out which area inspired me the most to take forward into my project. After discovering that anxiety was a large trait carried by many neurodiverse conditions, and knowing that a lot of my friends suffered with it quite badly, I was excited to be able to create something to help. 

The only other part of the brief that I needed to stick to, was to demonstrate how digital design can be used to raise awareness, improve lives, make new experiences, and to consider the challenges neurodiverse people face when navigating the city. The next area I needed to research was which digital area I would focus on, and how I could link in anxiety with it. I started by creating some ‘how might we?’ questions, in order to come up with ideas or problems for which I could try to tackle or help. I came up with a Crazy 8 (8 ideas) for 3 separate questions, containing a sketch of the idea in the technology/app and a brief description of how the idea would work (apps, VR headsets, AR glasses, projection mapping). 

The idea which I decided on, was based around helping somebody avoid situations or places in the city which may overwhelm them or make them feel uncomfortable, bringing on their anxiety. I personally prefer to avoid situations which overwhelm me at all costs, as it can make me freeze, and after talking to some friends, they agreed that if it’s possible not to enter somewhere like this, they would rather avoid it. This then lead me to create my ‘Shape My Bubble’ application. 

I found augmented reality apps, for tourists to find basic information on buildings in the city, and the BBC CAPE interactive videos allowed people to view the inside of MediaCity before visiting, and I knew I wanted to merge these two ideas. After completing my storyboards and scenario, I then created multiple paper prototypes, helping me to design the layout and aesthetics of the app, as well as Guerrilla testing the prototypes along the way. This helped me gain feedback from my target audience, as well as from Magnetic North, allowing me to continuously develop and improve my ideas. 

My finished app allows users to sign up or log in, and then presents a set of tutorial screens, explaining what each page of the app does. I learnt that this was important for new users, as they don’t want to waste time guessing how to use a new app and lose interest. I learnt that the personalisation page was great, as it helps to tailor the app to each user’s individual needs and preferences, making it as useful for them as possible. For example, a user which told the app at set-up that they dislike bright lighting, will have all brightly lit places removed from their recommended locations. 

This app basically allows users to read reviews, add reviews on places, find places suitable for them, avoid places which they may find distressing, and have a look around the inside of the place they may visit, before entering, and I feel like I suck to the brief and my original goal throughout. 

App Wireframe Designs

Below are some of the designs that I created before moving on into creating them in photoshop. I thought it would be easier for me to do three different layouts on each page so that I had lots of different variations of styles. 

The first layout idea I had was to go with the usual “average” layout. By average, I opted for a simple application page with limited functions and buttons. I looked at apps that were already out there to see what type of interface was popular.

OBJECTIVES / KILLER QUESTIONS

1) Does the user understand all of the functions in the app?

2) Is the user satisfied with all of the services that the app provides in order to find what they need?

Discussion Guide

- present prototypes -

Can you notice any changes to the app since last time you saw it?

What are your opinions on the layout of the app?

Would you consider using this app?

Why?

What are your favourite and least favourite parts of the app?

Do you like the design of the map page?

Can you correctly navigate through these prototypes in order to find information on a specific location?

Are you likely to interact with other people when using an app like this?

Do you like the few digital versions I have made so far?

What do you think of the colour scheme?

USER FEEDBACK:

Jessie, aged 23:

Jessie said that she really liked the fact that the user is now able to add their own location to the app as she said it could really help to expand the application and users who rely on it would want to build it to make things easier for alike people. After showing her the logo and graphics which I designed, she said she really likes the colour scheme as it is calming, and the logo matches well with the app name. She correctly looked through my paper prototypes in order to find out how to add a comment based on a specific location. 

Lewis, aged 22:

Lewis went straight to the library destination page to see the comments section as he suggested it last time, he said the button was in a good place under the ratings as it kind of comes under the same section/category of feedback. He said his favourite part was that the app can keep growing through user’s adding their own data and experiences, and he said something to improve on could maybe be allowing the users to have an avatar/username instead of having to have their details on show. He liked the colour scheme and simple layout and said that he wouldn’t want me to change anything about that part of the app.

Chris, aged 24:

Chris asked for a search option last time for the home/discover page and said that it’s much better now as he can search for somewhere he is planning to go to and find information on it before he leaves home. He liked the clearer ratings too as he said last time it wasn’t clear to him what they all meant. He liked the map page and the key for different kinds of locations, and he correctly said where he would tap whilst navigating through without much hesitation. He also liked the colour scheme and designs and said that it is nicer to see something more simplistic for an app which is made to keep people calm. 

Female, aged 24:

This person last time said that they would like to be able to add friends on the app. I decided to not do this for privacy reasons as people on this app may not want to be seen/have their locations to be viewed. She said that she liked the comments section as you can still see what other people have fed back and experienced without having to see where they have been. She said she would use this app, and her favourite page was the map page because the locations are colour coded to make it a little easier to digest, and if she could change anything she said to maybe add some more colours to the design of the digital examples which I showed her. 

Caitlin, aged 19:

Caitlin liked that I had changed the ratings section and said it’d be easier for her to view the rating of a place first, then add her own rating afterwards on another screen so that she doesn’t get confused. She told me that she likes the layout and that the toolbars are thin as it makes more screen space and looks less childish, she also said that she likes the bubble around the toolbar icons to indicate which page she is on and it fits with the theme of the app. She navigated through everything fine, talking through and noticing the back buttons too which weren’t there before. She said she likes what she can see of the digital designs so far!

Male, aged 20:

This person since last time said they had looked into augmented reality and said that they now thought that this feature was really cool and that they would prefer to use something as easy as that instead of nervously typing whilst being stood alone somewhere. He said he thinks that the design flows well and that the map page is nicely presented using similar colours which makes it easier to read and look at as it is simpler than google maps. He liked that he could read other people’s reviews, and said that the digital designs were nice and friendly looking. 

Conclusion:

Objectives / Killer questions

1) Can the user navigate through the application correctly, understanding where to click for each function within the app?

2) Does the user understand that this application can be used before the user leaves their home, and also when they are at their desired destination?

Discussion Guide for Guerrilla Testing

Introduction of yourself

Ask their name and how they are

- present prototypes -

What do you think the purpose of this app is?

What are your opinions on the layout of the app?

Would you think about using an application like this?

Why?

Have you ever used an application or online service to help you with your anxiety before?

Would this application change your opinions towards visiting new places at all, and if so, how?

Can you correctly navigate through these prototypes in order to find information on a specific location?

Do you know what each of the menu icons represent and if not, what do you think should be used instead?

Would you recommend this app to a friend?

Do you understand the purpose of the augmented reality feature?

User Feedback:

Jessie, aged 23:

Was able to navigate correctly through the paper prototypes after downloading the POP app and opening my link. She said that at first the app was hard to get her head around, but this was only because she doesn’t really use mobile applications, but after playing on it for a while she understood what everything meant. She said the layout was clear and liked that there were only 4 different icons in the toolbar as it is less confusing than having hidden side menus etc. She liked the augmented reality feature as she said that if she was out in the city for a leisurely day, she could scan a building that she didn’t know of and see any information on it quickly and easily without having to complete a web search to find what she is looking for. She finally questioned ‘what if there was no video footage on a specific location, would it still be on the app?’, and also ‘can users add their own locations and keep the app updated, helping other people with anxiety?’.

Lewis, aged 22:

Lewis was able to navigate through the app however thought that the layout of the star ratings was a little confusing and said it could maybe be made more clear by having the user’s personal rating for one location separate to the general rating. He liked that you can view your recently visited places on your profile page so that you could go back to rate them, and that your highest rated places are also on your profile so that others can see. He said that it could be made a little more like an interactive trip advisor but for interiors, allowing comments as well as ratings, but in general liked the layout and could navigate through it easily. 

Chris, aged 24:

Chris found it quite difficult to navigate through the app simply because he is not an iPhone or android user, however he was able to work it out but took a little more time than other people may, as he said that the buttons and icons which i used were easy to understand. He liked that the iPhone app had the augmented reality feature, but said he would be more likely to do his planning in advance, at home, before venturing out into the city so that he already knows where he wants to go. He said that he likes the discover feature which shows nearby places, but would like to see a search option for places which are out of the ‘nearby’ radius. 

Female, aged 24:

This person didn't want their name used, but firstly said that she really liked the profile option on the app, as she likes to pre plan and that it would be good to be able to see other people’s top rated places, so suggested that you could maybe add your friends on it, or even just to be able to see people’s profiles who are near to you or have similar preferences, so that you can see where they have enjoyed visiting. She also really liked the introduction screens and how the theme is all based around the bubble and said that it is simplistic but effective, and added that it would be nice to have a blue colour scheme to match up with the concept.

Caitlin, aged 19:

Caitlin navigated easily through the app however similarly to sian, also mentioned that the ratings section was a little unclear at first glance and didn't like how the user had to add their rating over the general rating and said they should be separate as it is a great way to collect data for specific locations. She said the rating idea is really good as ratings for films, hotels etc all influence her decision the most when choosing where to go or what to see, and likes that the ratings are tailored to specific traits. She was able to navigate through each page effectively, always pointing out the correct places where she would click. 

Male, aged 20:

This member of the target audience used my interactive POP prototypes to test my application and said he found the welcome screens very easy to understand and well labelled and that the walkthrough told him everything he needed to know about the toolbar buttons, even though at first he didn’t know what the camera button did. He liked that he could sign in with Facebook so that all of his details would already be there, and that he could view similar locations in an area quickly if he didn’t like the look of a specific place. He said he really liked that this was something designed to avoid anxiety attacks, allowing him to be in control of the situations he wants to be in in his free time. 

Conclusion: