Application Design I | Task 1: Mobile Application Proposal
23/9/24 - 20/10/24 | Week 1 - 4
Iman Mikudim | 0338004 | Section 1
Application Design I | Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Task 1: Mobile Application Proposal
SECTIONS
- Lecture 1: Introduction to Mobile Application Design
- Lecture 2: The Art of User-Centered Design
- Lecture 3: Usability: Designing Products for User Satisfaction
| Feedback
LECTURES
Lecture 1 | Introduction to Mobile Application Design
Lecture 2 | The Art of User-Centered Design
Lecture 3 | Usability: Designing Products for User Satisfaction
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Brief
- We are required to create proposal documentation for a mobile application project. This involves redesigning an existing app that we find unsatisfactory in terms of user experience or interface design, subject to preliminary approval by the module coordinator.
- The project includes conducting surveys, interviews, market studies, and research on the selected topic.
- The document should also highlight key features of the mobile application and provide a clear flowchart of the app's structure. This document will determine whether the mobile application idea is viable to proceed to the next development phase.
- The task is iterative, allowing us to gather feedback from peers and the module coordinator throughout the assignment period to refine our ideas further.
2. Process
In Week 1, our task was
to identify 3 apps that
could benefit from
design enhancements. I
began by browsing
various apps on the
Apple Store, focusing on
those with low ratings.
I eventually selected
Domino's, Secret Recipe,
and Smart Selangor
Parking. For each app, I
took screenshots of
every page and began
analyzing them.
The presentation slides
below is my draft
proposal for Week
2.
Fig 1.1
Mobile Application -
Draft Proposal |
Week 2 (30/9/24)
After receiving
feedback on Week 2, I
went ahead and proceeded
to go with Domino's as
my chosen application.
This was because it had
a lot of negative user
reviews and user
experience and there
were a lot of issues to
be addressed. I began to
further research and
analyze the app. I
downloaded the
competitor paint app
Pizza Hut for my
competitive
analysis. I worked on my final
proposal taking the time
to break down different
aspects of the Domino's
app. Focusing on the
ordering process to the
checkout
process.
After receiving
feedback in Week 3, Mr.
Zeon mentioned that
while my progress was
good, the final version
lacked a clear
integration of the
weaknesses identified
with the competitive
analysis, as there was
no separate slide for
possible solutions,
which caused some
confusion. He also
suggested adding
explanations for each
screenshot on the
current app design page,
as well as conducting
additional research for
the demographic
section.
3. Final
Fig 1.2 Mobile Application - Final Proposal | Week 4 (20/10/24)
After my presentation, Mr. Zeon advised that I needed to delve deeper into
Domino's business model for a more thorough analysis. He also pointed out
that many of my proposed solutions focused heavily on Pizza Hut, which gave
the impression that it was the only solution to Domino's challenges. In
response, I decided to expand my competitive analysis by including other
food apps, such as Grab and Foodpanda.
FEEDBACK
Week 1 (23/9/24)
General Feedback:
This week, we began our project by focusing on
app evaluation. Below is the process outlined for
the task:
-
Select three applications to analyze.
-
Focus on reading lower-rated reviews from the
app store, using these to identify weaknesses in
the apps. Screenshots of the reviews will be key
to highlighting specific issues.
-
By week 2, we are expected to choose the apps,
test them, review them, and capture screenshots
for further analysis.
-
The selected apps will carry through to our
final project, so it's important to pick apps
with significant issues that can be addressed
with solutions.
-
Ensure to add all sources and references at the
end of the proposal.
-
We will present our proposals in front of the
entire class in Week 4.
-
Ensure the app has an active user base, so you
can gather enough insights.
-
Don’t choose apps that lack user feedback, as
reviews are crucial for identifying
problems.
-
Try to select apps that haven't been reviewed
by seniors or previous students to keep the
analysis fresh and original.
Week 2 (30/9/24)
General Feedback:
-
Mr. Zeon highlighted for the following to
be included in the final
proposal; company, culture, target
audience, competitors (screenshot design and
do a comparison between competitors and app
selected and compare the processes as well,
find existing target app users, gamification
in app, referral systems
Specific Feedback:
-
Mr. Zeon stated that my analysis was
sufficient for a draft proposal and
confirmed that all three apps were
acceptable for selection.
-
He advised me to proceed with a more
detailed proposal based on my chosen app and
also emphasized the need to include a
conclusion for each app in the draft
proposal.
-
While all three apps were approved, he
carefully reminded me not to copy or
plagiarize, as these apps had already been
selected and analyzed by previous
students.
Week 3 (7/10/24)
General Feedback:
-
Make the necessary adjustments upon feedback for next week's
presentation.
Specific Feedback:
-
Good progress however the final version lacks a clear integration
of the weaknesses identified with the competitive analysis.
-
There is no separate slide for possible solutions, which creates
confusion.
-
Add explanations for each screenshot on the current app design
page.
-
Additional research is needed for the demographic section.
Week 4 (14/10/24)
General Feedback:
-
Update slides if needed and proceed to submit.
Specific Feedback:
-
Conduct a deeper analysis of Domino's business model to gain a
more comprehensive understanding.
-
Many proposed solutions heavily referenced Pizza Hut, which gave
the impression that it was the sole solution for addressing
Domino's challenges. Consider exploring other apps for
solutions.
REFLECTIONS
In the beginning, identifying design issues within the app was challenging. Some flaws were obvious, but others only became clear as I learned more about usability principles. While working on this proposal, I gained a deeper understanding of what makes for a strong user interface and experience.
Now, I’m more sensitive to the finer details of design, such as alignment, text size, labels, contrast, and layout. It really helped when I shifted my perspective to that of a user and tested all the app's functions as if I were making a purchase.
I realized that designing an app involves much more than it initially seems. Features that seem helpful can sometimes end up being counterproductive for users. There are countless elements to consider, but the most important thing to remember is that users should always be at the heart of the design process.
One challenge I faced during the Week 4 presentation was the
limited time available, especially towards the end of the class. Due
to time constraints, many of us had to rush through our
presentations, which increased anxiety and made it difficult to
cover all of my key points. In hindsight, I feel that a one-on-one
consultation or a recorded presentation format might have allowed
for more thoughtful feedback and a more thorough presentation.
