Application Design 1 / Assignment 1

25/09/2023 - 16/10/2023 / (Week 1 - Week 4)

Naura / 0356798 / Interactive Spatial Design

DST60504 / Application Design 1
Assignment 1

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INSTRUCTIONS

Assignment 1: Understanding and Analysing Mobile Applications UXUI (20%)

Task: Find 25 mobile applications for Android or iOS platforms.
Requirement: Select two categories from the following options:

1. Educational.
2. Travel.
3. Art and Design.
4. Finance.
5. Business.

• Introduction: Provide a general overview of the selected application categories. Explain their relevance, market trends, and importance.
• Analysis and Comparison: Analyze and compare the applications based on specific criteria (mentioned in table 1.0 in your assignment brief).
• Discussion: Discuss your findings, insights, and any patterns or unique features observed during the analysis.
• Conclusion: Summarize your research, highlighting key points and your overall assessment of the categories and apps.

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WEEK 2 - 02/10/23

I missed out on the second week of class as well, due to the necessity of completing a medical exam, a standard requirement for international students. Based on my previous experience during the foundation year, I anticipated that the procedure would take approximately 3 hours. However, to my surprise, it ended up consuming 6 hours of my day, far exceeding my expectations.

Upon realizing the extent of the delay, I hurried to class, only to find that it had already concluded. Feeling a sense of responsibility, I promptly approached my instructor to apologize for my absence. It was important for me to convey my regret for missing the class and to demonstrate my commitment to the course.

To my relief, my instructor responded with understanding and calmness. He took the time to thoroughly explain what had been covered in that day's class, ensuring that I wouldn't fall behind due to this unforeseen circumstance. Additionally, he provided a detailed overview of what the first assignment entails, which was particularly helpful in catching me up with the rest of the class.

This considerate response from my instructor was greatly appreciated. It not only helped me to stay informed about the course content and requirements but also alleviated any stress I had about the impact of my absence. His approach underscored the importance of open communication and support in an educational setting.

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WEEK 2 - 05/10/23

For my first assignment, I've decided to focus on just one category. This approach simplifies the task at hand, as it allows for a more straightforward and cohesive analysis. By choosing a single category, the content across different apps will likely be more similar to each other, making it easier to establish consistent criteria for comparison and judgment.

I've chosen Travel as my category, which (in my opinion) is a great choice given the abundance of travel apps available on iOS. Here are some of my reasons for not choosing the other categories :

1. Educational: Educational apps present challenges due to their diverse target audiences, ranging from young children to adult learners, and their wide array of content spanning numerous subjects and skills. This diversity makes it difficult to compare features and functionalities uniformly, complicating the establishment of standard criteria for analysis.
2. Art and Design: Art and Design applications pose challenges in evaluation due to their inherent subjectivity, geared towards personal creativity and expression. Additionally, the wide range of tools and features, from basic drawing to advanced design software, makes direct comparison difficult.
3. Finance: Finance apps vary significantly in complexity, from simple budget trackers to comprehensive investment platforms. This, coupled with the critical importance of security and privacy features which can greatly differ among apps, adds layers of complexity to any comparative analysis.
4. Business: Business applications cater to a wide range of business processes and needs, making comparisons across different functions challenging. Moreover, the varying degrees of integration capabilities with other systems and software add another dimension of complexity to the evaluation process.

In contrast, travel apps tend to have more common features and goals, such as booking accommodations, finding attractions, or navigating new locations. This similarity in purpose can make it easier to develop consistent criteria for comparison. Additionally, travel apps often focus on user experience and convenience, which are relatively straightforward aspects to evaluate and compare.

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WEEK 3 - 10/10/23

With the submission deadline for the assignment being next week, I've already initiated the process by downloading 10 travel apps (I can't do more, or else my phone will overheat). My current focus is on conducting a diligent and thorough comparison of these apps. To structure my analysis, I am evaluating each app across several key criteria: Menus, Colours, Content, and User Experience. Additionally, I am assigning an overall score to each app.

Although Sir Yusri gave me suggestions on how to rate each criterion, I went with a guide I created myself on how to evaluate each of them. 

1. Menus:
• Navigation: Assess how easy it is to navigate through the app. Are the menus intuitive and logically organized?
• Accessibility: Consider if the menus are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
• Responsiveness: Check how quickly the menus respond to user inputs and if there are any lags.
2. Colours:
• Aesthetic Appeal: Evaluate the visual appeal of the colour scheme. Does it enhance the user experience?
• Consistency: Look for consistency in the use of colours throughout the app.
• Readability: Ensure that the colour choices do not hinder readability or usability.
3. Content:
• Relevance: Determine if the content provided is relevant and useful to the intended audience.
• Quality: Assess the quality of the content. Is it accurate, well-written, and engaging?
• Up to Date: Check if the content is current, especially important for travel apps that deal with dynamic information like flight schedules or hotel availability.
4. Experience:
• User Interface (UI): Evaluate the overall design of the UI. Is it aesthetically pleasing and functional?
• User Interaction: Consider how the user interacts with the app. Are the interactions smooth and logical?
• Problem-Solving: Assess how well the app solves the problems it is intended to. Does it make travel planning/booking easier?
5. Overall: My overall impression of the app. Does it meet the expectations for a travel app?

The evaluations are based on my personal opinion and observation. For each criterion, I'm considering how effectively the app implements these features, their appeal, and their contribution to the overall user experience. The goal is to provide a balanced and nuanced assessment that reflects the unique strengths and potential areas of improvement for each app.

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REFLECTION:

As a college student enrolled in an interactive spatial design course, where my engagement with technology is not just frequent but also intensive, this experience of comparing 25 travel applications for their UI and UX has been particularly enlightening and challenging. Immersing myself in this task, I've found that it resonates deeply with my academic focus, which centres around blending design principles with technological innovation.

Moreover, as someone who is gearing up for a career that will heavily involve technology, this assignment provided a crucial insight into how digital products need to be designed with both aesthetics and functionality in mind. It has sharpened my perspective on how interactive elements in digital platforms can greatly enhance user experience, a core tenet of my course. 

Although this was an individual assignment focused on analyzing user journeys and behaviours based on my own experiences, I took the initiative to broaden my perspective by consulting friends and elder family members for their opinions. This inclusive approach proved to be incredibly fascinating and enlightening.

Gathering insights from people of different ages and backgrounds added a rich layer of diversity to my analysis. It was intriguing to observe how the needs, preferences, and expectations varied significantly among different users. For instance, where I might prioritize an app’s aesthetic and navigational simplicity, some of my elder family members placed more emphasis on the clarity of information and ease of use. My friends, on the other hand, often looked for features like social media integration or innovative functionalities.

This variance in opinions and priorities underscored the importance of designing apps that cater to a broad user base. It became clear that what works for one group might not necessarily appeal to another. This realization was crucial in shaping my understanding of user experience, highlighting the need for flexibility and adaptability in design.

Engaging with a wider circle for feedback not only enriched my analysis but also provided a more holistic view of user interaction with travel apps. It was a reminder that as a designer, one must consider a multitude of viewpoints and preferences to create truly user-centric solutions. This aspect of the assignment turned out to be a valuable learning experience, offering insights that I might not have gained had I relied solely on my personal perspective.

Furthermore, critically analyzing such a variety of apps has undoubtedly enhanced my analytical skills. I feel more prepared to tackle future design challenges and contribute meaningful ideas in this field. This task has also reinforced the importance of a user-centric approach in design. It's not just about creating something that looks good; it's about crafting an experience that resonates with the user.

In summary, this assignment was more than just a college project; it was a journey that deepened my understanding of the digital travel industry and my own capabilities as an aspiring designer. The lessons learned here are ones that I will carry forward into my future endeavours.