Project Finale

As the project draws to a close, the Hi-Fi prototypes have been produced and compiled into a PowerPoint file, illustrating the different user actions taken to complete each task. To view this PowerPoint slideshow, and see the final prototypes, click here to download the file.

After the design was completed, a reflective summary was compiled assessing the value of the methods that were used within the project, what they presented and possible improvements/further work for the project. I am pleased with the project, the new skills that I have gained and the design that has been produced.

I’d like to take this opportunity to reference the two sources of stencils/icons for the prototype of the project (taken from the report):

For Hi-Fi prototypes, a Photoshop stencil was used called ‘iPhone GUI PSD 3.0’, produced by Geoff Teehan. The stencil is available at: http://www.teehanlax.com/blog/2009/06/18/iphone-gui-psd-30/

For the icons used within the bottom navigation of the application, a set of icons called ‘Glyphish’ were used. The icons are located at: http://glyphish.com/

I have thoroughly enjoyed the project, and feel this could be a possible career path for me as a designer.

Advertisement

As a start to the Hi-Fi Prototyping stage, I created a marketing tool for the application, which uses the event tracking screen (with a event already set):

Logo Design

To begin the on screen design stage of the project, I familarised myself with the resources available by designing a logo for the application. This logo would be presented to the user on their iPhone menu, which would display the number of notifications in the top hand corner of the icon if necessary. I decided to use an icon which presents a progress of the user, with a simple font to display the name of the application:

Below is a screengrab of how the icon will inform the user if there are any outstanding notifications, such as private messages, comments on posts and current anxiety level requests:

Final Lo-Fi Prototypes

Using the information gathering within the testing stage, along with the earlier tasks such as PAC analysis and task flows, I have made the final changes to the Lo-Fi Prototypes. There may however been some alterations made between the transition to Hi-Fi prototypes (for example the way the progress chart is displayed), however the main functionality will remain.

Below is how a user will register to the SASHA application, allowing them to store information about their social anxiety. From the main menu they will then add their username, password, display picture (which will be used throughout the app including the forum) and their desired background image (which they can select or upload from their gallery on the iPhone):

Below is the facility to allow the users to add an event which can be tracked, allowing them to keep in control of their social anxiety. They firstly will add the type of event, from the list or an a manual event, select the date of the event (the calendar will be very similar to the Apple calendar), set their current and target anxiety level (this may change slightly to the final designs, maybe incorporating rating levels rather than a set anxiety) and then the settings for the reminder:

Below is the design for the reminder facility, which will have been predefined by the user in the event feature above. Firstly the user will recieve both an audio and visual notification, which if they click will take them to the application, displaying the number of notifications outstanding. Then they will set their current anxiety level, which will allow them to see their progress (how far away from their target level), and a link to related help and advice (i.e. breathing exercises if they specifiy as ‘nervous’):

Now the foundations are in place, the next stage is to develop the Hi-Fi prototypes, and begin compiling the reflective report/summary of the whole design process.

User Testing & Advice

Today I had the opportunity to complete a series of user testing techniques, in order to gain initial feedback on the proposed design of the application. This also allowed me to see as a designer any issues or problems that users were encountering when attempting to complete a design, so I could resolve the problem in the final Hi-Fi design. Although the first testing was completed using fellow Web Design students, it still provided valuable information and advice for improving the design. By showing them the Lo-Fi Prototypes, I was able to obtain the following suggestions:

• Incorporate a notification into the reminder, prompting the user much like a SMS message, and placing a ’1′ figure on the icon of the application within the iPhone menu
• An option to send reminder by SMS message
• Notifications within their profile, so that can check when they next login to the application
• Calming image on the home screen (like in the scenario), which can be made from a pre-set or an uploaded image
• A forum feature where all users of the application can interact
• Model the advice around their current anxiety level, and how they are feeling (may need to incorporate a feature that asks them how they are currently feeling)

After the testing, a secondary competitor analysis was completed by looking at the problems with similar applications, all of which I will attempt to avoid/resolve within the design of the SASHA application. The main things that were found were:

• Figures can be distracting on graphs and may seen out of context
• Back and Forward buttons are essential when asking a series of questions
• The user needs to be aware of where they are within the application (eg. Question 3 out of 30), which relates to Nielson’s heuristic of ‘Recognition rather than Recall’.
• Form error messages should be presented at the source of the erorr immediately after the user enters invalid data, rather than when they have clicked ‘Submit’ or ‘Done’ right at the end of the form.

After the lesson, I decided to complete further testing using two flatmates, and by printing off an iPhone template and sketching the proposed design, I was able to mock up the tasks that I am designing. Below is a picture of one of the participants completing the testing task:

This technique enabled me to see the importance of features such as labels, icons and help buttons, especially when the user is registering to the application. I was also able to see the confusion with duplicate form boxes, which the user was unable to distinguish between. These are the issues that I will be resolving in my next set of Lo-Fi Prototypes, which will then be generated into Hi-Fi prototypes using Omnigraffle.

Conceptual Model

This is the conceptual model for the SASHA application I am designing, which focussing around the event feature which I am designing. With this will be an incorporated reminder feature, which provides the user with a notification when they need to enter their current anxiety level. This leads to the end of the research and analysis stage, so I can solely focus on the prototyping stage, designing the application to the requirements of the potential users:

The SASHA app is a downloadable iPhone application that aids university students and other social anxiety sufferer’s gain more control over their social anxiety. It allows users to set up an anonymous profile, where they feel confident to express their social anxiety levels, and discuss with other sufferers.

By using the information that the user inputs about their social anxiety, the application shows their target level and offers help and support to user to aid in reaching this target. This support includes stretching exercises and breathing advice to calm the user.

Once the user has set an event that they are feeling anxious about, the application will provide a reminder feature that asks the user to set their current anxiety level in order to see their progress to achieve their target. The anxiety level feature will be simple, enabling all sufferers to use the feature, which does not require the user to have a high level of knowledge in the condition.

The application will provide a calm and friendly service, along with corresponding advice to provide an overall experience that will aid their condition. Using plain English, the application will be encouraging and enjoyable to use, treating all users anonymously and not asking them to provide any private information that could put them at unease. The design of the application will be clean and simple, with the emphasis around the information it provides, but still visually appealing to ensure the users want to use the application.

Task Analysis

To aid the requirements of the design of the SASHA application, I have compiled two task analysis diagrams. Using two scenarios as a basis, one where the user uses the SASHA application, and the other where the user does not, they outline the effects of social anxiety and how the user copes with the condition. This task outlined possible solutions for the requirements such as allowing the user to store their social anxiety progress, and refer back to it, which will be incorporated into the design (click to enlarge):

With (Left) & Without (Right) SASHA