Graphic Designer
UX/UI Designer
Montage is an innovative app that aims to cater to both casual movie-goers and passionate movie enthusiasts by providing a fresh and engaging environment. The app features a user review system, detailed information on popular movies, and a lively community for interaction and discussion.
Community Pieced Together
Montage boasts a captivating art direction that blends elements of pop and abstract expressionism. The app's color palette is intentionally simple yet vibrant, aimed at evoking the feeling of excitement one would feel during an opening night theater experience. The tagline "Community Pieced Together" cleverly plays on the concept of a montage, emphasizing the vital role that community plays in the Montage app experience.
The initial loading screen and select standout screens of Montage effectively demonstrate the app's seamless interconnectivity and user-friendly interface. The design takes into careful consideration the importance of hierarchy, visual appeal, and accessibility to create a cohesive and engaging user experience.
PROCESS
User 1: Emily, 28, Graphic Designer; Technology Savviness: High
1. What is your favorite application and what device do you use?
My favorite application is Instagram and I use it on my iPhone.
2. How often and what time of day do you use the app?
I use Instagram almost every day, mostly during my lunch break or in the evenings after work.
3. What’s most appealing about the app?
I love how easy it is to discover new content and connect with other people who share similar interests.
4. What’s the hardest part about using this app?
The hardest part for me is managing my time on the app and not getting too sucked in.
5. Was there anything surprising or unexpected about the app?
I was surprised by how much I enjoy the Explore page and how accurate the content recommendations are.
6. What can be done to improve the app?
I would like to see more features that promote authenticity and less pressure to present a perfect image.
7. What feature of the app do you use the most?
I use the Stories feature the most, both for creating my own and watching other people's.
User 2: Mark, 42, Lawyer; Technology Savviness: Moderate
1. What is your favorite application and what device do you use?
My favorite application is Twitter and I use it on my iPad.
2. How often and what time of day do you use the app?
I check Twitter a few times a day, mostly during my commute or while waiting for meetings to start.
3. What’s most appealing about the app?
How quickly I can get news updates and follow discussions on topics that interest me.
4. What’s the hardest part about using this app?
Sometimes it can be overwhelming to keep up with all the information and conversations happening on the platform.
5. Was there anything surprising or unexpected about the app?
By how much of an impact Twitter can have on shaping public opinion and influencing decision-making.
6. What can be done to improve the app?
Maybe to see better tools for managing and filtering my feed, as well as more options for controlling the types of content I see.
7. What feature of the app do you use the most?
The search feature the most, both for finding specific content and discovering new accounts to follow.
User 3: Olivia, 24, Freelance Writer; Technology Savviness: High
1. What is your favorite application and what device do you use?
My favorite app is Netflix and I use it on my iPhone 12.
2. How often and what time of day do you use the app?
I'm on Netflix all the time, especially when I need a break from work or want to unwind after a long day. I usually watch TV shows and movies in the evening and on weekends.
3. What’s most appealing about the app?
I like how Netflix has a huge selection of TV shows and movies that I can watch anytime and anywhere. The app is also really easy to use and has a lot of helpful features like personalized recommendations and the ability to download content for offline viewing.
4. What’s the hardest part about using this app?
Sometimes navigating all the content on Netflix and find something that I really want to watch can be hard. I also wish that there were more options for filtering and sorting the content based on my preferences.
5. Was there anything surprising or unexpected about the app?
How much original content Netflix produces, like TV shows and movies that you can't find anywhere else. I also love the social features of the app, like being able to share what I'm watching with my friends and see what they're watching too.
6. What can be done to improve the app?
I think it would be really helpful if Netflix had better filtering and sorting options so that I could more easily find content that matches my interests. It would also be great if the app had more social features, like being able to chat with friends while watching a movie.
7. What feature of the app do you use the most?
Watching movies on the movie tab.
UX User Interview Research
After conducting several user interviews, I consolidated my research and gained insights into what drives the success of certain apps as well as the common pain points experienced by users. With this knowledge in mind, I am now focused on designing solutions that address these frustrations and enhance user satisfaction.
User Flow
Here I have a concise diagram depicting the user flow and the intended user experience journey. Although it is just a sketch, it has proven useful in guiding the development of my low-fidelity wireframe.
Low-Fidelity Wireframe
Components
Now that I had established a solid foundation for the app, I began working on various components such as the color system, font and text styles, and the overall visual appeal. I made sure to keep in mind the end user's preferences and expectations while creating the design guidelines. This helped me create the desired user experience for my app.
Colors
#FB3640
R 251 G 54 B 64
#A241C2
R 162 G 65 B 194
#E59500
R 229 G 149 B 0
#252525
R 37 G 37 B 37
#F1F1F1
R 241 G 241 B 241
I aimed to enhance the boldness of my primary colors, which already complemented each other and stood out on the page. To achieve this, I chose secondary colors that not only cooled the overall palette but also contributed to the striking effect of the primaries. This combination of colors ensured that my design worked seamlessly with any of the secondary color combinations. Ultimately, my intention was to create a color scheme that evoked the experience of going to the movies.
UX User Post-Analysis
User 1: Emily, 28, Graphic Designer; Technology Savviness: High
1. How do you like the colors and logo?
The colors and logo are really eye-catching and well-designed. The color scheme is vibrant and modern, which is visually appealing and stands out.
2. Are all screens easily accessible?
Yes, all screens are easily accessible and well-organized, which makes it easy for me to navigate and find what I'm looking for quickly.
3. Do you have a favorite tab?
My favorite tab is the "Home" tab, as it's really inspiring to see all of the creative work on display.
4. Are there any flows that don’t make sense?
Overall, everything seems to flow well and make sense to me. However, I did have a little trouble finding the "Settings" page at first, as it wasn't immediately obvious where it was located.
5. Any tips or things I can change?
It would be helpful if the "Settings" link was a little more prominent and easier to find, perhaps by placing it in the main navigation menu or adding it to the header of the app.
User 2: Mark, 42, Lawyer; Technology Savviness: Moderate
1. How do you like the colors and logo?
The colors and logo are professional and understated, which gives a sense of reliability and trustworthiness.
2. Are all screens easily accessible?
Yes, all screens are easily accessible and logically organized.
3. Do you have a favorite tab?
The "Community" tab, as it provides a clear overview of the different components offered and what they entail.
4. Are there any flows that don’t make sense?
Everything made sense to me, yes
5. Any tips or things I can change?
It might be helpful to include breadcrumbs or a clearer site map to help users navigate some of the more complex sub-menus and content.
User 3: Olivia, 24, Freelance Writer; Technology Savviness: High
1. How do you like the colors and logo?
I really like the colors and logo! They are visually appealing and make the site look professional and inviting.
2. Are all screens easily accessible?
Yes, all the screens seem to be easily accessible. I haven't had any trouble navigating around the site.
3. Do you have a favorite tab?
My favorite is probably the "Community" section and seeing the user reviews. As a writer, I always enjoy reading other people's opinions.
4. Are there any flows that don’t make sense?
The flows seem to make sense to me. However, I did get a bit confused when I was trying to submit a review. It took me a little while to figure out where I needed to click to actually send it.
5. Any tips or things I can change?
One thing you could consider changing is making the review form a bit more intuitive. It would be great if there were some clear instructions or labels to help users understand what they need to do to submit their message.
Once all the components were in place, I embarked on the creation of a high-fidelity prototype. I incorporated the interactions outlined in my low-fidelity wireframe, using eye-catching colors, dynamic elements to maintain visual interest, and a well-designed, distinctive interface that facilitates easy navigation and clarity.