Task
In the beginning stages of this project our team set out to create an application that would combine all current social media sites/apps into one concise application that was geared towards an aging non-technologically savvy user base. After conducting many in-person interviews with staff at retirement homes as well as residents, we pivoted to a much different application that would assist patients and caregivers an Alzheimer's patient's daily lives.
What I have learned from this project
- When you set out to design an application make sure you know your target user
- Don't assume you know the user's problems
- Be ready to pivot your design if research indicates you should
- Sit down with intended users and let them inform you of their wants and needs
Post Mortem
This was my first project in UX/UI and for that matter it was my first time working on a collective project with a team. I went into this project thinking I knew what needed to be done when designing an application, but I was coming at it from a developer mindset rather than a designer's mindset. The difference between the two mindsets couldn't be further from each other, when I look at an application as a developer, I think of things I would want to see, things that I think should be in the application. But working on this project showed me that in order for an application to be successful you have to involve intended users to inform design.
When we first started this project I think we already had concrete ideas in our heads of what we needed and thought our planned application would be useful to our intended user. After sitting down with the users and identifying the struggles they have, we completely pivoted to a different application that had nothing to do with our initial plan for an application.
The biggest take away from this project for me is to be fluid in your design, meaning don't come up with an application without sitting down with users and identifying needs and wants and letting them inform you of your design choices.
