Project Info
For my Masters Final Project, I designed and developed a hybrid iOS application with my teammate Brian Byrne. The project was self directed from June - December 2014. The app was released to the App Store in February 2015.
Hint is a location-based app that gives real time information about locations and venues around you. It lets you know what places are busy, a simple demographic of those there and why the majority of people are there. The 'hints' are user driven, giving you the ability to browse and join hints, or drop your own hint for others to discover.
Category
Mobile App
Services
IdeationUXUIDevelopment
Deliverables
- Developing a concept suitable for the Masters Project Requirements and conducting thorough research into the target market to validate this idea.
- Analysing competitors and the current state of the art.
- Developing a plan for the completion of the critical success factors of the project within the timeframe of 6 months.
- Creating a brand identity and marketing the app through various social media sites.
- Using agile wire-framing and prototyping tools to develop a strong user experience.
- Developing the front end using HTML, Javascript, JQuery, CSS and several different libraries and PhoneGap plugins.
- Developing the server side using AJAX, PHP and MSQL. Accessing iPhone hardware to receive native notifications.
- User testing – Ad Hoc testing, focus groups, surveys, feedback from Testflight users and a final formal user trial.
- Analysing results and research to make additions and improvements post submission.
- Full Thesis report detailing the complete process. View Full Report
Competitor Analysis & User Research
Information Architecture & User Journeys
The example below details one of the user journeys within the app. As we were both designed and developing the app it details both backend and front end features.
Wireframing & Prototyping
Iterative Testing was carried out throughout the concept and development stages of the project. This included testing paper prototypes, wireframes, digital prototypes, working builds and the final app.
Design Iterations
Defining what information about a location should be displayed was a difficult task. We carried out lots of research and surveys to narrow down what was most important to our target audience. How this information was presented to a user went through many iterations and rounds of user testing as the app progressed.
'Dropping a Hint' interaction
User Interface
Development
I completed all aspects of the server side and client site functionality. We used PhoneGap to access the phones hardware and package the application.
Release
Hint was accepted into the App Store in February 2015. Due to limited resources for day to day upkeep and improvements, we removed the application from the App store soon after.