Summary
In a world where people are using smartphone and even managing daily schedules with it, the importance of calendar application is getting bigger. Main goal of this project was to set up direction of user interface for next generation calendar app which will enhance brand identity of Pantech's smartphone. For this project, I created user interface based on user research and the app was launched with Vega Secret Up model of 2014.
My Role: Project Manager, Market research, User research, UI/UX design, Communication with Software engineers
Team Members: Aehyun Kim, Okwang Kwon
Project Period: March - July 2013
Design Process
First of all, our team looked into market trend by analyzing Pantech and competitor's calendar app. And then we had user research to understand user's expectation and real user's behavior on utilizing calendar app especially of main user group. With this, we enhanced usability of our calendar app and provided User Selling Point(USP) features to provide differentiated service experience to our users. To be specific, market and trend research was performed to see how each smartphone manufacturers and third party market applications provide service on criteria of representative user task in calendar app, viewing event / adding event / managing and editing event / convenient features. With issues derived from market research, user research which consists of both quantitative and qualitative research was fulfilled to listen to real voice from main user group on calendar app. For quantitative research, we had user survey with more than two hundred people, and in-depth interview with nine users as qualitative research.
The result of user research directly showed how well Pantech and competitors are prepared to cope with user needs so that we could build UI direction. At last, with ideation with method of card sorting, ideas patterning, user scenario, we proposed final UI concept and wireframe. Final ideas were applied to smartphone that rolled out on Dec, 2013 after discussing technological issues with software engineers concerning how the ideas are going to be actualized.
1. User Research
"What does user need when using Calendar App?"
User research, which consists of both quantitative and qualitative research, was practiced for listening to voice of main user group and finding intrinsic user needs on issues stemmed from market research.
Quantitative research: We had web-based survey with Google tool of more than two hundred people on various topics concluding purpose of use, period of use, mainly using items in calendar app. e result was used for seeing user behavior and selecting main user group for qualitative research.
Qualitative research: We had in-depth interview with nine users who are recruited from different ages and gender as qualitative research. On this step, we examined to see intention of use and user behavior on main issues resulted from Market research.
2. Market Analysis Based on User Research
As a result of user research, we could find out that there are greater user needs on fast add and fast view of event. They were not satisfied with market supply on this feature. However, there were little needs on convenient or additional features such as adding event with pen or hand. Competitors have provided convenient features excessively considering the result of user needs. So, we found that focusing on satisfying user needs about quick add and view of events will bring our calendar app to the greatly advanced level.
3. UI Concept & Wireframe
In conclusion, we had several brainstorming sessions for new calendar with several methods including card sorting, user scenario. And we made final UI concept "All at once calendar" with three sub concepts as below. Main UI screen was defined in accordance with key concept "All at once calendar" which provides user environment where quick adding and fast viewing event is possible.
All at once view is for viewing events easily by minimizing the checking steps and gathering events in one screen.
Quick add is for adding events as quick as possible. It can be practiced by minimizing adding steps and learning steps of how to add events, and simplifying adding screen.
Convenient management is less important than other two concepts. However, as long as there are meaningful features, those can be provided.
4. GUI Design for Launched Smartphone
After wireframe is confirmed and I completed discussion with software engineers, Graphic User Interface was designed to make new calendar working on smartphone. is was applied to smartphone model VEGA IRON2 that launched on June 2014.
Thoughts
From this project, the most memorable achievement was that our UI concept was made in the long-term perspective compared to previous calendar app which its direction were easily shaken by market trend. In mobile world, there are so many changes happen in market that easily bother UI designer for constructing UI consistency. However, the result of this project made us to have UI consistency which can also mean UX philosophy. is was used as criterion when new trend came out in market to examine if the it is applicable on our device.In addition to this, there were several challenges during the project. Even though our team made UI concept in long-term perspective and completed design, there were some difficulties for applying the calendar app to Pantech's smartphone. One of them was technological discussion with our software engineers. Since there were some technological limitations for applying full design proposal to our smartphone, some part of new features had to be modified compared to original ideas.