Glasgow City Student Super App
Glasgow City Student Super App
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The Glasgow City Super App: a comprehensive guide for students, offering campus maps, local events, transport links, and essential city insights.
My Role
My Role
Solo UX/UI Designer
Timeline
Timeline
8 weeks
Tools
Tools
Figma, Figjam, Adobe Photoshop
The Problem
The Problem
Glasgow, a bustling city, hosts three prominent Scottish Universities: Glasgow University, Strathclyde University, and Glasgow Caledonian University.
Each year, approximately 50,000 students flock to Glasgow from Scotland, the wider UK, and globally. Many arrive unfamiliar with the city's rich array of entertainment, clubs, dining, sports, and popular student hangouts.
The Challenge
The Challenge
The task involved researching, designing, and constructing a captivating mobile application for the Glasgow city council.
This app aims to familiarize new students with Glasgow's offerings, focusing on activities, products, and services that resonate with those aged 18–24.
The goal was to pinpoint a Student Guide design concept that presents Glasgow in a positive light to newcomers.
Understanding the project
Understanding the project
The Client
The Client
The Glasgow city council governs Glasgow, offering services to its residents, students, workers, visitors, and businesses. They're dedicated to fostering equality in Glasgow and collaboratively enhancing the city alongside its inhabitants.
Target Demographic
Target Demographic
A significant number of students aged 18-24 migrate to Glasgow from across Scotland, the UK, and abroad. For many, the city's offerings—entertainment, clubs, eateries, sports, and social hubs—are unfamiliar.
Adapting to the local culture and navigating city life can be daunting.
A complimentary mobile app, guiding them through the city's hotspots, offering tips, and helping with time and finance management in an engaging way, can enhance their Glasgow experience and address these challenges.
Project Goals
Project Goals
Ensure user-friendliness.
Deliver services which are consistent with Glasgow's mission and values.
Highlight Glasgow's rich culture, warmth, and dynamic offerings for incoming students.
Distinctly cater to students between ages of 18-24.
Welcome users from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
Assist students acclimating to the city and provide them support.
How will the Project Goals be met?
How will the Project Goals be met?
To achieve our goals, the app will prioritize:
User-friendliness: Designed to be effective, efficient, engaging, and error-tolerant for an optimal user experience.
Swift Registration: Streamlined to avoid lengthy, tedious sign-up processes.
Personalisation: Users can adjust settings like font size and choose their language, ensuring inclusivity for all.
User-centric Design: Tailored to individual interests, enhancing efficacy and helping users meet their unique goals.
Gamification: To keep users engaged and ensure they enjoy their app experience.
The Design Approach
The Design Approach
Utilizing the Double Diamond design model, the project progressed through four stages: discover, define, develop, and deliver.
I began with the 'discover' phase, researching clients, competitors, and users.
Drawing from these insights, I transitioned to the 'define' phase, pinpointing the problem and suggesting solutions.
In the 'develop' phase, I brainstormed and experimented with varied ideas across multiple iterations.
The process culminated in the 'deliver' phase with a polished, high-fidelity prototype
Discover
Discover
Understanding the Demographic
Understanding the Demographic
The specified target demographic for the app, as outlined in the brief, is students aged 18-24.
To maintain user-centricity throughout the design journey, it was crucial to deeply understand this age group and tailor the application to their distinct needs. By diving into journals, articles, and conducting surveys, I gleaned deeper insights into this demographic.
This group is synonymous with Gen-Z, a generation born into the digital age, innately adept with technological devices.
Gen Z Statistics:
Gen Z Statistics:
Data found at later.com
What follows is a depiction of statistics regarding the target audience (Gen-Z).
The bar chart (right) depicts the app usage across Gen Z and how it engages with their lifestyle choices.
Technology
Technology
55% of Gen-Z use their phones for 5+ hours a day, and a further 26% use their mobile for 10+ hours a day.
Education
Education
Approximately 52% of Gen-Z are enrolled in further or higher education.
Information
Information
85% of the target demographic use or hold a social media account and use it as a source of information.
Finances
Finances
Around 90% of Gen-Z say that they would like to take more control of their finances.
Career
Career
Only 1 in 3 from the target demographic are employed.
Popular Hobbies
Popular Hobbies
Competitive Analysis
Competitive Analysis
Research analysis on three comparable products was conducted to identify potential opportunities and threats.
What's On Glasgow Website
What's On Glasgow Website
Heuristic Markup
Heuristic Markup
Pleasure and Pain Points
Pleasure and Pain Points
Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
This application is specifically designed to offer Glasgow-specific updates. However, while it provides clear and concise information on the city, it does not include information about events, dining places, attractions, or shopping in Glasgow. Furthermore, while the app's UI is simple, it lacks a search tool and category-based filtering for news updates.
I Love Glasgow
I Love Glasgow
The app has a vivid and enticing appearance, but its functionality seems rather restricted. The app requires registration before allowing access to its content, forcing user commitment without a prior display of its services. While it is focused on restaurants, it lacks in-app meal booking options and refers visitors to external websites for instructions. Furthermore, its search functionality lacks filtering options.
Demographic Research Summary
Demographic Research Summary
The demographic research provided valuable insights into the target audience lifestyle, preferred destinations, activities, and financial expectations. Incorporating these findings into the application design ensures it aligns well with the needs and preferences of this demographic.
Competitive Analysis Summary
Competitive Analysis Summary
The competitive analysis revealed that numerous applications currently offer resources on dining, information, events, experiences, and finance management. Yet, these tend to be singular in focus, requiring individual downloads and use. I posit that an application, designed with strong usability principles and accessibility guidelines, which integrates these essential features into one platform, would strongly resonate with the student demographic aged 18-24.
Define
Define
Empathy mapping and Development of User Personas
Empathy mapping and Development of User Personas
Upon drawing insights from the demographic study, I engaged three participants aged between 18-24 in interviews. Utilizing the interview data combined with research findings, I crafted a comprehensive empathy map. This map was instrumental in capturing the mindset, feelings, and behaviors of our target demographic. Further, I developed user personas to foster a deeper understanding and empathy for our audience, ensuring the design effectively caters to their aspirations, necessities, and addresses their pain points.
Gary Rushworth
Gary Rushworth
Gary Rushworth, originally from a small town in Northern England, has recently relocated to Glasgow to embark on his journey in engineering at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU).
"I want to make the most of my time in Glasgow, both academically and socially. I hope to find reliable resources to guide me through the city."
Goals
Goals
Excel academically in his engineering course.
Make new friends and immerse himself in the Glasgow student culture.
Discover affordable places to eat, socialize, and relax.
Join clubs and societies related to his academic and personal interests.
Challenges
Challenges
Unfamiliarity with Glasgow's layout and key student hubs.
Balancing academic responsibilities with social life.
Finding suitable student deals and discounts in the city.
Navigating public transportation and locating nearby essential services.
Digital Habits
Digital Habits
Gary is tech-savvy, owning both a smartphone and a laptop.
He often uses navigation apps and relies on online reviews to discover new places.
Prefers apps with an intuitive interface and appreciates notifications for important events or deals.
Valentina Luis
Valentina Luis
Valentina Luis hails from Bogotá, Colombia. Having grown up in a bustling Latin American capital, she's no stranger to city life. However, Glasgow presents a fresh setting with its unique Scottish charm. Drawn by its rich academic offerings, Valentina decided to move to Glasgow for her postgraduate studies.
"Glasgow is a new chapter for me. I want to learn, grow, and immerse myself in this new culture while cherishing my Colombian roots."
Goals
Goals
Gain a comprehensive understanding of international business practices.
Build a global network with fellow students and industry professionals.
Experience and embrace Scottish culture and traditions.
Improve her English language proficiency and maybe pick up some Scots or Gaelic along the way.
Challenges
Challenges
Adjusting to the Scottish climate and long winter nights.
Overcoming potential language barriers in academic and social settings.
Finding authentic Colombian or Latin American food outlets.
Managing feelings of homesickness and staying connected with family back in Colombia.
Digital Habits
Digital Habits
Valentina is adept at using digital communication tools to stay in touch with family and friends from Colombia.
She often utilizes language translation apps and finds online cultural exchange platforms beneficial.
She values apps with clear interfaces and multi-language support.
User's Point of View and "How Might We" statements
User's Point of View and "How Might We" statements
Understanding the users' perspectives offered a deeper glimpse into their narratives. Such insights were pivotal in pinpointing the pertinent challenges to address and guiding informed problem-solving approaches. Furthermore, this knowledge laid the foundation for setting benchmarks to assess ideas.
Utilizing the users' point of view statements, I crafted 'How might we' questions. This strategy facilitated a reshaping of insights into potential opportunities, promoting innovation in addressing user issues identified during the research phase, as illustrated in the user personas.
How might we enable students move around easily?
Allow users set routes between places
Signify landmarks for easy location identification
Show estimated time to arrive places
Suggest walks if place is close to location
How might we help users find places of interest?
Match users to places they like
Show nearby attractions
Explain activities at the attractions and events
How might we make make students enjoy using our app?
Avoid overloading users with information
Provide occasional discounts and offers
Gamify the user experience
How might we enable students manage time effectively?
Allow users set reminders
Allow users create daily planners and allocate time to it
Enable students categorise activities with different priorities
Kano + MoSCoW Model
Kano + MoSCoW Model
The Kano model offers invaluable insights into user needs and their significance, while the MoSCoW method aids in prioritizing features. By integrating these two methodologies, enhanced clarity was achieved, largely influenced by insights derived from the 'How might we' inquiries.
Develop
Develop
Crazy 8's & Initial sketches
Crazy 8's & Initial sketches
The Crazy 8s technique was employed to brainstorm diverse solutions to existing challenges. In this method, eight distinct ideas were swiftly drafted for each screen within an 8-minute timeframe, promoting rapid ideation without becoming too attached to any single concept.
From these, I synthesized the most impactful elements of each sketch, which then informed the primary designs used in the wireframing, prototyping, and testing stages.
Here is an example:
Using the "crazy 8's" method, I rapidly sketched out diverse concepts for each screen. This approach allowed me to explore a myriad of ideas efficiently, setting a creative foundation before diving into the detailed low-fidelity wireframes.
The initial sketches for each screen are displayed below:
Low-fidelity Wireframes
Low-fidelity Wireframes
From the hand-drawn sketches (above), I converted them into to digital wireframes.
Here are some of the low-fidelity screens I developed, which were then prototyped and subjected to user testing:
App Layout
App Layout
Diving deeper into the architecture, the intricacies of the app layout has been designed meticulously to cater to the diverse needs of Glasgow's vibrant student community.
User Testing
User Testing
After transitioning from digital wireframes to a low-fidelity prototype, I initiated user testing to validate the app's structure and features before advancing to the high-fidelity design phase. I opted to use the wireframe screens during testing to maintain focus on functionality rather than aesthetics. Participants were given concise scenarios and navigated the prototype independently, replicating an unsupervised user experience. The feedback garnered included both commendations and constructive critiques, leading to critical iterations. Here are some inquiries and reflections related to the application's structure:
"Find the section that provides guidance on local emergency services"
"Find the section that provides guidance on local emergency services"
"I pressed along the toolbar and found the events section. I scrolled and found services, and it showed me Emergency Services and other related information."
"Find a recipe you would like to cook"
"Find a recipe you would like to cook"
"I used the toolbar to open the fitness tab. Scrolled to diet plans and recipes and scrolled among the available diets and recipes and selected the Keto diet. From this, I selected vegetable omelette."
"Find the exchange rates for 100 GBP into EUR and USD"
"Find the exchange rates for 100 GBP into EUR and USD"
"I used the toolbar to open the finance section. I selected currency converter and changed the currency from
GBP > USD/EUR."
Task Flow
Task Flow
Drawing from the insights of user testing, I crafted task flows to illustrate the pathways users would navigate to accomplish specific tasks within designated scenarios.
Scenario 1: You have been told a good review about 'Sugo' in Glasgow and are looking for further information about it.
Scenario 1: You have been told a good review about 'Sugo' in Glasgow and are looking for further information about it.
Scenario 2: Looking to mix up your workout routine? Look for information and ideas on the app.
Scenario 2: Looking to mix up your workout routine? Look for information and ideas on the app.
Scenario 3: You are trying to save battery and dark screen bezels reduce battery usage, apply dark mode on the app.
Scenario 3: You are trying to save battery and dark screen bezels reduce battery usage, apply dark mode on the app.
Style Guide
Style Guide
Prior to delving into the design of the high-fidelity screens and prototype, I established a style guide. This guide set forth design principles to ensure consistency throughout the design journey and introduced a cohesive visual language for the application.
Deliver
Deliver
While I invariably find joy in the journey, witnessing the culmination of a project is particularly gratifying. It demonstrates how every phase of the process coalesces to forge something impactful, offering tangible solutions. Below, you can glimpse some of the screens from the final deliverable, keeping in mind that in UX design, a project is perpetually evolving and is never truly complete.
Home
Home
Personalized home screen showing the user upcoming events, finances, diet and fitness goals and job opportunities as well as XP scores and bonuses.
Profile
Profile
Users profile contains a collection of extra features available to the user to explore, edit and change.
The settings are also found here, allowing the user to find and change in app features and settings for increased usability and accessibility, as well as privacy and security.
Explore
Explore
Explore tab features a collation of what Glasgow has to offer to the user from foods to activities as well as locations and contact details.
Interactive Map
Interactive Map
Built into the app, the interactive map is available on the "Explore" tab, allowing users to view locations of selected locations/events and much more.
Finance
Finance
The finances tab allows users to gain a deeper understanding on their spending habits as well as the financial suistainability of their spending.
A currency converter tool is available for students moving to Glasgow from abroad.
Diet & Wellbeing
Diet & Wellbeing
Diet and Well-being allows the user to set diet and fitness goals to keep healthy and promote healthy habits.
Job Opportunities
Job Opportunities
Job Opportunities tab gives the user a personalised list of jobs the user may be interested in, based off of previous jobs and qualifications.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Project Reflection
Project Reflection
Reflecting on this Glasgow student-centric software project highlighted the complex nature of UX design more than ever. Dive deep into the specific demands and behaviours of the 18-24-year-old population was an informative journey, showing the crucial significance of extensive user insight in designing solutions which connect. The methodology emphasised the importance of flexibility and the importance of each design iteration in bringing fresh insights and enhancements to the forefront.
Maintaining a user-centric approach was critical in ensuring that the end product not only met demands but also provided an engaging and straightforward user experience. The seamless integration of several approaches, such as the Kano Model and the MoSCoW method, improved the development by showcasing the harmonious effect created when numerous design thinking tools converge.
This project was a continuous learning experience, with each problem adding to both the project's advancement and my personal and professional development. Witnessing the conclusion of each step into a cohesive, effective product was a rewarding experience which demonstrated the growth potential of a well-organized design process.
Future Developments
Future Developments
Finally, while the project was completed successfully, it opened the door for future refinement and development, emphasising the constantly evolving nature of UX design. In essence, this project is a marker to the power of user-centered design and the fulfilment which results from turning a conceptual notion into a practical, beneficial effect in the lives of people.
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