Only
Only Studio is a strategy and design consultancy - 'Through research, strategy and design we connect brands with people in unique and compelling ways.' - Primarily, the studio works with digital design such as websites and apps, as well as some print. This is relevant for this brief as they can help to inform my production and research methods for my screen based outcome.
From the presentation they highlighted the broad range of sectors that they have covered from past briefs, these include:
Education - Universities such as Goldsmiths
Music - Promotion/Festivals
Luxury - Car companies such as Aston Martin
Covering a broad range of clients would provide a lot of creative techniques and processes due to the diversity of the briefs. It was encouraging to hear that the designers don't have to have skills in coding, instead a clear visualisation of the concept and clear articulation will help the developer to produce the final digital outcome envisioned.
A developer is responsible for programming the code that “tells” a website how to function. A developer builds a website from the bottom up, which means designing it in such a way that end users have no difficulty navigating the site. The website should not be so simple that it does not appeal to advanced users, nor should it be so complicated that the beginner is easily lost in the process.
Only highlighted the fact that design for screen is constantly evolving and it is becoming the primary way of consuming a brand. The digital world is constantly evolving due to the technological boom we are currently experiencing which ultimately provide endless possibilities for experimental and interactive features. Design for screen is here to stay.
Design Process:
Aim to take influences from Only's design process as I haven't approached a digital brief like this before.
Aim to take influences from Only's design process as I haven't approached a digital brief like this before.
1 - Research - Audience - who/how? Personas
Highlighting the specific audience is key as it feeds into appropriate uses of user experience and aesthetics. Think about WHO, HOW, WHY. Only expressed the importance of using personas to create reliable and realistic representations of your key audience segments for reference. These representations should be based on qualitative and some quantitative user research and web analytics.
2 - Wireframing - Good for testing
A website wireframe, also known as a page schematic or screen blueprint, is a visual guide that represents the skeletal framework of a website. Wireframes are created for the purpose of arranging elements to best accomplish a particular purpose. Only expressed the importance of creating wireframes especially for testing how the interface works - Almost like a test print!
3 - Design
4 - Final
Only's aim is to create work that can work on a range of screen/media which is considered through the wireframing and tests.
Goldsmiths University
- Famed for their creative approach to teaching and research, the institution maintains a global reputation for excellence in the arts and design. - Helped to inform the engaging and contemporary layout.
- Expressive elements for inspiring content; readable elements for informative content; and oversized elements for signposting. - Shows how the layout are adapted so that it is appropriate for the type of content.
- Works across different screen sizes and formats:
Computer:
Ipad:
Further Notes:
'DON'T CREATE AN APP FOR THE SAKE OF CREATING AN APP' - Designing a website/app needs to be justified by research into target audience and how/where it is going to be used.
Envision - Source for creating working wireframes for free
Text - On screen people don't like to read long lines of text. Particularly with small screen, the type can go off the side of the screen so the user has to keep manipulating the position of the page. To overcome this, Only suggests short line lengths that are bold and considered.
Questions
Who do you test?
Usually people in the building for small briefs
For large briefs they set up a group, however members of Only do not run these tester sessions to avoid bias feedback.
Are there limits?
If something can not be achieved by the developer then you are doing it wrong
Summary:
I found the presentation really beneficial because the studio embrace expression and innovative design whilst making it appropriate for the client. User experience was key to Only and their emphasis on research/wireframes justified how important it is for producing a solid, working outcome. I like how Only consider their target market and client ethos using personas as it helps to create a solid platform to work from, this is importnat for creating a successful and consider user experience.
Primary Concepts
Based on the initial mindmap, I identified a range of screen platforms and user interfaces are commonly used to aid every day life.
In order to produce an objective outcome I need to identify the:
- Client
- Problem
- Target Audience
- Aim of the project
Idea Generation
What am I interested in?
1 - Fashion textile patterns - Influenced by my interest in fashion and textiles. I have experience with sewing material using patterns to create clothes. These provide a guide for the size and shape that need to be cut out of the material in order to be sewn together.
Working with patterns make high end fashion available for anyone to make, bringing big labels to a wider audience. These templates are really useful for design students and professionals as they provide exact measurements and sizes.
Client - Vogue Patterns would be a potential client as they offer designer sewing patterns which are constantly updated.
Problem - Finding a specific pattern can be time consuming and often expensive as they have to be ordered in. For design students and people interested in design, this makes the design process expensive and time consuming. The tissue paper stock that it is printed on is very fragile as it tends to rip and crease easily, making them unusable/less accurate.
Target Audience - Fashion/Textile design students/designers
Aim - Provide an App that allows designers to browse an array of patterns that can be immediately available to use in order to push practice.
For this concept i would need to research further into methods of getting content from screen to paper quickly and easily so that the patterns are immediately available. Also creating a creative community where other people can scan patterns using their phone and then uploaded for anyone with the app.
2 - WSL - Increase understanding and awareness of The World Surfing League through their App.
Especially in the UK, surfing isn't widely considered as a professional sport and people don't tend to follow it. This year announced surfing as a new Olympic sport which is a great opportunity for the sport to increase its following.
Looking at the current official WSL App:
Home page:
Highlights from the surfing league are constantly updated through the news feed. The large images are engaging and videos are available to watch immediately by tapping the image, making it quick and efficient for portable media.
Each heading for specific events could stand out more making it easier to identify what information is for each category, especially for people unfamiliar with surfing.
It is in fact user friendly, specifically for people with background knowledge about surfing which is relevant because it is a specialist app.
Potential
Beneficial research would include looking at student banking
Traditional Printing
Create a source that makes analogue techniques such as traditional print easier and more accurate.
Review
Reviewing these concepts and considering Only's presentation, I have identified that my initial concepts don't solve a problem because they make a process longer, thus degrading the user experience. I don't want to create an app for the sake of creating an app because they create more problems.
- Art + Design
- Creative practice
- Music
- Film
- Fashion
- Analogue Processes
- Texture
- Physical publications
- Surfing
- Printing
- Shopping
- Maps
- Text
- Call
- Search web
- ATM
- Chip and Pin
1 - Fashion textile patterns - Influenced by my interest in fashion and textiles. I have experience with sewing material using patterns to create clothes. These provide a guide for the size and shape that need to be cut out of the material in order to be sewn together.
Working with patterns make high end fashion available for anyone to make, bringing big labels to a wider audience. These templates are really useful for design students and professionals as they provide exact measurements and sizes.
Client - Vogue Patterns would be a potential client as they offer designer sewing patterns which are constantly updated.
Problem - Finding a specific pattern can be time consuming and often expensive as they have to be ordered in. For design students and people interested in design, this makes the design process expensive and time consuming. The tissue paper stock that it is printed on is very fragile as it tends to rip and crease easily, making them unusable/less accurate.
Target Audience - Fashion/Textile design students/designers
Aim - Provide an App that allows designers to browse an array of patterns that can be immediately available to use in order to push practice.
For this concept i would need to research further into methods of getting content from screen to paper quickly and easily so that the patterns are immediately available. Also creating a creative community where other people can scan patterns using their phone and then uploaded for anyone with the app.
2 - WSL - Increase understanding and awareness of The World Surfing League through their App.
Especially in the UK, surfing isn't widely considered as a professional sport and people don't tend to follow it. This year announced surfing as a new Olympic sport which is a great opportunity for the sport to increase its following.
Looking at the current official WSL App:
Home page:
Highlights from the surfing league are constantly updated through the news feed. The large images are engaging and videos are available to watch immediately by tapping the image, making it quick and efficient for portable media.
- The panel at the bottom is static making it recoginsable for the user to refer back to.
- Swiping the screen provides a continuous stream of information - Fluid
- Colour scheme - Blue and white is cohesive with the colours used in all images - Connotes moving water.
Each heading for specific events could stand out more making it easier to identify what information is for each category, especially for people unfamiliar with surfing.
It is in fact user friendly, specifically for people with background knowledge about surfing which is relevant because it is a specialist app.
Potential
- Surf forecasts
- Events near you
- Increase understanding by having silent videos playing explaining he rules of each event.
Beneficial research would include looking at student banking
Traditional Printing
Create a source that makes analogue techniques such as traditional print easier and more accurate.- Registration sheets for screen printing or lino printing help to make sure the content is in the desired position.
- Usually marked on printing press where the content needs to be
- Projecting an image/laser where the content should go would make the prints more accurate and consistent.
- Specifically for screen print, an app that separates each CMYK for you, making preparation for exposure easier.
- Letterpress - Type in the text, size and typeface and the app will reverse it for you, making it easier and quicker to set.
Review
Reviewing these concepts and considering Only's presentation, I have identified that my initial concepts don't solve a problem because they make a process longer, thus degrading the user experience. I don't want to create an app for the sake of creating an app because they create more problems.
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