Wayfind
2022 Capstone Progress Platform
Master of Arts in Graphic and Web Design
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Week 1
Project Brief
My capstone project will continue and build upon a ‘future interactions’ app (conceived in my Experimental Interaction course) which employs augmented reality technologies in service of safer and more enjoyable wayfinding experiences on the hiking trail.
Here is a link to my project brief.
Thought: Something I need to consider heading into my prototype proposal this week is how and where I will make clear the WHY of this project. The more clear I can make the value add, the more clearly the passion and voice behind the Wayfind brand will show through.
Week 2
Proof of Concept
This week I developed my proof of concept: the first draft of the brand guide that will eventually be a printed, comprehensive guide that explains Wayfind's visual style, voice, and app workflows.
Here is a link to my proof of concept walk through. I plan to expand the guide, and there is more to be developed and refined in terms of messaging, scope, and app interface and capabilities. I have begun sourcing feedback on what I have so far, focusing especially on the visual branding elements.
Thought: I want the user to trust the expertise and know that they can depend on the app to have a safe experience, while simultaneously getting a sense of familiarity, calm, joy, and accessibility from the design. On one hand, the brand shouldn’t feel too cold or technical, and on the other, it shouldn’t be cute or woodsy to the point where the brand loses credibility. It needs to fall somewhere in the middle, with clear substance behind the design. Is it currently finding this balance?
Week 4
Prototype – new component
I started the week out by making edits to the logo and brand guide based upon some feedback I collected. Then, for most of the week, I took a break from branding and worked more in earnest on the Wayfind app prototype. I was getting overwhelmed by trying to think about both app UI and style elements at once, so I focused on just the UI, building simply designed high fidelity wireframes while mainly thinking about usability and scope of the app. What I came up with was a totally new take on the style of Wayfind (see image) - but I think I'm into it! I'm still finishing up all the frames, but I feel good about where this new focus took me. I'm finding it difficult to conceptualize the AR prototype portion of this project, so next week I'll need to really apply my brain towards that challenge.
Thought: Now the trick is to take the branding work I've done, and the UI work I did this week, and somehow make it meet. What i came up with this week is a lot cleaner than the branding work, and definitely more clean than the original app prototypes. I definitely think it's for the better, but I'd like to find a balance that brings a little bit more of the Wayfind 'personality' to the wireframes, while still keeping things clean and clear.
Week 3
Prototype
I spent the bulk of my time this week thinking about and planning out the Wayfind app site map and primary task flows. I was getting overwhelmed by the amount of possibility, and the infinitely scalable nature of this project, and thought it was a good idea to commit more time than originally thought into this kind of back and planning. It's helped me make previously vague ideas more concrete, and I now feel good thinking more seriously about the app interface and layout. I began creating app pages in Figma, and now need to spend more time this upcoming week designing them out and thinking through user interface questions more seriously.
Thought: Based upon feedback I sourced from several designers, I want to focus some attention next week on updating the Wayfind brand to increase readability and accessibility. The challenge is - what elements of the brand should be integrated into the app interface, and what can remain as a more external, creative, marketing brand presence?
Week 5
Prototype – new component second pass
This week I continued to focus on the UI of the Wayfind app. Two large components I worked on were a sample map view (pictured), and an icon library. I also completed my test work flow in Figma, and am waiting to receive user feedback. I think the icons especially help with the question of how to integrate the UI and the Wayfind brand. I welcome feedback on whether this is working, and where else more and better brand integration could take place.
Thought: The icon library took way way longer than I expected. I'm glad I did it, and it will be a great addition to the brand guide, but I'm definitely feeling like I need to buckle down on adding some new content to the brand guide and and then polishing it, user testing, and my 'live' prototype. I have plans this week to go shoot some footage on location, and hope to have real progress made on that component by the end of the week.
Week 6
Prototype – new component third pass
This week my dad and I went out to the Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area to not only get some footage and materials for my app prototype, but also to get a sense of the place that I am using for my prototype location. I've been there before many times, but never before with this project in mind. We were able to get some good footage, and I was able to think more realistically through the main task flows. Later in the week, I met with Aaron Salmon, a UX Designer for the US Department of Defense. He was able to provide invaluable feedback and critique on my existing prototype, so I have my work cut out for me in terms of next steps and edits.
Thought: Now that I have material from the trail, I have to think more intentionally about how I want my prototypes to look moving forward. I know I want some motion aspects, but am not entirely certain that I have the time that it would take for my motion design skills to figure this out. My task moving forward is to find where my skills can meet with a good solid demonstration of the app.
Week 7
Project 85-90% done
This week, after implementing the feedback I received last week from Aaron Salmon, I focused on making major updates to the brand guide. Although I had made revisions to the brand, mostly via the app prototype, I hadn't really revisited the guide itself since week 2 or 3. I spent most of my time adding, updating, and cleaning up different sections. I spent a lot of time writing out brand principles and other copy/descriptions. I also added a section at the end focusing on UI tips and general practices.
Thought: Creating a style guide for UI is not something I've done before, and I'm not sure what I have currently is working. I don't want to add too much, such as break down each kind of app component, because going that deep would mean having to add a lot more content than I have the time or expertise for. That would definitely be more of a 'next step'. But what is a happy medium of what to still include, so as not to forget the UI, without it seeming scattered or thrown together?
Week 8
Capstone page and final revisions
This week, after implementing the feedback I received last week from Aaron Salmon, I focused on making major updates to the brand guide. Although I had made revisions to the brand, mostly via the app prototype, I hadn't really revisited the guide itself since week 2 or 3. I spent most of my time adding, updating, and cleaning up different sections. I spent a lot of time writing out brand principles and other copy/descriptions. I also added a section at the end focusing on UI tips and general practices.
Thought: Creating a style guide for UI is not something I've done before, and I'm not sure what I have currently is working. I don't want to add too much, such as break down each kind of app component, because going that deep would mean having to add a lot more content than I have the time or expertise for. That would definitely be more of a 'next step'. But what is a happy medium of what to still include, so as not to forget the UI, without it seeming scattered or thrown together?
Week 9
Final presentation
This week, after implementing the feedback I received last week from Aaron Salmon, I focused on making major updates to the brand guide. Although I had made revisions to the brand, mostly via the app prototype, I hadn't really revisited the guide itself since week 2 or 3. I spent most of my time adding, updating, and cleaning up different sections. I spent a lot of time writing out brand principles and other copy/descriptions. I also added a section at the end focusing on UI tips and general practices.
Thought: Creating a style guide for UI is not something I've done before, and I'm not sure what I have currently is working. I don't want to add too much, such as break down each kind of app component, because going that deep would mean having to add a lot more content than I have the time or expertise for. That would definitely be more of a 'next step'. But what is a happy medium of what to still include, so as not to forget the UI, without it seeming scattered or thrown together?
Week 10
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