Light Quotes App
overview
CONTEXT
In the context of our design project, it's crucial to recognize the growing significance of quotes. Over recent years, there's been a surge in the desire for inspiration and empowerment, particularly in the face of today's challenges. Quotes have evolved into an integral part of our daily lives.
As human beings, we're inherently aspirational. As the "Mantras Matter" article aptly puts it, quotes serve both personal satisfaction and can reflect our social status or individual preferences.
When individuals navigate the complex landscape of their emotions, they often find themselves in solitary moments. In these instances, quotes serve as invaluable tools, empowering individuals to harness their emotional energy and regain momentum.
CHALLENGE
The project was driven by the necessity to create a new product targeting young adult users seeking a consistent source of empowerment, inspiration, and motivation.
The existing apps in this space present a significant challenge due to their excessive complexity, leading to choice paralysis among users. The surplus of features often results in a loss of momentum for the much-needed energy boost.
Moreover, the overwhelming abundance of unorganized quotes on social media further complicates the situation, leaving users unable to easily access the inspiration they seek. Our challenge was to design a solution that addresses these issues and provides a user-friendly, organized, and empowering experience for the target audience.
ROLE
Research / Concept / UI/UX for Mobile / Illustration / Visual Design
TEAM
Lina Yohay (UI/UX and Visual Designer)
Sylviane Rabi (Positive Psychology)
Luis Bustamante (Code and Engineering)
TOOLS
Figma / Miro / Zeplin
CLIENT
Young + Minds
Code Ara Design Studio
Belgium
YEAR
2019-2022
“
How might we empower people to achieve their goals with an inspiring tool?
”
OUR APPROACH
Our team was eager to discover how and why young adults between 20 to 40 use quotes on a regular basis. In addition, we needed to assess the short-term emotional impact of the quotes as a tool for achieving a long-term goal and dealing with daily challenges so that we could use this data for building our app.
We wanted to:
-
Create a simple, user-friendly, and effective app.
-
Discover new techniques to build more engaging and customizable quote designs that can be shared via the app or social media.
-
Allow users to be motivated and empowered to continue their daily journey while receiving an emotional boost.
My design process for this project was structured around four key steps.
discovery >> ideatION >> design >> testing
Discovery:
Research and Analysis
The research and analysis for this project primarily revolved around uncovering users' emotional needs and objectives when engaging with quotes. We were particularly interested in discerning the diverse contexts in which quotes are employed and the underlying motivations for sharing them. Additionally, we sought to evaluate the immediate emotional impact of quotes in relation to long-term goals and everyday challenges.
Based on insights gathered through user interviews, it became evident that quotes serve as potent sources of inspiration, energy, and motivation for individuals. They function as an emotional energy boost with a rapid and tangible effect on users.
THE USER
We set our target into two groups: 1) Young working professionals 30 to 40 years old, with or without kids, and 2) College students in their 20’s.
Persona 1
“ I like to see how others perceive life through quotes.”
Maria Sierra
26 / Female / Single / Student / Tel Aviv
As an art student, Maria likes to understand the perceptions of others through visual images or the quotes they post on Instagram.
She posts quotes on her Social Media twice a week and looks for different ways to stay inspired. She makes quotes' illustrations and finds sharing them useful as a tool to communicate her feelings and empower others.
Goal
Find inspiring quotes without having to choose from many sources.
Pain Point
There are too many topics to choose from in the Quote Apps that she uses, and she gets lost in her decisions to post, spending more time than what she has available.
“ Reading a positive quote every morning empowers me to continue my daily routine.”
Pablo Porto
32 / Male / Married with 1 small child / Marketing Manager / Madrid
As a Marketing Manager has a hectic schedule and uses different apps to keep his mindset on track. He meditates early in the morning and likes to use quotes with his team to inspire them in their personal and professional lives.
Goal
Get empowered every day through practical tools.
Pain Point
There is no time to read books searching for meaningful emotional boosters. Social Media showcases many quotes but finding the correct section takes too long.
Persona 2
INTERVIEW NOTES
The Quotes Survey drew 50 responses from young individuals. The following is an example of 5 of them and their comments on how they interact with quotes.
THEMES AND OPPORTUNITIES
After evaluating and analyzing all of the responses, we divided them into eight categories to gain insight into the quotes' influence on the participants.
KEY FINDINGS
*
People feel inspired, empowered, and motivated by the use of quotes.
*
Quotes work as an emotional energy boost that has an immediate effect.
*
Quotes are transformed into metaphors and mantras, making them easier to learn, remember, and use in many contexts.
*
In a few words, quotes convey a clear message. As a result, unless they are seeking for anything specific, consumers don't spend much time utilizing quotes.
*
Participants get involved by using quotes on social media to introduce themselves, share an opinion, and communicate deep thoughts, feelings, and convictions in a few words.
*
Quotes are used at least once a week as a powerful quick tool for receiving or transmitting a message that has an impact on a positive experience, and they like to use it for themselves or share it with others.
Ideation
During this phase, we engaged in a collaborative brainstorming session to generate innovative design ideas and features that would seamlessly integrate our research findings. This ideation stage marked the initial step in the process, which was then followed by feature prioritization and the development of a feature prioritization matrix.
Feature Ideation
Feature Prioritization Matrix
Feature Prioritization
CONCEPT AND SKETCHING
As an integral part of the UX process, I generated a wide array of concepts through techniques such as Crazy 8's, brainstorming sessions, and eventually translated these ideas into Digital Prototype Iterations. This approach was instrumental in enhancing our chances of uncovering the most viable solution within our chosen design direction.
Crazy 8's
Brainstorming
Pizza Quote
Categories with icons
Quotes' spiral
3 Quotes categories
Quote Meal
DIGITAL PROTOTYPE ITERATION
Design >
Low Fidelity
In the development and incorporation of the Light Quotes features, I determined that the app should encompass four fundamental Quote categories to facilitate swift selection. Additionally, I prioritized making the new product both editable and shareable for enhanced user flexibility.
Splash Screen and Sign up
Login and Welcome Screen
Categories, quote customization, and sharing
FLOWCHART
At this stage, my aim was to consolidate and organize all the content accumulated during the research phase. With a well-established project concept and a deep understanding of both users and application functions, I created a comprehensive flow that addressed every facet of the solution.
To refine the user experience, I scrutinized four vital categories for the app: empowerment, self-awareness, motivation, and inspiration. Multiple flow designs were conceptualized and rigorously tested to identify the most user-friendly approach. A pivotal Lookback.io test was conducted, and the insights gained from it informed adjustments and clarifications to ensure an optimized flow.
First Flow Approach
Final Flow Implemented
Visual Guidelines
To maintain a cohesive experience on the app, I built a consistent design system using atomic principles to develop all of the project's components. The visual style guide sought to convey joy and openness while preserving a clean design.
Its elements may be implemented in future designs such as websites, additional app sections, or printed material. I carefully selected a collection of over 200 quotes to be built in and arranged by category, as well as a customizable geometric drawing system to allow the user to personalize the experience.
Logo and Colors
Typography and Icons
Quotes Images
Buttons and Bars
Develop Prototyping
In the development of the Light Quotes app, I designed a high-fidelity prototype to facilitate the last round of refinements for optimal user accessibility. This prototype was instrumental in fine-tuning the user experience, ensuring seamless navigation and ease of use.
Within the app, users have the option to either create a new account or sign in to an existing one. Once logged in, they can select their preferred app category, customize it to their preferences, and then save or share their personalized creation. The customization options extend to individual quotes, allowing users to tailor aspects such as color, text, images, and size according to their choices.
onboarding
login and sign up / QUOTE SELECTION
QUOTE CUSTOMIZATION
SHARING ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Testing >
Validation, usability, and feedback
The journey to the final product was a comprehensive one, marked by four distinct rounds of prototyping, meticulous user feedback collection, and rigorous testing. This thorough process allowed us to ensure that the resulting solution met the highest standards and aligned with user preferences.
The culmination of these efforts brought us an incredibly promising outcome: an impressive 80% of users unequivocally endorsed the app, describing it as "empowering, useful, understandable, and easy to use." This resounding vote of confidence reflects the app's strong usability and user-centric design.
The incorporation of new features and the refined user interface were instrumental in empowering our users to efficiently explore, collect, and share quotes, all while managing their time with wisdom to effectively attain their desired goals. This user-centric approach has resulted in a product that resonates with our audience, providing them with a valuable tool that truly enhances their daily experiences.