ACTIV - Poster Development

The next step of printed promotion was to create posters to complement the flyers. It can have a bigger visual impact, as it is on a larger scale, and doesn't need to be handled by the viewer - it is open to everyone.

 Alternative Poster

Summly

Summly, founded by 17 year old Nick D'Aloisio, is a news app introduced in November 2012. It strives to give the user focused down news stories, giving them the vital information rather than the full story.

The app is clear, laid out well and is colour coded for added functionality. The reason why the app is so successful is down to its stripped down layout, and stripped down content. It is a great example of where simplicity in design can communicate an idea in the most effective way possible. This is even more vital in interactive design as a complex user interface will discourage usability.

Further Research Into Phone Apps

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A beautiful app, that is relevant to the subject I am designing for. There seems to be a focus on making elements of the page look 3-Dimensional, whereas the stuff that I am doing at the moment is primarily flat. The typography used is clear, sans-serif and upper-case. It may be an idea to use a suitable display font instead of Casper, which is more versatile to both display and body text.

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Clean. Simple. Intuitive. Three words that come to my mind when I see this app. It has a very specific purpose and therefore will have a lot of desirability if the functionality of the app is up to par. The simple, but effective, way the alarms are set up, edited and deleted by using a drag & drop system is something that makes the whole experience more interactive, and more personal to the user.

Again, there are gradients and shading to make the app look more 3 dimensional. This is done to make the buttons look like buttons - encouraging the user to interact. This is something I definitely need to consider if I need to make my app successful - the flat display is probably why it looks so dull compared to the leading apps around the world.

On a side note, this project included examples of app mapping - very simple but something that could direct me. I currently have a lot of different branches off of my menu including playlists, treadmill TV and local activities. Maybe I need to focus on one to make it more focused, more specialist and therefore more desirable.

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Whatsapp is an interactive social application. The design of the app looks very user friendly, and takes advantage of the swiping command that is comparable to the right and left arrows of the keyboard. It makes the whole experience slick and effortless - this application is a great example of functionality and one that serves its purpose in the most straightforward way possible.

Key Aesthetics of Phone Apps

Simple, clear, bold & user-friendly. Key features of phone apps demonstrated by these examples below.

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Duolingo

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Duolingo is a free website that allows users to learn a second language. It is set out like a game, offering a levelling system and awarding coins for good performance. The interface is extremely user friendly and the owl mascot is something that children in particular could relate to.

When considering the department for health brief, it would be an idea to make a game out of fitness - to make it fun and informative.

26/02/2013 UPDATE: Duolingo emails the user if they realise they haven't been online for a while. It is designed as a friendly reminder, encouraging users to play on, without being forceful and unpleasant. It gives the user an achievable goal, and I have to admit that I was tempted to play on, if I didn't have other things on. If I had free time I would definitely click on the link provided.

Department of Health Website

I thought I would take a quick look at the DoH website, to see if they had any particular design styles already in place. They have a teal and purple interface on their main website, but they're also linked with the Change 4 Life campaign that focuses on converting the unhealthy to a lifestyle that will benefit their health. This comes in a bright yellow format, which is another consideration.