Designing Process

On this page you can find all the things I did during the designing process

Who are you designing for?
I’m designing for the international WDKA student (an expat student).

What is their relationship to the collection?
Wanting to learn things about the Dutch nature and while going on a nature route they can learn this.

Which content are you ‘interfacing’?
The routes of Staatsbosbeheer. Probably not all, but the ones that are nearby Rotterdam.

What type of interaction is fitting for this?
I think something that is easy and clear. But maybe also something where they have to do something so that it becomes fun, like a game.

What type of medium is fitting for this?
I thought of maybe an app, that is something they will also have with them during the route.
Or something old school like a (paper) guide or map.

In general: what are you trying to accomplish through the interface you want to design?
I want that the interface makes the collection interesting and easy to use for the international WDKA student. I also want the routes to be attractive so that they can learn more about our nature.

Which visual design elements have you already collected/designed that can be useful for this?
We found the use of symbols in the routes (as sign indicators). And symbols are a kind of language that is understandable for everyone. On the website they used icons to indicate what type of route it is. Also, useful because it is an understandable language.

Prepare for class

First Research Insights

User group: international WDKA student
Collection of Staatsbosbeheer

Wishes & needs of our user we wrote down
-explore the country and nature
-need a place to relief stress
-easy access to information
-good transport options
-no extra costs

Research conclusion/keywords: Nature and art, symbols as language & safety and community.

Interesting place near Rotterdam; the Rottermeren. This is a big recreation area, you can do a lot of things here like sailing, walking and there is a beach to fully relax.

There are already many routes on the website of Staatsbosbeheer, but in addition to those routes you can follow special GPS routes that go off the path and you can also create your own GPS routes

I want to create an interface that is easy to use, understandable and accessible. The reason I want to focus on these points is that the website right know is only available in Dutch. So, the website is no use to the international WDKA student at the moment and that is a shame. I want the collection to be made attractive to them in a fun/interesting way.

First Concept Ideas

Creating a new digital route of the for the user most interesting routes (combined).

Nature route test (app/website page/map/brochure)
Let the user group make a test and out of the test comes the most suitable route.
Ask questions like why do you want to go to a nature route? For stress reduction, hang out with some friends, learn more about the Dutch nature and maybe an option with something else.
When they finish the test there will be the best suited route. They can ask for a brochure with a map of that route, it will be sent to their adres.

Tinder for the routes (app)
Swipe left on the route you are not interested in and swipe right on your perfect route. You will get an overview of your favorite routes and you can choose which one you want to do.
By the routes there will be a couple of highlights like length, what kind of route, where the route is etc. and a small explanation of the route.
People could also put their own GPS-routes on there, so there will always be new routes.
Maybe there could also be a function where people could meet up (just like real Tinder).

Focus on learning the nature (app + signs)
Through QR codes and little signs the students can get to know about nature and who lives there. For every route you could make a kind of bingo with all of these animals or nature details (this idea might be better for a younger user group).

Friday 30-04 - Notes and exercise

You don’t have to use the full collection; you can choose the routes that are more interesting to the user.

Solution finding with in the collection.
How do you make something interesting for the user?

Biggest problem: website is not in English. Therefor the information is lacking so, providing the user with good understandable information is key. Something that is clear.

Sketches for the class of Monday 10/05

I started with writing down the things I want to focus on. These are the things that I think that are the most important for the interface for my user group.

I also wrote down some of the choices I will make with design as in typography and colors.

I have two concept ideas, wrote these down as well. I want to sketch them both so that I can see for myself which way I want to go.

Concept 1 – Router

It is like Tinder but then for the Nature Routes.
By sliding right and left on routes you can find the routes that fits you the best.

This will be as an app and will contain; all the routes, a function where you can share new routes and an communication/meet function.

With the sketches I tried to draw the basics and most important pages. Right know it is still very calm, not many colors etc. but I would want to keep it this way to keep it clear. The only page that I’m missing right know is the place where you can connect with other people, but I did draw an icon for that on the upper right screen.

I think that these sketches are pretty clear and simply, but would definitely be the way to go for this.

Concept 2 – Route Picker

It is a test which in the end tell you the route that fits best with your wishes and needs.

This concept can exist out of more mediums, a website, an app and a brochure.
It will contain; all the routes and information from Staatsbosbeheer and about the Dutch nature.

Because I have multiple medium ideas for this, I sketch them all very quickly and but a more in-depth explanation of what it will be next to it.

Again, very clear and simple sketches but that is something I want to do in the design as well.

Feedback sketches

For the Tinder concept > what do you see? be more specific about things, maybe creative information.

So, what can be useful information in the “bio” of the route?
- where the route is
- the length of the route
- what kind of route it is
- if there are any art works or monuments
- if you can geocache there
- what you can learn about the dutch nature during this route
- if there are any relaxing spots

A connection to the physical world would be nice

A combination of the two concepts can be an idea > I want to continue with this

Brainstorming some more about this: the test/questionnaire could be the beginning of the app, out of this there will come a number of routes. You can click on these routes and will be able to read a lot of information about them.
Inside of the app there will be a function where you can connect with people who for example would like to go on the same route as you and you can meet up (as duo’s or bigger groups).

I want to add something to the route to make it a bit more exiting and with this I can also focus on the fact that my user group art students are. I want to include a kind of journal in the app. In this journal they can write down and document things during the route. Things that inspire them, new ideas, make pictures of the things they are seeing. And throughout the route there can be signs which will have information on them and they can scan the QR-code and this will add the information to their journal. This way they can easily read back on things.

Name idea(s): Routerr

Sketches for the class of Tuesday 11/05

Fonts

Color palette

I have chosen these very minimal fonts because I want to keep my design calm, so it is clear and understandable. I have chosen 3 fonts with extensive typefaces. So, although it will be a minimal looking font you can have a lot of variations and play with the thickness of the font.

I really like the Montserrat font because it is a wider font, it looks really light and peacefull.
Regular Mukta Mahee is a bit of a thicker and narrower font in comparison to Montserrat. This one has a bit more of a business kind of feeling.
And then there is Nunito this font is very friendly, because of the round edges. This one is a bit wider than Mukta Mahee but not as wide as Montserrat.

With this color palette I want to highlight the three words I mentioned in my first sketch; neutral, calm and nature. Again because I want to keep my design calm, so it is clear and understandable.
But I think that with these colors it will not become dull.

Discussion with research group

After discussing my in-class exercises with my research group I want to add an extra font.
My user group are art students so I can add something extra to the design to make it more appealing to the are students.

Feedback Arjen + new concept

After my feedback round with Arjen, I want to go a different direction. He told me that my concept is not original enough, it has to has something that is mine. We talked about the GPS routes and geocaching. This could be topics to focus on.

For my new concept I want to design an interface where international art students can meet with each other and walk off route nature routes and discover Dutch nature in a more adventurous way.

So, this will be an app where they can talk and meet up with each other and walk special off-route routes, which are arranged in such a way that they learn more about Dutch nature and language while walking. This can be done in the app itself so during the walk information will pop-up on the map or there can be signs along the route. And on these signs there is a QR code and if you scan that with the QR scanner in the app you will go to question and you can discuss it with each other and answer it.
Because they are not going by themselves, they will probably feel saver, make new friends and they can share and discuss all the information they are getting.


Some of the main keywords that came out of our research where: nature, safety and communication. With this concept I can focus on those keywords.

New sketches due to new concept

During a walk in the dunes I came across quite a lot of signs. I took pictures of these for reference.

Sketches of the signs that can be found during the route.

Sketches

First setup of the app design in Adobe XD

Filled in design in Adobe XD

This is the first elaboration of my app. Based on the sketches, I started setting up all the pages. See what should be there and where I want to place it.

This is the design so far. I added the colors and fonts I chose for the design.
It is now ready to be tested.

Design changes/improvements after feedback

Style elements

Feedback Kimmy and fellow students 26/05

I’m missing the link to the international WDKA students. Why is this especially for them? Now it can be for all international students. Maybe I can add something that will make them look around better; method or dérive. As a result, they may experience the environment in a different or better way.

- During the route there will be special signs at the places where you can leave your art. These signs are in the same place where the quiz questions are asked. At the end of each quiz question you will be asked to make a work of art of, for example, your environment or the gene you just had a question about. If you are with a group, you can take turns making something because there are several boards divided over the route.
- These are special boards that can hold an A5 landscape sheet of paper. The sheet can be slid in on the side, it can hold up to 25/30 sheets. Once in a while these boards are emptied, and photos are taken and placed on the app.
It is therefore important to indicate at the start of the route and on other screens in the app that they bring paper and pen.
- This could also be elaborated digitally. The boards work basically in the same way, but you can make an artwork on your phone / ipad and then send it to the board with bluetooth.
- Or it works in another way; that you swap artworks. Just like an outside bookcase, people but books in there that they don’t read any more and someone else can take them.

It is also important what kind of questions do you ask during the quiz? These could also be more questions of what inspires you about this environment or what you are feeling at the moment.

- Because I still want to impart some knowledge about Dutch nature, I want to make a combination of these kinds of questions. So sometimes in information about an animal, plant / flower or nature reserve. And the other times a bit more about themselves and what nature has in effect on them.

I also get to play a little more with my typography. Like I said this is for international WDKA students so it could be more daring.

- I would like to create my own style for this app a bit more. Play more with color, patterns and typography so that it gets a little more life.

Conclusions testing

When looking at the screen recordings I can see that all the tasks went pretty well. So, I think that means that that things in the app are easy to find. Maybe that is because of the icons I use.

I had a question about if there is something missing in the app. I’m very happy that I asked that question because it is good to know from your user group perspective what they think is missing. And the answers that came to question where very inspiring and I’m definitely thinking of adding things in. I can also see why they suggested those things. An overview map of all the routes can get you a good indication of where they are located. And the review section underneath the routes is helpful for people to see if a route suits them.
I’m also going to make a search screen because it is indeed nice to see how the search function would work. What can you find there? Friends, routes, groups, places etc.

With al this information I can continue to adapt and improve my interface

Feedback Kimmy 29/05

It's going in the right direction, the link is already better. But I need to make a better connection between the questionnaire and making art part. What does my user group get from nature?

With the questions/tasks I will focus completely on how the students can get inspired in nature. So learning about nature with questions disappears, but because they are in nature they will automatically receive things.

-Go on these routes to get inspired by nature. During these routes you will observe nature, focus on the non-obvious things and make art in and from nature itself.
-Different focus points during the different routes. Like getting inspired, learning to observe, collectively doing/making things.

The QR code scanning function has been removed. If you come close to a number on the map, you can click on that number and then the screen of a task will appear. For some tasks there is a place in nature which is easy to find because there is a sign with a number.

FINAL design

Logo

Icons

Pattern

With this design I give the app more of its own style. This also appeals more to the international WDKA students because there is more flexibility and dynamics in it.

But the design is also still clear and easy to read, which I also wanted.

This is an elaboration of what the signs can look like and how they work.

Because I added something to my concept, that also had to be reflected in the app. These are sketches of what I thought the screens might look like.

Logo

Style elements

Icons

Patterns

During the route there are designated places where art can be made in a joint manner. These are some images of what I think these places could look like in the end.

Looking for the textures and patterns in nature. By observing and learning to look carefully. These are examples of how I think what they could see and photograph.

Final XD document

Color palette

Color palette