Purpose, Audience, and Subject
For my major project, I would like to create a mobile app which allows users to explore and log plants. I would also like to add an object detection feature which allows users to point their device at a plant and quickly identify it. In this project, I want to combine UX/UI, Branding and AR into a comprehensive visual design solution.
Purpose
The purpose of my project is to inform users on plants / flowers around them, allowing them to easily identify them, and informing them of how to care for the plant. Similar to apps such as Pokémon Go, I’d like to use the app to encourage younger people to explore local areas, and to become interested in nature / wildlife. The app would also help gather data on local wildlife in different regions, which can add a scientific benefit towards taxonomy research by providing information on the geological distribution of wildlife.
Pokémon Go is a mobile game which uses Augmented Reality and Location-based tracking to place Pokémon species in the real world, players can explore outdoors whilst looking for different Pokémon – much like the original video games. Upon its release in 2016, Pokémon Go became the most downloaded app after just one week. It received praise for encouraging physical activity and social interactions, and studies have highlighted its positive impact.
” The findings show that Pokemon Go motivates social interactions and increases life satisfaction, demonstrating that social mobile gaming provides an easy to implement tool to subjectively improve social functioning.” (University of Greenwich, 2022)
Similarly, I would like to achieve something similar within my own project, encouraging users to explore the outdoors and connect with others through the use of a mobile application.
Audience
My target audience spans all ages and professions, but would be specifically focused more toward younger people aged 15-30 years who might not be as inclined to explore gardening or wildlife. My secondary audience would also include people who generally are interested in plants, exploring and nature, as well as researchers and scientists focused on gathering data on regional wildlife.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gen Z and Millennials have developed a greater interest in outdoor activity such as hiking. These activities have shown to have positive impact on mental and physical health. Oli Fearn, leader of MAD Hiking group, commented on the surge in popularity of hiking amongst young people, saying;
“Walking was one of the things that everybody could do in lockdown and many people ended up joining a group to explore beyond their local areas with like-minded people,” (Fearn, 2022)
Because of this, I believe my app could be beneficial and fun for people who are new to nature and wild-exploration.
Additionally, I have also began to consider the wants and needs of my users from both a user point-of-view and a research point-of-view. I have then used this information to generate user persona sheets which help me to empathise and connect with my target audience better, resulting in a more engaging design.
Feedback from class
In a group setting, I presented my idea to some of my classmates to see what their thoughts were, and to get feedback and advice on my project idea.
Ella gave a good suggestion for the branding to be flowery and linked to earthy, natural styles and colours. I thought this was a really good idea as it fits the subject and theming of my project. As a result, I’d like to explore nature imagery and create some mood boards to draw inspiration for my branding based upon this feedback.
When I spoke to Nik and Ian, Nik asked me if I was planning on creating a website to accompany my app. At first, I said no because I feel as though websites aren’t as popular and I don’t think certain features would carry over very well into web – such as object recognition – but Ian gave a good suggestion to create a companion web app which has less features and is a bit more simplified, but has a call to action to tell the user to download the app on the App Store or Google Playstore. This is something I had not thought of previously, and it is something I will implement to create a wider reach for my audience, whilst still directing them to the main mobile application.
Project Brief
With this information, I have formed a professional project brief highlighting the requirements for the app, and outlining the goals and targets I wish to meet within this project. I will use this document as a reference point throughout my project to keep on track of my goals and the objectives of my project.
Reference List:
A, Yuri (2023) Scientist and research with plants in test tube at laboratory for analytics or innovation. Zoom, biologist and leaf in glass equipment for study at work with agriculture for environment. [Image]. Available online: Black Woman Scientist Research Plants Test Stock Photo 2325085035 | Shutterstock [Accessed: 21/10/2024]
Fearn, Oli (2022) Ditch the walking sticks: how hiking got cool with a young, diverse crowd [Quote]. Available online: https://www.flashpack.com/solo/travel/how-hiking-got-cool/ [Accessed: 26/09/2024]
FocusedCollection (ND) Man Hiking Stock Photo [Image]. Available online: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsusalud.cps.com.pe%2F%3Fe%3D206-120-man-hiking-stock-photos-free-royalty-free-xx-0MKAYMIP&psig=AOvVaw3OSNkZIN0m59krqLrWJjB4&ust=1730289621193000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCIDamabFs4kDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ [Accessed: 22/10/2024]
Niantic (2024) Pokémon Go [Image]. Available online: https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fph.portal-pokemon.com%2Fapps%2Fpokemon_go.html&psig=AOvVaw0Cb6cAqB9Mz20i2z15TJQC&ust=1730391053746000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCPD0lJO_tokDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE [Accessed: 22/10/2024]
ResearchGate (nd) The Basis of Linnaeus’ Sexual System for the Classification of Flowering Plants [Image]. Available online: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8043938/figure/fig1/AS:281205154041898@1444055942016/The-Basis-of-Linnaeus-Sexual-System-for-the-Classification-of-Flowering-Plants.png [Accessed: 22/10/2024]
University of Greenwich (2022) Pokemon Go motivates social interactions and increases life satisfaction of players, study finds [Article]. Available online: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220725/Pokemon-Go-motivates-social-interactions-and-increases-life-satisfaction-of-players-study-finds.aspx [Accessed: 26/09/2024]