My role:
Lead UX/UI Designer & Researcher (individual project)
Responsibilities:
This is my ModcAR augmented reality project from the IM_260 UI Design & Development course at Bradley University.
Time:
4 Months
Problem:
The project required creating an augmented reality (AR) application that addresses a specific problem using a user-centered design approach.
Outcome:
Delivered a functional augmented reality (AR) application that effectively addressed the identified problem, while enhancing user experience/satisfaction through iterative design based on usability testing.
My role:
Lead UX/UI Designer & Researcher (individual project)
Responsibilities:
This is my ModcAR augmented reality project from the IM_260 UI Design & Development course at Bradley University.
Time:
4 Months
Problem:
The project required creating an augmented reality (AR) application that addresses a specific problem using a user-centered design approach.
Outcome:
Delivered a functional augmented reality (AR) application that effectively addressed the identified problem, while enhancing user experience/satisfaction through iterative design based on usability testing.
This is a project that I created in my UI Design & Development course, where I created an augmented reality application using a user-centered design approach to create high-fidelity mobile designs in Figma. User testing was implemented through the design process.
ModcAR is meant to bride the gap of information and pain points of the experience of modifying/working on a car. The audience is targeted to car enthusiasts who want to work on car projects. It allows users to see step-by-step tutorials on how to do modifications/fixes to their car and see how they look before investing money into parts the user may not end up liking.
Mod cAR is an augmented reality application, it is a place where users can add modifications to their vehicle as well as customize their car’s interior/exterior. Through Mod cAR, users can create their customizations/modifications that will allow them to see a 3D model, view the engine, exterior, and interior of their car.
They have the option of entering in the model/make of their existing car or creating a whole new design/model. Once the customizations are created, they can see the step by step process of how to install or do the customizations as a guide to help them bring their creations alive in the real world without having the hassle of watching or searching for videos to learn how to install and do their modifications independently.
Mod cAR is a multi-faceted tool that uses augmented reality to help users to create modifications and customize their cars exterior/interior all while providing step by step guides to bring their visions to life. Whether the user is a car enthusiastic working on a project, wanting to modify their car, or using it to create modifications on the next car they are looking to purchase. Mod cAR provides this to users assisting in bringing their creations to life while providing a more time efficient step-by step 3-D model users can utilize.
The primary business goal for the app is to enhance car enthusiasts experience by making the modification/customization process interactive and enjoyable.
The secondary business goal is to acquire and collect user centered data and insights (with proper consent) to understand preferences, popular customization trends, and user behavior and utilize this data to refine our services, stock inventory, and tailor our marketing campaigns.
To enhance the user experience for ModcAR, understanding the market competition was crucial to identify both the industry standards along with the opportunities to stand out in the market.
I conducted a thorough analysis of five leading competitors, focusing on the following aspects:
This analysis helped uncover pain points and effective strategies that informed my design decisions moving forward. Overall, the competitive analysis provided essential insights that shaped the project’s direction and user interface, allowing me to create a solution that meets user needs and stands out in the market.
User Interviews Overview
Throughout my user interviews, I gained valuable insights into who my users are, their potential relationship with the app, and the features they desire. My participants included one woman and four men, ranging in age from 21 to 60, with the majority being Android users.
Key features they expressed liking included:
In terms of usage frequency, most participants indicated they would use the app weekly or monthly, while one user mentioned a potential hourly usage.
When discussing desired features for an AR app that allows users to modify their cars, participants highlighted the need for:
These insights helped to shape the app’s features to better meet user needs and enhance their overall experience.
To gain a deeper understanding of user needs and behaviors, I conducted a contextual inquiry as part of my research process. This approach allowed me to gather valuable insights that significantly informed my design decisions throughout the project.
To create a user-friendly and intuitive experience, I developed a comprehensive information architecture. This process involved organizing and structuring content based on user needs and behaviors identified during the research phase.
To ensure a user-centered approach and guide my design decisions throughout the project, I created a detailed persona based on insights gathered during the research phase. This persona represents key user segments, including their goals, behaviors, motivations, and challenges. By focusing on these elements, I tailored the designs to meet user needs and preferences, ultimately enhancing the overall user experience and engagement with the product.
Once I gathered valuable insights through the research phase, I created multiple sketches to visualize concepts and see how different ideas might look for ModcAR. This allowed me to iterate and establish layouts, user flows and features to be incorporated into the app. I gathered feedback to help refine my designs before starting on more detailed wireframes and prototypes.
I developed user flows to map out the key interactions in the application to ensure a seamless and intuitive experience. The following user flows illustrate how users navigate through various features of ModcAR. Visualizing the user journey assisted in making a design that prioritizes a seamless and efficient experience for users.
I performed usability testing with five users on a mobile prototype using Figma and received great feedback related to application visibility and user efficiency.
Overall, the users found the app easy to navigate and straightforward to use. They appreciated the layout and hierarchy of information, particularly on the filter page, which contributed to an intuitive experience. Users liked the variety of options available.
However, some trends emerged from the testing:
These insights will inform further design refinements to improve the overall use of the application.
During testing and user interviews, participants expressed a preference for designs that feature a clear and logical navigation structure, allowing them to move effortlessly through the app. To achieve this, I utilized familiar icons and labels to ensure users can easily locate what they need without confusion. However, I recognize that navigation and layout can always be refined to better align with user interactions and enhance their overall experience.
During user testing it was apparent that some users found some of the pages/tabs less clearly defined and brought the importance of testing and implementing features to aid in the overall experience for the user.
Error Prevention Features: Incorporating features that prevent errors before they occur. For instance, the incorporation of dropdown menus, auto-suggestions, and confirmation dialogs for critical actions (purchases or deletions) to help the users make informed choices.
