Free app of the week
Make it easy to find out the Apple free App of the week
Status quo
Research into the established scenario. Fifteen users interviewed and six users interdependently taken through each scenario and timed. Their pain points were identified and listed out and then grouped by themes.
Aims
Aims.
In response to the earlier research and identified pain points
Reduce:
The number of steps from 13. The effort needed for a user to discover the apps. The time needed to set up a notifcation from 52 seconds.
Remove:
The need for the user to remember to check.
Present:
Only relevant content and notifications and brand the service appropriately.
Make:
Setup easy and clear. The #freeappoftheweek more discoverable. It require less clicks for more value. A range of notification methods. It open and acessible.
Reliable sources.
Reliable sources.
Using google searches and pre-existing knowledge a series of primary and secondary sources for information on the #freeappoftheweek were found.
Proposed input and output diagram.
Proposed input and output diagram.
After the inputs and outputs were sourced I made the decision to use rss feeds as the medium for streamlining the #freeappoftheweek experience into one feed. In theory rss inputs are fed into ifttt a free web service that then pushes the collected data out to twitter, tumblr, a streamlined rss feed and a series of other optional notifications.
Test service.
Test service.
The best way to test the service was to build a simplified version of it. After creating accounts with ifttt and twitter, feeds from the official Apple page were used to create a twitter linkup. I.e if apple tweets with info including the variable (X) then copy tweet and tweet out as applefreeapp.
The best way to test the service was to build a simplified version of it. After creating accounts with ifttt and twitter, feeds from the official Apple page were used to create a twitter linkup. I.e if apple tweets with info including the variable (X) then copy tweet and tweet out as applefreeapp.
Working prototype.
Working prototype.
Hello world! ifttt was used to spot a specific phrase in the official Apple feed and then push out a tweet. Service tweaked further for some miss-fires.
Visual design & branding.
Visual design & branding.
Apple kindly provides a icon grid for use when designing. In order link to the app store the same blue gradient was used.
Icon design & selection.
Icon design & selection.
A range of ideas across three directions mocked up using the Apple design grid as a base. Comparative process of elimination used to reduce the number of options.
Final icon.
Final Icon.
Design tweaks made to align with the grid system and Apple gradient applied to the background.
Issue one & solution.
Issue one & solution.
When tested over a three week period, Apple intermittently posted news of the #freeappoftheweek promotion. The solution... expand the service diagram to incorporate more inputs.
Issues two and three.
Issues two and three.
2. Some irrelevant notification triggers. 3. Notifications coming too close together
Updated input and output diagram.
Updated input and output diagram.
Buffer integration for time split posting. expanded output and notification types to make things as accessible as possible.
Notification flow.
Notification flow.
Notification sign up process: simplified through a sign up page.
Notification instruction page.
Notification instruction page.
To make things as simple and as clear as possible.
Measured sucess.
Measured sucess.
Comparison to aims and metrics.
Before
Steps
Before
Steps
13
Time
52 seconds
Notification methods
One
Other:
Effort to remember.
Irellevant notifications.
No self established brand.
Complex setup.
Low discoverability.
After
Steps
After
Steps
3
Time
28 seconds
Notification methods
Six
Other:
Totally automated.
Only relevant content.
Relevant branding.
Easy setup.
More discovery opportunities.
(with love)
