Designing my first app
My first challenge at Gadget Software was to use their platform to design an iOS app. It was trial by fire. I had never designed a product before, let alone a full featured app, but I didn’t want to blow the opportunity to impress.
Here’s what I learned from the process.
Idea and research
I spent some time reflecting on problems I had and apps I wish existed but didn’t. Being a golfer, I knew the process of booking a tee time at nearby courses could be improved. I also knew the current apps on the App Store focused on either a) being digital scorecards and rulebooks or b) teaching the fundamentals. All fine, but not useful for the golfer who wants to quickly know where s/he can play. I saw an opportunity to make an app for the casual golfer who wanted to play a few rounds with their friends.
My goal was to design an app I would want to use myself
Design
Since this was my first app, I didn’t want to reinvent the wheel. I looked at the apps I already had on my phone and took notes on what I liked and disliked about their design. I paid special attention to where the buttons I tapped most frequently, such as the hamburger menu button, were placed. I’ve since learned this is called User Expectation, or how a user expects a system to work.
After evaluating related apps on the App Store I decided the three most important sections of the app are:
- The user’s timeline
- Maps of nearby courses
- The user’s profile
The user’s timeline would include notifications from other users and the highlights from their previous games played. Maps would be featured prominently as well, earning a dedicated button in the bottom nav bar. The user’s profile also needed to be intuitive.
Iteration #1
I wanted to make the user feel as if the app was designed just for them, so I made them the focus. I used simple icons that could quickly be recognized and a color scheme that was familiar to golfers. I also tried to cut as much unnecessary information from the page as possible.
Iteration #2
I noted that the three most popular golf apps all included the rules of golf as well as stats from the user. I thought these features would increase engagement and add enough value to the user to justify including as well.
The takeaway
Through this process, I learned an incredible amount about what goes into app design. I learned that your intention of how a product should be used can be completely different from how it’s actually used. I learned that a dozen drawings on a napkin are better than one elaborate PSD. Most importantly, I learned I love the process of designing. I have a lot more to learn, and I can’t wait.
