Part 5: Visualization Of Our Idea: The Prototype

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StartupLab by ADandPRLAB | Panteion University

10 min readJun 3, 2017

The following post is part of the #TeenVibe project for the #CocaColaChallenge by the team Market Games of the Startup Lab of Panteion University in Greece.

APP ICON & NAME

The name of our application is T.Vibe which means Teen Vibe, aka a teenager feeling. On the application’s icon we have cut the rest letters of the teen word to turn it into T.Vibe, which is shorter, easier to remember and seems more modern, like some kind of a neologism. These facts contribute to it being easier to notice or become interested about it, although the fact that the rest of the teen word is missing may lead to some users mistaking and misinterpreting its content from its cover, affecting the group ages that may be integrated with our primary teenager target audience. The way we hope to solve this problem is though including the app’s full name in its AppStore and PlayStore description as well as in its marketing strategy and advertisements, by defining, in addition, the fact that this app is targeted mainly to teenagers and not adults.

The icon constitutes the gate of the application to the content within, making the design of it from its color to its letter font of primal importance. For our app icon, as well as for the rest of the app also, we chose a bright red color for two reasons, the former being the fact that it indirectly connects with the brand of Coca Cola, which is of the same shade of color, and the latter the fact that because of the name including the word “Vibe” we meant to differentiate it from other apps with similar words or phrases, such as Viber (purple color) and the former Vine (green color).

Regarding the app icon’s letter font, we found the Steelfish font as the most appropriate one due to its minimalistic characteristics, which give the app a more modern but simple style that instantly attracts the teenager target audience.

INTRO/LAUNCH SCREEN

The first page the user sees once the app is launched is the sign-up system, in which the user registers in the app with an email and a password in order to create an account if he/she doesn’t already have one. In the case of a new account, an e-mail verification will be sent so as to authenticate the identity of the new user.

Since the majority of users after downloading an app want to interact with it quickly, the user can also choose to sign up via Facebook, Google+ or Twitter, as they constitute simple and fast single sign-up systems. If this option is chosen, the user registers in the application using the Facebook/Google+/Twitter login that handles the authentication step, and the account is created instantly.

After the user signs-up successfully for the first-time the auto sign-in is enabled, although the user has the ability to change this setting manually.

➊ ARTICLES

In this first category and section available in the app and represented as a speech bubble in the main menu, the user has access to several articles written by social media influencers and qualified social media stuff of Coca Cola. It should also be mentioned that like every other type of content available in the appt he articles will also only be found to be read in this application exclusively.

By swiping right or left or by simply just tapping on the right or left transparent red arrow, the user can see the latest entries and select the most interesting for him/her to read. The rest of the screen is divided into two sections: “Categories” on the left and “Most Read” on the right:

-Categories: Since the articles cover up a diversity of subjects and topics, the user can select a certain category that he/she is keener on reading. The categories are the following and it should be mentioned that they avoid subjects of politics or social and religious tactics as the application is meant to connect teenagers from all around Europe and not divide them through adversities and controversial subjects:

-Most Read: In this right section, the user can see the top 4 most popular articles (including the name of the title and the writer) sorted by views of the users of the Teen Vibe application. Below these most read previous articles there is also the option to “view more” (as depicted on the photo), which enables the users to load more high-ranked articles. It is important to clarify that this section includes articles from all categories while the whole page is made in such a way so as to promote multitasking and interaction.

As for when someone enters an article, there will always be a comment box available, exactly like in the live stream video section, a viewing and reading ranking of the article as well as a small profile of its author and pictures to accompany the content.

➋ LIVE FEED VIDEOS

In this category, the user has access to video content, that will be posted daily and shot by social media influencers, Youtubers, vloggers, famous personas and public figures, as well as content production corporations like BuzzFeed and executive stuff of Coca Cola.

The content of the videos will be teen-centered and can vary: from simple make-up or do-it-on-your-own tutorials, video gaming and travelling content to festivals, premiers, challenges and interviews or street pranks. It will also be original and exclusive, meaning that the only way to have access to it will be through the application, while only snippets of the videos will be uploaded on the social media platforms of the app so as to attract new audience without revealing the whole content of a video. What is more, when a live video starts, the user will receive a notification on his device.

At the top half of the screen there will be displayed the live video that is broadcasted currently, including the title, the name and social media accounts of the creator, as well as the number of the live audience views.

The live videos also include a comment section where the user can participate, comment and interact with other users and the video’s creator in real time or even just view previous comments by other users by just scrolling up or down. After the termination of the live video, the video will be added on the “Latest Videos” section, which is located in the bottom half of the screen. In this section, the user can see all the videos that were previously broadcasted live. The option “Search” allows the user to find easily the content he/she wants to watch, by typing the name of a specific video, the name of a particular creator or simply a video category e.g. video games.

➌ RADIO

In this third segment of the application the users have the ability to access a live radio playing the latest popular songs intergraded with older ones and new less known ones. As there is a vast variety in music genres every user will have the opportunity to choose what kind of genre they want to listen to and the counterpart playlist will start streaming. In this way different types of people from different backgrounds and cultures will be able to enjoy the application equally and listen to free music whilst navigating the other sections of the application.

As depicted in the following prototype of the Radio section of the app, the user will be provided with the information of the track that will be currently playing such as its name, artist, album and year of release. The user will also have the opportunity to pause the track playing by clicking the album cover photo in its center where the play and pause button are located while by tapping on the FAQ on the top right of the photo they will have the chance to read interesting facts about the song or its artist. This feature will also serve a major role as it will provide the information about new artists and users of Tine Vibe promoted by the app itself, hopefully creating for them and audience and fan-base. On the bottom of the page each user will have the chance to choose their favorite genre of music by either swiping towards the right or by tapping on the red arrow until their favorite type of music appears.

As mentioned the application will occasion also offer the opportunity to new musicians, social influencers and video producers to send their work and content to the app using the contact button of the menu where they will be able to come in contact and send their work via e-mail or within the app. The T.Vibe crew will view and review these admissions and then post them on the correct section of the application, such as the articles, the live feed videos, or the radio. This will give the chance to up and coming social influencers to gather an audience that will probably contribute in their success in the world beyond the power of social media and the Internet.

➍ GEOLOCATION MAP

The final and most interactive section of our application constitutes the Geolocation Map deals and competitions. More specifically this part will entail a constantly updated map that will be primarily set according to the location details and GPS information of every user so as to be able to project to them their current location.

Based on this map there will be three kinds of competitions or offers:

1: Hidden gifts consisting of Coca Cola merchandise such as clothes (T-shirts, vest tops, baseball caps etc.), various usage items (teddy bears, key chains, cups, notebooks etc.) and seasonal items (Christmas decorations, Valentine’s gifts etc.). All of them will carry the Coca Cola brand logo and will be changed occasionally for new T.Vibe users to find them. There will also be gifts unrelated to Coca Cola such as music albums, store gift cards, fast food coupons, movie DVDs and others. They will also be located in various stands and shops where the users will find them as long as they are close to their location. These will be marked with red pins in the map.

2: Free Coca Cola Day stands three times the month in different locations, where the T.Vibe users, by showing the application to the stands’ operators, will have the opportunity to enjoy one free paper cup of Coca Cola. These will be marked with yellow pins in the map.

3: One monthly big competition that will always be announced via a live-feed video and that will create some kind of a treasure hunt for the teenage users who will have to follow and find the blue pins in the map. Once finding one blue pin a clue will appear on their devices that will drive them to the next location until they find the final pin and prize. These prizes will be more expensive like concert tickets, VIP and backstage tickets to events, travel tickets, private parties, invitations to popular cultural events such as the EMA’s, tickets to entertainment facilities such as the Disneyland, Harry Potter studios etc.

These activities are specially mechanized to serve as interactive opportunities for the teenage audience, offering them the chance to walk around and explore instead of being constantly home or at school and checking out their social media and phones. Inspired by the idea of the app “Pokémon Go” and it’s follow up success, Teen Vibe will release the locations of the free Coca Cola stands, days, prizes, gifts and competitions by starting up a simple treasure hunt of the modern Internet age. When walking on crowded or popular areas (e.g. shopping malls, busy streets, parks etc.) the users, with the geolocation map section open, will be able to find all of the above prizes and items, if they get in very close proximity with a them (e.g. 10feet). Once they do a red, yellow or blue pin will appear on the map notifying them of their approximate close location and type of gift, without letting them in on knowing the exact location.