Week 5: Scenarios

Oh my oh my oh my. Where to even start?! The question didn't change this week (thankfully) but I've been starting to conceptually think about how this app works and began wireframing.

But let's recap first,  I've defined many things, most of which are just lists:

Question: How can Graphic Design enhance cultural discovery through interactions between users from around the world?

How matches are made: profile similarities; being able to talk via chat or emails

Define culture: architecture, art, traditions, history, food, music, social norms, location, etc.

Focus: one country to USA through food, music, social norms, location, traditions

Focused country possibility: USA, Korea, Vietnam, China, Poland, France, and Brazil

Focused county: S. Korea

Wants: learn about new culture

Needs: personal connection; first hand stories of experience

Goals: feel comfortable and knowledgeable bout said country; be able to travel without feeling out of place; know where to go and what to do

Scenarios (assuming user is from US):

·      Wanting to learn about what’s hot in music

·      Wants to share stories regarding a certain/specific experience

·      Discover traditional/authentic foods

·      About to visit this country, where should I go/visit

·      Share/read authentic stories about towns/cities

·      How should I act when visiting

Setup:

1.     Users create profile; customize accordingly

2.     Input which countries interested in and will get a list back of people interested in personal country

3.     Connect and share

4.     Categories:

·      Food

·      Music

·      Social norms

·      Location (special landmarks, architecture, etc.)

·      Tradition (holidays and how they are celebrated)

5.     Share/connect/answer prompted questions based on partner’s interest

For the scenarios, I've limited it down to just 3, trying to encompass the app as a whole as much as possible. I want to keep them as personal as possible, like the one on one interaction between users. So the set up is basically between 2 people, one from USA and one from South Korea. Below are the 3 scenarios sketched out, just basic form, kind of messy. I've realized that if I get really into it, my design for it will probably just fill in the blocks, so I kept it pretty loose so that I don't get stuck in one shape.

The first scenario is basically the user from USA signing up, setting their profile (the app will remember them next time they use it so they wouldn't have to sign in every single time), searching for a pen pal to connect with. The app would match people up according to interests and their list of interested countries. They can do multiple things once they are partnered up such as live chat, starting a conversation, and see each other's profile. The first scenario is tied into listening to music as well, but I am going to separate that into another scenario. The user basically can view the other's playlist, see why that was chosen, but they could also suggest music. The second scenario is basically live chatting and sharing food and that would lead to a recipe. Last scenario is exploring other countries but viewing just an overview of the country, not getting in depth with another user or anything.

Like I said, I have the basic ideas down but nothing like super wireframed simply because I will feel constraint. My schedule for next week says digital wireframes but I think I'm just going to start designing and going from there, again, constraint ideas.

Things to think about for next week: language barriers (how will things be translated) and is an app form appropriate for the content/users?

Week 4: Defining "Culture"

New question! Again...

How can Graphic Design enhance cultural discovery through interactions between users from around the world?

This new question focuses more on a cultural influence rather than a musical exchange. In this way, it becomes more broad but at the same time, more narrowed. But what is culture? Culture is a country, their arts, their literature, music, architecture, language, beliefs, interactions, food, and just about everything else. So how do I limit this app to just several categories but still be able for users to reflect and share their cultures with others. I've limited it down to five categories for each country: food, music, social norms (like what actions are acceptable and what aren't), location (like special scenery or famous architecture), and traditions (like holidays or special days and how they are celebrated). I feel as though these are broad enough but also small enough for each user to share their own experience.

Since taking out music and replacing it with culture, this changes the dynamic of my app. I still want it to be a one on one, pen pal interaction. Matching would also change. I think it will now be about connecting people interested in learning about each other's culture. It could also be a set up of having a group of "teachers" and "students" by having a list for people to choose from that are interested in learning about your own culture. This idea needs to be flushed out more but I feel as if I'm onto something.

I've also changed my schedule to be more specific. I want to start designing in two weeks since my formal elements will need a lot of work so I built in time for a lot of designing.

Week 3: Match.com

DP Answers

Last class we had a presentation about our answers and what we have been working on for the past two weeks. My original question seemed to focus too much on music sharing and not enough about educating about cultures. The presentation basically summed up what I was aiming for and what I am now aiming for. Therefore my new question is:

"How can graphic design advocate for music discover through interactions between users from around the world?"

I don't want to remake Pandora, Grooveshark, or any other radio music station. I want to create an app that connects cultures and allows users to teach one another about their country through different methods using music somewhere in there. Since the presentation, classmates have responded positively towards the pen pal idea and that one on one interaction. Of course, this concept would have to be flushed out more.

A big question was asked about how matches work. This is what I'm still working on. So far, I'm thinking based on demographics (age, location, etc.), musical interest, and even general interests like school topics and stuff like that. Another point made was "what if they were connected with someone with completely different taste". I think that's a great idea and it would be nice to provide the users the option to choose to be connected with someone they have similar taste in or someone with completely different aesthetics. My elevator pitch for this project is now "match.com meets pandora". I don't know how professionals will understand it but it seems to sum it up well (hence the picture below).

Kidwell has also been kind enough to share this website called sampletheculture.com. It's quite a cool website and it is similar to what I've been thinking. It's more of a "I went to this place and here is what I did". Granted, there are some music on there and there's some really cool design but it seems like a showing off of what one person did (even if there are four of them) to the world instead of a personal sharing (which is what I want).

Another thing we had to work on for this week was creating our own schedule. In my design career, I always focus a lot on the background information and research (like I can never do enough of it). So for this project, I really want to focus on the formal aspect so I'm only researching for another week and then after that, I'm focusing on wireframes and designing. I'm thinking of making this into another MX project towards the end and how I will present it (animation style). The schedule can change since there's a ton of room for designing but we shall see.

Based on the schedule, next week is all about research and really defining my audience and understanding what they look for in this app.

Week 2: Answers

As a recap, my question was "how can graphic design teach and connect various cultures through music". This might change since talking to people.

Last week's post was a huge ramble of possible answers. Since then, I have limited it down to 4 solutions or answers.

1. Community based where there is group interaction and one on one interactions.
2. Interactive like a radio station or suggest music based on iTunes.
3. Pen pal where users would get a new "partner" from another country for a week. In this week (or whatever length of time), they would share and educate each other about their cultures. After that time frame, they would be connected with other people with the same taste in music.
4. Newspaper setup where the app self updates based on WiFi or it updates once a week when the user plugs it into their computer. It would essentially be a newspaper of music showcasing what is new or what is trending in the different countries.

I'm leaning towards cutting out option one right now since it seems like the first answer and I would like to do something different. Below are sketches that I've been working on just on how it could look. The numbers don't correlate to the ideas above.

I've also been looking at categories and have decided on splitting countries based on continents. After the continents would be country suggestions. Right now, it is based on the larger countries but I could expand to include many more. Based on continents, there would be six categories and I would like to coordinate colors to them. So below is the color option. It's still up in the air but this is kind of what I am going for.

For next week, we have an answers presentation and I would love to spend a week on thorough research about the countries and music and the history.