Application Design 2 / Task 1

Shim Yi Xun || 0363292

Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media
  Application Design - DST 61004  

Application Design 2 - Task 1

  Overview  

> Module Information Booklet

> Class Activities

> Task Instruction

  • Self-Evaluation
  • Refining process
  • Final Refined Prototype
  • Presentation Slides
  • Presentation Video

> Reflection

  Module Information Booklet  


  Class Activities  

Activity 1: Boarding Pass
Mr Razif assigned us to work in groups and redesign the AirAsia boarding pass, using the knowledge and principles of the infographic.

This is the original boarding pass:

The redesigned version 1.0 of my group:

However, sir said that we focused too much on designing the boarding pass and advised us to pay more attention to the information hierarchy delivered (as this is the main requirement). The main information should be the flight number, gate and seat, and the gate closing time, instead of the departure and arrival locations...

So, we redesigned the version 2.0:


Activity 2: Wireflow Chart
Also working in groups, we practically learned how to create a wireflow chart for a booking app. For my group, we chose to work with Starlux flight booking app. Although we had previously learned how to create a user flowchart, the concept of a wireflow chart was new to us. However, after some exploration, we quickly got the hang of it.

After presenting our chart to Mr. Razif, he advised us to pay closer attention to the accuracy of the flow connections. While we might understand how the flows work, others may not.



  Task Instruction - App Design 1 Self-Evaluation and Reflection  

Students will be required to self-evaluate and reflect on their Mobile App Design 1 final project. The project aims to document issues, problems, and challenges and propose solutions to improve the design aesthetic and user experience of the mobile app. Mobile app design is an iterative process and this assignment will show students how to continually improve their apps.

  Self-Evaluation and Reflection  

Project Review:
Click HERE to view the Application 1 project
Click HERE to view the Hi-Fi prototype preview

Self-Evaluation:
In the previous module, which is Application Design 1, I redesigned the Kummute app. Looking back on my design work, I first personally evaluated the overall design and identified areas for improvement, then combined the suggestions provided by AI, including:

  • Colour Scheme & Visual Style
  • Layout Structure
  • Accessibility
  • Usability
1. Colour Scheme & Visual Style
The colour scheme that I used in the previous task is a pastel palette. Although it offers a calming and friendly interface, it seems unprofessional and a bit childish. The same issue applies to the illustrations.
Moreover, the colour is underutilized in functional feedback (e.g., active vs. inactive buttons, status indicators).

Suggestion:
- Change the colour scheme and illustrations to give the app a more professional look.
- Introduce colour-coded status states (e.g., green = active, grey = completed, red = error).


2. Layout Structure
The overall hierarchy is clear, from onboarding to menu to ride booking, each screen follows a logical visual structure. But spacing inconsistencies reduce visual rhythm.

Suggestion:
- Apply consistent vertical spacing (8pt/16pt system) between sections for harmony.
- Use dividers or subtle card shadows to group related content for scannability.


3. Accessibility
The contrast between text and background (especially muted grey on white or pastel background) might not pass WCAG minimums. Also, some icons lack accompanying labels, which can confuse users with cognitive or vision impairments. In addition, some text is too small, which also reduces readability.

Suggestion:
- Add tooltips or labels for icons like menu items or action buttons where the function may not be obvious.
- Re-size the text (at least 16pt).


4. Usability
The core flows are smooth and task-focused, and the reusable components like cards and buttons make for a familiar and learnable experience.

Suggestion:
- Save location and location pages could use a stronger indication of what the user should do next (i.e., add a clear primary action or onboarding tip).


Summary of Design Snapshot Score:


Summary of Self-Reflection:
Through the self-evaluation, I became more aware of the importance of balancing visual appeal with functionality. While my previous design used soft pastel colours and playful illustrations to create a friendly vibe, I realized they lacked of professionalism and clarity needed for a ride-booking app. The feedback helped me see how inconsistent spacing, low contrast, and unclear icons could affect both accessibility and usability. By making the adjustments—like refining the colour scheme, improving layout consistency, and enhancing feedback cues—I’ve learned to approach design not just from an aesthetic point of view, but also through the perspective of user needs and inclusive design.


  Refining Process  

UI Kits
Before starting the refinement, I first set up the UI Kits. Left is the previous UI Kits, in which I used soft green and pink as the app colour scheme. However, I have now changed it to dark blue and orange (right), as I believe this new colour scheme looks more professional and trustworthy. The fonts remain the same.

Before (left); After (right):


1. Onboarding Page
Here introduce the app by providing a brief welcome and setting the brand tone.

💡Feedback from AI on what can be improved:
- No onboarding progress indicator (dots or step titles), making it unclear how many steps remain. [Disagree, I have a progress indicator already, maybe the colour is too light for the AI to sensor.]

Improvements:
I switched from the previous illustration style, which I feel a bit too childish, to a 3D image. This is to enhance the overall appeal and to convey a more mature aesthetic. Besides, the previous one was a white and plain background, I added a gradient colour background to the current design, making it modernised.

I changed the design to the rest of the Onboarding Pages. And I've also reshaped the corner radius of the button, which I felt is more appropriate (I have applied this adjustment to the entire design for consistency).

2. Login Page
Allows users to sign in or sign up.

💡Feedback from AI on what can be improved:
- The vertical space between the sections looked crowded, need to add more space. [Agree]
Ensure placeholder and labels have strong contrast. [Agree]

Improvements:
I not only improved the areas that pointed out by AI, but also the backgrounds, colours, and the radius corner of the button.

3. Home Page
Main dashboard showing ride options, status, and wallet.

💡Feedback from AI on what can be improved:
- “Book a Ride” and “Schedule a Trip” look visually equal—no prioritization. [Agree]
- Wallet text is slightly small compared to value. [Agree]
- The play buttons in the "Book a Ride" and "Schedule a Trip" look not intuitive and difficult to access, especially for first-time users. [Agree]
- Lacks a quick preview or shortcut to the next action for the Ride Activity card. [Disagree, the page I provided does not show this function, it actually exists, but it is not in my MVP flow.]

Improvements:
To enhance the prioritization between the"Book a Ride" and "Schedule a Trip", I set a strong contrasting colour between them. Besides the layout adjustment, I added shadows to each section to strengthen the distinction between elements. To achieve a more cohesive look, I repositioned the divider to the bottom of the card, this is to enhance the visual consistency with other pages and also make the information look much clearer than before.

4. Menu Bar
Provides navigation to core app sections.

💡Feedback from AI on what can be improved:
- Add icons next to each label to enhance user navigation and usability. [Agree]
- Add a "View Profile" button under the profile to enhance the intuitive and accessibility for users. [Agree]

Improvements:
In my previous design, I implemented a feature that allowing users to tap on the profile picture to access their profile. However, the AI feedback pointed out that it might not be intuitive for everyone. So, I added a "View Profile" button for clearer navigation. Also, I took the suggestion and added icons and arrows for each label to make the interface more user-friendly.

5. Select Location Page
Map and interface for selecting destinations.

💡Feedback from AI on what can be improved:
- The label of "Current Location" is too light. [Agree]
- Both of the label texts are too thin, which may reduce the accessibility. [Agree]
- Incorporate a "Next" button that clearly indicates whether the next step is active or inactive,  helping the users understand their progress and inform them of upcoming actions they need to take.[Agree]

Improvements:
Previously the map was dark, so I brighter it. The progress bar was also redesigned and made it darker to create a contrast between the cards. Plus, I bolded the text of the "Current Location", added a subtle shadow to the location switching button, and introduced a new button that shows the upcoming actions the user needs to take.

6. Search & Save Location Pages
A search interface for selecting a destination and allowing users to save addresses for quick access.

💡Feedback from AI on what can be improved:
- The search bar UI is too light. [Agree]
- Icons like star/clock are unclear in function (filters or categories?), suggested to add tooltips or labels to icons (e.g., “Recent”, “Favorites”). [Agree]
- Card layout lacks visual separation between entries, can improve spacing or card shadow for visual hierarchy. [Agree]
- For the Save Location Page, it might be better to benefit from location type tags (e.g., Home, Work). [Agree]

Improvements:
I replaced the star and clock icons with labels like "Recent" and "Favorites" and they look much better and clear. I also increased the vertical space of the layout and made the search bar UI darker. For the Save Location Page, it was previously just a saved icon beside the address, but now I made it into a label with text. And I also included address details, which look more reliable.

Additional Pages For Saving Location
These are the additional pages that previously I had not added, but to make the flow more logical, and allow the users to remark their saved location, so I added them on.

7. Ride Information Page
Enter ride details before booking a ride.

💡Feedback from AI on what can be improved:
- Visual spacing between sections is uneven. [Agree]
Button hierarchy could be clearer (“Confirm Ride” vs. back/cancel). 
[Agree]

Improvements:
Based on the AI suggestion, I have re-adjusted the vertical spacing between the sections and also increased the size of the fonts. Moreover, I changed the button text from "Proceed" to "Book Now" with the change of colour, which might improve the button hierarchy.

Processing Pages
The previous ones were illustrations, and I switched them to 3D images.

8. Ride Status & Cancel Ride Pages
Displays live status of an ongoing ride and feature for cancelling rides.

💡Feedback from AI on what can be improved:
- Lacks ETA or timeline indicators. [Disagree, the ETA is included, I think the text colour is too light for the AI to sensor.]

Improvements:
The location icons have been changed to more appropriate ones, as well as the colours. There was a safety help feature at first, which was that "SOS" button, but later I found it was not professional at all, so I labelled it as "Need Help?" and repositioned it to the left. All the fonts and sections have been enlarged for better readability.

9. Calling & In-Chat Pages
Allows to contact with the driver.

💡Feedback from AI on what can be improved:
- The text input field lacks clarity (no label or “Type here”). [Disagree, there is already a label.]

Improvements:
There is not too much change for these pages, I just added the padding for the chat box.

  Final Refined Prototype  

Click HERE to view the prototype in Figma



  Presentation Slides  

Click HERE to view the presentation slides in full screen


  Presentation Video  

Click HERE to view the video on YouTube.


  Reflection  

Redesigning the Kummute app was a great opportunity for me to reflect on my previous work and improve both the visual design and user experience. At first, I focused mainly on layout design and colour, but I soon realized how much small details, like contrast, spacing, and button hierarchy, can affect on how users interact with the app. Switching from soft pastels to a darker, more professional palette really changed the overall feel and made the design look more trustworthy.

One thing that stood out during this task was the importance of accessibility. I didn’t think much about text contrast or icon clarity before, but AI feedback helped me notice areas I overlooked. I learned that a good-looking design isn’t enough if it’s not usable or inclusive. Making simple adjustments like increasing font sizes, adding clearer labels, and improving navigation really helped make the app feel more user-friendly.

Overall, this project taught me to be more critical and intentional with my design choices. It reminded me that good design is a balance between aesthetics and function. Iterating based on feedback—even the parts I didn’t fully agree with at first—helped me grow and see my work from a user’s perspective.

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