The mentioned project aimed at developing an Operating System Interface for an IP driven telephonic product developed on Brew Mobile platform and targeted at the mid segment of the Philippines mobile market. It was driven by the social networking concept and aimed to deliver high quality user experience in low cost mobiles.
The challenge was to deliver a high end mobile experience in a low cost device, complete with most of the features and functionalities as observed in high end mobiles
I worked in the capacity of Interaction Designer and also contributed towards Visual Design ideation.
The major challenge was the available real estate and the inclusion of most prominent features with a seamless navigation. We first segregated the anticipated features and then categorized them in logical groups to be able to focus on similar contextual journeys, one at a time.
After the categorization of similar contextual user journeys, we brainstormed on a logical starting point and appropriate junctures for branching, with options to select alternate navigation anytime. This activity also encompassed card sorting for minimizing back and forth navigation.
The options to change the current journey or jump to an alternate journey were presented upfront to avoid repetitive back and forth navigation. The challenge was the available real estate as the icons or buttons should be large enough to tap and small enough to be separated from each other.
We worked in close unison with the Visual Designers to gauge the suitability of Interaction Design vis-à-vis Visual Design.
The above snapshot extends an insight into the collection of icons specifically designed for the mentioned OS Interface application. Though the exercise was carried out by expert Visual Designers, I was involved in the ideation process as I held the end-to-end visibility of placement and frequency of presentment of icons.
The above snapshot presents a few of the final screens.
A worth mentioning trivia is that the mentioned project was executed in 2010 when the User Experience in mobile phones was still in its evolving stages. Although the final design outcome was a brainchild of the Visual Designers, I was involved in the ideation process owing to the comfort with aesthetics and the discomfort with the Visual Design tools.
The above snapshot presents a few more of the final screens which also presents an insight into contextual pop-ups, short cuts and information presentment with the help of colors and icons.
