Project Skymap

Overview

Project duration: 1 month (Sep 3 – Oct 3, 2021)

Problem

This case study aimed to bring a favorite app of mine to the next level in terms of UI/UX. At its core, SkyMap has been a simple, solid app that did its job well. The problem was that the user interface style wasn’t keeping up with the UI/UX as the Android OS and design standards evolved over time.

Goal

Provide an elegant user interface and improve the overall user experience by bringing the design and experience up to date.

Research

For years, SkyMap was the only such app on the market. Now there are multiple options to choose from. While the app did exactly what it needed to, other apps offered a nicer interface. By installing and extensively using alternative apps I began to discern a new baseline for an updated version of SkyMap.

Pain Point 1

Inconsistent Color Contrast – Some elements didn’t have enough color contrast to be seen in low light, which would be the typical use of SkyMap, at night with low light. The goal should be to make it easy to discern elements and read content.

Pain Point 2

The existing design and user experience hasn’t kept up with similar apps that have subsequently come to market. App users can be easily swayed by an interface that is more visually appealing than by how well an app performs its intended tasks. The goal should be to do both.

Accessibility Considerations

An app that is built around having a perpetual dark mode with the intent of being used in low light, eye strain should be a central factor in its design. The goal is to find a sufficient contrast ratio to make it easy to view the content while not being harsh on the eyes.

Conclusion

As previously stated, the functionality of the app is great, but I often find that an app can have great features that works very well while lacking in an overall user base. This can be for a variety of reasons, but I often see a user base lose traction when competitor apps are released with more appealing user interfaces. The solution was clear, create an improved design that shows even a minor change in color contrast can drastically improve the overall user’s experience.