sb1 and sb2 evaluations

Studio brief one was a very interesting design experience as it gave me an insight in to what it would be like working for a client. Although my client was quite slow in getting the content to me, and provided me with little research for the Garm Guide, i believe through my own research and through working closely with my client i was able to produce a publication which utilised it's content in a way that was appropriate for it's audience and for the context.
Both briefs during this module felt to be very context driven, which was a different approach for my self but one that i feel was useful to experiment with. When it came to studio brief two i felt more comfortable with the design process, i'm not sure whether it was because i was creating my own content and designing my own brief and knowing that i could follow it out until the end, or because   i really liked the idea behind the app and in a way was very excited to design something with a strong link to a well known film, this is something i haven't really experimented with before, in terms of my design practice, i tend to want to design things in my own style and tailor briefs the suit my style however within this brief i unknowingly stepped out of my comfort zone and designed a brief that i wouldn't of thought of doing. I think the reason i did this is due to the curve ball thrown at us half way through studio brief 1, our first brief after 3 months off, for me this allowed me not to get too comfortable which during the design process i thought to be a bad thing which was going to hinder my design, however now i see it as being a positive thing as it kept me on my toes and allowed me to experiment with new ideas. From this module i believe I've learnt that if i set my self with certain restrictions then i'll create more interesting or should i say less predictable work, because i know that if i was given the freedom to carry on with my original concept for studio brief one then i probably wouldn't of used any photography, or if i set the brief in studio brief 2 as one that was more familiar with and with an aesthetic similar to my own then i would have not learnt new skills such as creating pixel art.

animated app

Above is the animation i created using photoshop to demonstrate the sequence of the app use.
I created a gif using the layers in photoshop and set the time at 1 second per frame, i feel that this demonstrates each part of the app in a realistic time frame similar to the time the user will take on the app. The whole sequence of selecting your items and appropriate categories should be quick as the app is meant to be time saver for people who have a spare minute but aren't by their wardrobe.
I believe the app meets all the requirements i set out for Clueless to achieve, the backgrounds are fun and interesting which is an element closet+ lacked, the whole aesthetic of the app reflects the 90's video game era.
The refined choices the app makes available to the user also further the time saving point of the app, allowing it to make appropriate choices for the user based on their intended location and company.

Below is the app icon which will be on phone home screens, i took the camera pixel icon which is visible throughout most of the app, the background used is a section of the background which runs throughout the app.

After completing the app design i presented it to some peers to receive their feedback.
People commented that the app is "designed perfectly for it's purpose", they appreciated the context behind the design decisions also; "the app is very well designed and the inspiration behind it makes the design even more impressive and appropriate"

I am overall very confident with the app design, the context really pushed the design decisions and in result created an app which provides a fun and contemporary take on choosing an outfit.

completed app design

Below are the completed screen designs based off of the wireframes i created.
The colours are vibrant to reflect the colours used within the clueless film, the use of the pixels i feel are appropriate in relation to the 90's aesthetic.

I   will use photoshop in order to animate the app to give an idea of the transitions within the app, although i've never animated anything before, this will be a good learning experience and hopefully enable me to use animation within my later work.

pixels in use

pixel icons

Opposite are the completed icons inspired by Susan Kare.
The icons will be accompanied by a key at the beginning of the app under the instructions section in order to inform the user what the icons represent; if it isn't initially understood.

The colours o the icons has not yet been decided, although i think black is appropriate as it will stand in contrast to the illustration clueless inspired backgrounds, using contrasting tones to the colours on screen may also work.

Wireframing

I created wireframes to enable myself to see how each stage of the app will work, the wireframes act as a visual guide that represent the skeletal framework of the app.

Whilst designing the wireframes i also applied each of the icons that will be used throughout the app, these icons which i am creating; taking inspiration from Susan Kare, will be used instead of type.

susan kare

I researched in to the design of Susan Kare, the designer of many typefaces, original marketing material and the icons used for the original Macintosh. Her work inspired many existing computer graphics tools and accessories such as the Lasso and Paint Bucket tool. 
Her pixel art has inspired me to create my own series of pixel icons to communicate certain options within the app. Instead of using text for the options such as daytime or nighttime, i will instead create pixel symbols to represent these. This will ensure a more direct link to the 90's through referencing 90's style video games make it more fun for the users and have the appearance of an old style operating system, like the one the main character in Clueless uses to choose her outfits. 

I intend to keep the use of actual type to a minimum, to make the app more visually fun for the user and to set it apart from existing apps similar to this one already on the market. 

Whilst thinking of ways to make the app more desirable for its user i came up with the idea of having a restriction on how many items of clothing you can upload to the app. 
The app will allow the user to upload the following amount of images: 

• 10 x tops 
• 10 x trousers/jeans 
• 10 x skirts/dresses 
• 10 x coats/jackets 
• 10 x shoes 
• 10 x accessories 

By setting these restrictions, the user will find the process of uploading pictures less tedious, as theres a restriction, it will also make them really think about what they actually wear and perhaps allow them make more conscious decisions when it comes to buying new clothes. 

Of course the user will be able to upload other items of clothing, if they want to see new combinations or if they've bought a new pair of shoes, however they will have to remove an item before adding a new one, if they're already on 10. 

patterns

Using the line drawings scans, i then picked tones from a promotional image for Clueless and added tones to the line drawings.

After adding the initial tones, i made some slight colour changes to create different variations that were still vibrant and bold and had a 90's feel. Although the colours and the imagery work along side each other, i feel as though the hand illustrations are a lot more visually appropriate and the lines are clean and thin and work in making a really visually interesting pattern design. 

I think i will use the hand pattern illustration only, and instead of having a different illustration pattern per page of options, i will use a different colour variations instead. 

Here are the different colour variation patterns i will use throughout the backgrounds for the app. 

pattern scans

 I've taken inspiration from the stills from clueless to create illustrations which i will then turn in to patterns to be used as different backgrounds throughout the app. 

imagery references

I collected stills and promotional images from the film to get a feel for the 90's aesthetic, whilst looking at the reviews for closet+ it was noted by a user that the app could be improved if they had amore interesting backgrounds. I developed the idea of creating different backgrounds, based on imagery from the film, the background will change each time the user refines their outfit choices more. Below i will pick out certain patters, colours or iconography which i could then illustrate from and create bold, fun, 90's styled patterns from.

• diamond tartan 
• bold colours 
• wig
• hands 

• leopard print 
• 90's mobile phone
• red lipstick 

• black and yellow tartan 

• roses 
• pattern on hat

• tie dye 
• cher keychain 
• pen with feathers

Type

For the body copy type i felt that a type style with spaced letters and an element of non conformity would work well with the theme of the app and the film it's based upon.

I couldn't find the exact type that was used on the films promotional material/film box, however i did find (what i believe to be) the exact type used on the computer screen in the opening scene, this type is used on the device which chooses outfit options for the main character and so i feel that using this type within the app is very appropriate as it links to the main inspiration behind the app.

 The type is called 'krungthep', in addition to the link with the film, the actual style of the type is very appropriate for the characteristics i hope to achieve through the design of the app. I intend for it to be fun, individual, fashionable, bold and have a link to 90's aesthetics.
The almost futuristic, computer like style of the type i feel will work well in achieving the characteristics i have set out.