SWAY

SWAY is a social media app intent on revolutionising the way people listen to music. By creating an app focused on a social core, users can come together to explore music

The Big Picture

Being the senior designer at SWAY, I am responsible for designing the way in which the app functions. I needed to understand the users intentions and emotions to create a satisfying and simple pathway for them to achieve the purpose of the app.

Planning

It is not the breadth of functions that is important, it is the simplicity and effectiveness of the key functions. In order to engineer an app aligned with the above statement, it is pivotal to understand the most common use cases for the core concept. Once you understand what the user is attempting to achieve, sometimes without the user themselves knowing, prioritisation of the design and functions can begin. Categorisation of use cases is incredibly important as it is infeasible for an app to satisfy every use case efficiently. To design an app effectively, it must satisfy the use cases of the majority without becoming insensitive to the use cases of the minority.

Engagement Integration

Integration between the Design and Engagement departments lead to valuable insights into the personas of potential users, both as consumers and creators of content on the platform. Creating and maintaining this dialogue reveals essential use cases and preferences that need to be considered when designing for the users needs.

Iterative Design

I believe it is easier to identify more subtle issues in a design by letting it rest and returning at a later date. I believe that a fresh look will reveal problems that become murky with extensive in-depth viewing. Thus I implemented a system whereby work is completed in cycles, allowing down time for each page of the app. This gives a fresher perspective when returning to previous designs and allows clearer evaluation and development of new ideas.

Figma

Figma is used extensively within the design process. Figma is an incredibly versatile tool, perfect for wire-frame work, all the way to complex useable prototypes. I have excellent experience with all of figma's standard features and with a huge array of popular plugins.

Prototypes

Another responsibility of mine is the presentation of generated ideas to enable discussion between all departments of the company. It is very important to incorporate the opinions of the other departments on the design of the app, especially the departments in direct contact with users, i.e. engagement. Usually this can be accomplished by laying out wireframes, design concepts and walking my colleagues through the use cases, however occasionally a more in depth look is needed. For these occasions, I produce a more realistic interpretation of the app on premiere pro. This video is constructed from recordings of basic animation in Figma, still images and images animated within the software. This higher fidelity presentation of the prototype allows more specific design ideas to be conveyed to the team, and to the investors.