App map
After the discussion from last week, we decided to give up on gamification and focus on the interactions. The first step would be designing the main features and the product structure.
It is important not to dive into colors, layout, sticky menu or hamburger bar just yet. The whole team should all get on board with what the product will be doing and what kind of emotion it brings to people. We found that it was totally necessary to include all team members to talk about the app map. It was amazing how some technical limitation affects decision making, and how people come up with brilliant solutions on feet.
Wireframes
With the big picture in mind, we need the first version of lo-fi wireframes to get started. Going through wireframe process will also expose many more problems we haven’t thought about yet. Aly and I both created one set of wireframe. The style and visual varies, but roughly communicating the same ideas. I think having designers working on multiple paths during ideation and lo-fi prototyping period can help to avoid local maximum trap, which means, you are trying to climb higher and higher on the hill, but it might not be the tallest hill in the whole national park.
Jiayang’s wireframe approach
Aly’s wireframe approach
Escape Room Research
With all the design and development going on, we never stop researching.
Started online, established in Asia, room escape is the latest example of immersive entertainment which combines elements of the theater with gameplay and special effects. A team of people spend one hour trying to solve all sorts of puzzles and get out of the locked room. The experience is surprisingly engaging and requires efficient communication and teamwork.
On Friday, the team visited Breakout Escape Room on north side. On top of all the fun, we found one room themed as “Museum Heist”, which couldn’t be more relevant.
“As former art thieves, you and your friends are hired to find a rare collection of stolen artwork on the eve of a prestigious gallery opening. Breaking your way into the thief’s home, you must follow clues, find the stolen goods and escape before the clock runs out.”
First process meeting
Like quarters, process meeting is part of ETC project seminar. Our instructor would talk to us individually and give feedback as well as partial grade to the whole team. We are quite happy about our grade, but there’s still so much to do and get better!