Culture Cal App
Culture Cal is an engaging and educational (Published )app designed to celebrate African American history and culture
Project Role : Lead UX UI Designer
April - June 2023
Project Time:
April - June 2023
tools : Figma
Sketch
Culture Cal was created to illustrate black contributions to American life and to celebrate excellence
CultureCal originally started as a 10 week project while attending Apple Developer Academy.
After multiple pivots a Black History Calendar was decided on to fill the void in the App Store. The innovators and quiz were added during the research process as there were many facts the team discovered while in this phase.
Project Overview
the Problem we are Solving
Did You Know ?
The erasure of Black history is a concerning trend that threatens to diminish our collective understanding of the past. Here are some facts
-
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
-
There has been a significant increase in the banning o books by predominately Black authors that discuss race, gender, and sexuality, with over 300 titles banned in the last yer alone.
-
Since 2021, 44 states introduced or enacted measures to restrict the teaching of so-called critical race theory, ban books , or censor discussions about rae in classrooms.
-
The erasure of Black history not only affects how Black individuals see themselves and their place in society but also impacts the broader understanding of American history and the recognition of systemic issues like slavery, Jim Crow laws
Our Research methods
Research
-
Combining quantitative and qualitative methods allows researchers to gain a comprehensive understanding of user experiences. For instance, a study on university students’ intention to use mobile apps for intercultural competence development collected quantitative survey data and followed up with qualitative interviews to explore underlying motivations.
-
As a Researchers engage with potential users throughout the app development process to ensure usability, functionality, and alignment with user needs and preferences.
-
I observed users as they interact with the app to identify usability issues, pain points, and areas for improvement. AsRa esearchers collect feedback on navigation, features, and overall user experience.
Name: Alexis Johnson
Age: 32
Occupation: High school history teacher
Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Interests: African American history, cultural events, educational apps
Teaching history is my passion. I want my students to see the richness of Black culture beyond textbooks.”
Goals
Pain Points
Stay Informed: Alexis wants to stay updated on significant historical events related to Black culture.
Discover Events: She seeks local events, exhibits, and celebrations that highlight Black contributions to American life.
Educate Students: As a teacher, Alexis wants to incorporate Black history into her classroom lessons.
Limited Time: Alexis has a busy schedule with teaching and grading, so she needs concise and relevant information.
Finding Reliable Sources: She wants accurate historical content without misinformation or bias.
Engagement: Alexis wants an app that engages her beyond just listing events.
user persona
Personality
Curious, empathetic, detail-oriented
Scenario
Alexis opens CultureCal during Black History Month. She discovers an upcoming virtual lecture on the Harlem Renaissance and adds it to her calendar. Later, she shares the event details with her students.
Awareness
Alexis discovers CultureCal through a social media ad.
Pain Point: The ad might not fully convey the app’s value.
Opportunity: Use targeted messaging to highlight unique features.
She participates in an app-sponsored virtual event.
Pain Point: Technical difficulties during live events.
Opportunity: Ensure robust technical support for live features.
Journey Mapping
Consideration
She visits the app store, reads reviews, and views screenshots.
Pain Point: Lack of detailed information on app functionality.
Opportunity: Provide comprehensive descriptions and video previews.
Advocacy
Alexis recommends the app to colleagues and students.
Pain Point: No referral program in place.
Opportunity: Create a referral program to encourage word-of-mouth.
1st interaction
Alexis downloads the app and creates an account.
Pain Point: The account setup process is lengthy.
Opportunity: Streamline the sign-up process with social media integration.
Feedback
She provides feedback through an in-app survey.
Pain Point: Feedback is not visibly acted upon.
Opportunity: Show users how their feedback leads to improvements.
exploration
She browses the historical events and figures featured in the app.
Pain Point: Difficulty in navigating through different sections.
Opportunity: Implement intuitive navigation and search features.
Regular Use
Alexis uses the app weekly to plan lessons and find events.
Pain Point: Content updates are not frequent enough.
Opportunity: Regularly update content and notify users of new additions.
engagement
Get into our design process!
The original Culture Cal app design was created to provide users with a comprehensive platform for discovering and engaging with cultural events. The initial design process focused on developing key functionalities and an innovative concept that allowed users to browse events, add them to a personal calendar, and receive timely notifications.
Publishing and User Response
Upon publishing, the app received a strong positive response to its overall concept. Users appreciated the idea of having a dedicated app for cultural activities, highlighting the demand for such a tool. This initial success validated the core idea behind Culture Cal.
Challenges in Accessibility and Usability
Despite the positive feedback on the concept, user engagement data and feedback revealed significant issues with the app's accessibility and usability:
-
Users were unaware that the logo had a menu behind it, leading to navigation difficulties.
-
The navigation structure was not clear, causing users to struggle with finding and accessing different sections of the app.
-
Some design elements may have contributed to slower performance, negatively impacting the user experience.
Get into my Redesign
Implementation and Feedback
The redesign process involved user research, iterative prototyping, and user testing to address the identified issues. The focus was on creating a more user-centric design that not only retained the core concept but also significantly improved usability and accessibility.
The redesign has since led to a more positive user experience, with better navigation, more intuitive information sharing, and enhanced accessibility. This iterative approach ensured that the app not only met user expectations but also set a new standard for cultural event engagement platform
In Conclusion
The Culture Cal app initially received praise for its concept but faced usability and accessibility challenges. Key issues included hidden navigation menus, difficult information sharing, and inconsistent design. In response, a comprehensive redesign focused on intuitive navigation, simplified information sharing, clear visual hierarchy, design consistency, device responsiveness, and accessibility.
We are now preparing to republish the redesigned app, aiming to provide a more user-friendly and inclusive platform for cultural event enthusiasts. The new version promises improved user satisfaction and engagement, addressing the shortcomings of the original design.