APPLICATION DESIGN I-ASSIGNMENT 1

Assignment 1

NYEW YONG YAN_0382122_BACHELOR OF INTERACTIVE SPATIAL DESIGN (HONOURS)

TAYLORS UNIVERSITY

Module: DST65504 / Application Design I

Lecturer: Mr Sylvain Vanderhaegen

Week 1: April 20, 2026 (Monday)

1. Introduction and Topic Selection

Today was the first class of Application Design I. The lecture gave us a preview of the entire course project and shared some case studies and insights about app design.The lecturer asked us to choose an existing app as our research subject for this semester. The project direction could be an iterative upgrade to Version 2.0, or an adaptation based on a specific vertical market such as Uniqlo for Pants.

2. Today's homework checklist

Analysis Report: List the selected app's 3 core strengths and 3 pain points for improvement.

Copywriting Exercise: Use the 5W framework (Who, Where, When, What, Why) to write two sentences describing the product approximately 20 words each.

Week 2: April 27, 2026 (Monday)

1. Key Learning Points

In the first lesson, the lecture outlined the framework for mobile application design. I highlighted the following three dimensions:

The Importance of Design: Design is not just about aesthetics; it's the cornerstone of software. Excellent app design improves user engagement, retention, and satisfaction. Investing in high-quality design early on reduces modification costs later in development.

User-Centered Design (UCD):The core is a deep understanding of user needs. The process is an iterative cycle: Research → Analysis → Design → Evaluation.

Clarifying Core Concepts:

UI (User Interface): Focuses on the product's "looks" and visual appeal. This includes color schemes, typography, button styles, and layout. It's what users see.

UX (User Experience): Focuses on the product's "soul" and logic. This includes user path, information architecture, usability, and the feel of interaction. It's the part that users experience.

2.Class Activity: Boarding Pass Redesign

We did a small exercise in class about redesigning airline ticket layouts.

Analysis: The original ticket layout was disorganized, with key information gate, seat number hidden among a large amount of irrelevant data.

Practice Focus: By adjusting the visual hierarchy, learn how to use font size, weight, and spacing to guide the user's eye, ensuring that key information is captured at first glance.

3.Today's task

After selecting CHAGEE as my research subject, the lecture let us to extract and analyze the strengths of three competing brands and one unrelated app, aiming to find inspiration for the subsequent 2.0 version.

Week 3: May 4, 2026 (Monday)

1. Today's Learning: What is Usability?

Simply put, it's about how easy a product is to use. It focuses on whether users can learn quickly, use it efficiently, and feel satisfied during operation.

Learnability: Users should be able to understand it even on their first use without needing a manual.

Efficiency: Users should be able to achieve their goals in the fastest and most direct way.

5 core principles of usability

1.Consistency: The colors, fonts, and navigation should be consistent to avoid making users feel like they've switched to another app.

2.Simplicity: The fewer steps the better, and use words and symbols that users are familiar with.

3.Visibility: Important items should be prominently displayed, using size and color to guide the user's attention.

4.Feedback: The app must respond to every user action like loading bar, success checkmark.

5.Error Prevention: Try to prevent users from making mistakes (for example, ask "Are you sure?" before deleting).

2. Today's Task

A complete mobile application proposal is required. 

My assignment 1

Assignment 1: CHAGEE App 2.0 Research Proposal

This is the preliminary research I conducted for the Application Design I project. I chose the CHAGEE App as the research subject. Below is a summary of the core content of the PPT research report:

1. Problem Statement (who, what, when and where, and why)

2. Company intro

3. Competitors

4. Left field

5. Gut feeling

6. Conclusion 

My Reflection

These past few weeks of learning have given me a completely new understanding of Usability. I've realized that a successful app needs more than just a beautiful "visual shell", it needs a solid "logical core." Through auditing the CHAGEE app, I discovered that while excellent UI such as brand consistency can attract users, neglecting feedback mechanisms and the principle of simplicity in UX can still lead to user frustration. Design shouldn't just be about aesthetics, it should be a process of eliminating friction between users and the product.

During the research for Assignment 1, comparing Heytea, Starbucks, Zus Coffee and Messenger made me realize the importance of "empathic design." Observing users' negative feedback about queuing anxiety and repetitive operations helped me establish the improvement direction for version 2.0 focusing on reducing visual distractions and optimizing operational efficiency. This research made me understand that a designer's gut feeling must be built on rigorous usability audits to create a truly smooth user experience while maintaining brand aesthetics.