UX Design | UX Design Institute
Soaring to New Heights in Airline App Excellence
Project Overview
The UX Design Institute has a broader remit to deliver in-depth UX education and certification. Their goal is to bridge the global skills gap in UX design, and to provide a career pathway for UX designers. During the pandemic I invested 6 months of my time and effort to gain a Professional Diploma in UX Design, which is credit-rated by Glasgow Caledonian University.
During the course, I learned to think more like a UX designer and build more confidence in essential UX concepts. In total, there were 16 projects to provide me with a hands-on experience on all the key aspects of UX.
The course primarily focused on the redesign of an airline mobile application, which had been chosen simply as an example to apply and demonstrate a variety of different UX techniques. The project was divided into four main phases:
Phase 1 Research: Usability Testing, In Depth Interviews, Competitive Benchmarking, Online Surveys
Phase 2 Analysis: Affinity Diagram, Customer Journey Map & Key Findings
Phase 3 Design: App Flow Chart
Phase 4 Prototype & Wireframe: Medium Fidelity Prototype & Wireframe
Phase 1 - Research
We initiated a thorough competitor analysis of other mobile app-based airlines to gain insights into their strengths, weaknesses, and strategies. By examining features, services, and user experiences, we identified industry trends and potential areas for innovation.
This analysis guides our strategic planning, ensuring our mobile app and airline services stay ahead of the competition by offering a seamless user experience and aligning with emerging trends.
In addition to the competitor analysis, we carried out user testing and conducted in-depth interviews. This hands-on approach allowed us to gather valuable feedback directly from users, gaining insights into their preferences, pain points, and expectations.
These user-centric evaluations further informed our decision-making process, ensuring that our mobile app and airline services are tailored to meet the specific needs and desires of our target audience.
Phase 2 - Analysis
Following user testing and in-depth interviews, we entered the analysis stage, creating an affinity diagram to organise and synthesise key insights. This visual representation allowed us to identify patterns, themes, and user preferences, serving as a foundational reference for strategic decision-making.
The analysis stage was vital in transforming raw data into actionable insights, ensuring our subsequent initiatives were informed by a comprehensive understanding of user needs and preferences.
We created a customer journey map to visually outline the entire user experience, mapping touch-points and interactions. This tool aided in identifying pain points, areas for improvement, and opportunities to enhance customer satisfaction, guiding our strategic planning for a seamless and satisfying interaction with our mobile app.
Phase 3 - Design
We designed the new mobile app's flow using a user flow diagram. This visual representation outlined the sequential steps for users, ensuring a logical and intuitive navigation. The diagram served as a concrete blueprint, guiding team members in creating an efficient and user-friendly mobile app experience.
Phase 4 - Wireframe & Prototype
In the final phase, we created wireframes and conducted prototyping. This step involved creating skeletal structures and interactive prototypes for the new mobile app.
Through wireframing, we established the basic layout and structure, while prototyping allowed us to simulate user interactions and test the app's functionality. These crucial steps ensured a thorough validation of our design concepts before full-scale development, enhancing the likelihood of a successful and user-centric final product.
Phase 4 - Wireframe & Prototype
In the final phase, we created wireframes and conducted prototyping. This step involved creating skeletal structures and interactive prototypes for the new mobile app.
Through wireframing, we established the basic layout and structure, while prototyping allowed us to simulate user interactions and test the app's functionality. These crucial steps ensured a thorough validation of our design concepts before full-scale development, enhancing the likelihood of a successful and user-centric final product.
During this course, I evolved into a more adept thinker, and the practical experiences significantly improved my UX skills and understanding of the user-centric design process. This experience positions me confidently for future projects while cultivating a solid grasp of fundamental UX concepts.