Social Network App
Notes of City
Notes of City is a social network app where users can post a virtual note to a real place. To read and open a post, the user has to go to the location where the note was posted. Each post is only valid for 5 days and is based on the transient nature of the paper notes that can be found over the city.
Objective
Conception and realization of Notes of City, a native app exploring the question 'What alternative social media platforms are conceivable?
Timeline: Oct. 2019 – Mar. 2020
My Role
Defining the app's information architecture, including the navigation structure and hierarchy of screens, creating user flow diagrams to map the user journey, building prototypes, and developing the visual language
Team
3 designers
Challenges and Solutions
90s Pixel Design
The translation of a modern UX design, especially the icons, into a nineties pixel version that remains easily recognizable.
We dived into the aesthetics of nineties pixel art, focused on common design elements such as limited color palettes, low-resolution grids, and characteristic pixelation styles.
Unecessary Features
Adding unnecessary features, as commonly observed in social media apps.
We focused on the core function of posting location-based notes. Additionally, we adopted minimalist design principles by keeping the design clean and uncluttered, with only essential elements included.
Result
Notes of City successfully realizes the vision of creating an alternative social media platform for sharing and discovering post-its referring to specific locations. With its nostalgic 90s pixel design, Notes of City embodies the unique atmosphere of Berlin, blending modernity, history, and nostalgia.
Pixel Perfect Icon Design
We translated modern icons into a nineties pixel version that remained easily recognizable of their own. At the same time, our goal was to create an icon set that looks balanced and conveys a sense of cohesion.
Most Fame & Shame Votes
The following two screens display the notes that have received the most "Fames" and "Shames" in the last 5 days.
Pinventory
This screen displays two options: "All" and "Mine". Under "All", users will find all pinned notes, whether they are currently on the map or have already expired. Under "Mine", users will see all the notes you have placed somewhere at some point.
Inbox
The inbox displays received messages in the left tab, and notifications about notes that users have passed are shown in the right tab.
Profile
All settings can be modified in the profile. The profile picture links to the 'Avatar Lab,' where users can create their own pixel profile picture.
Facts
While quantitative metrics may not be available, the feedback from user testing sessions provided valuable insights regarding the most essential and reasonable functions for Notes of City. This feedback helped identify features that were well-received by users and those that were unnecessary. Our goal with Notes of City was to create a simple app that is enjoyable and widely used for its simplicity.
Credits
Made With
Philipp Dollinger
Made At
The Interface Design program at FH Potsdam focuses on the interdisciplinary study of designing digital interfaces for various platforms, emphasizing user-centered design principles and creative problem-solving approaches.
