XP - Social Media Concept
Interactive Prototype + Report
The XP prototype was developed in late 2019 and represents a first attempt at developing a High Fidelity Interactive Prototype for a social media application.
Looking at the project through more experienced eyes, I believe no experienced designer enjoys looking through some of their "old" work. In 2019 this project served as an introduction to Adobe XD, and I'll be looking to give this prototype a complete refresh for portfolio purposes in the future.
For now, click the link below to view the interactive prototype.
Interactive Prototype
Looking at the project through more experienced eyes, I believe no experienced designer enjoys looking through some of their "old" work. In 2019 this project served as an introduction to Adobe XD, and I'll be looking to give this prototype a complete refresh for portfolio purposes in the future.
For now, click the link below to view the interactive prototype.
Interactive Prototype
Report
In developing the prototype for XP, I focused heavily on creating a social network that would allow weak social ties to become the inherent focus of the app’s users.
XP would allow users to search for paid work and work experience relevant to their interests and skills. While paid work clearly serves a monetary purpose, work experience will allow younger users to “get their foot in the door”.
As a twist on the typical job search app, I have allowed users to “pitch” themselves and their skills, using the pitch feature. This feature could engage businesses to search for desirable applicants, and puts some of the onus on businesses, rather than individuals, to seek out the perfect applicant for a job.
XP would allow users to search for paid work and work experience relevant to their interests and skills. While paid work clearly serves a monetary purpose, work experience will allow younger users to “get their foot in the door”.
As a twist on the typical job search app, I have allowed users to “pitch” themselves and their skills, using the pitch feature. This feature could engage businesses to search for desirable applicants, and puts some of the onus on businesses, rather than individuals, to seek out the perfect applicant for a job.
Through creating a prototype of an app which focuses on work, I have allowed weak social ties, as discussed in Granovetter’s “The Strength of Weak Ties” to become the centre of attention. Users can still interact with close friends if they please, but also can engage businesses and people with similar interests who they might not usually engage with.
In The strength of weak ties, Granovetter says “Weak ties are more likely to link members of different small groups than are strong ones” (Granovetter, 1973). As XP creates an interest and work-based environment, XP thrives on weak ties as a result.
In The strength of weak ties, Granovetter says “Weak ties are more likely to link members of different small groups than are strong ones” (Granovetter, 1973). As XP creates an interest and work-based environment, XP thrives on weak ties as a result.
Many of the patterns presented in Crumlish and Malones “Designing Social Interfaces” are evident within the prototype for XP. Just a few of these are Blogs (consumption and ownership), adding friends, Timestamping, Tagging, Saving, Identity cards, and interests. We also see group and private conversation, as well as sharing featuring quite heavily.
Through reading Designing Social Interfaces, I was able to more effectively design the skeleton of a social network, and in doing so, realise just how much I had not included in this assignment. In working on XP I was constantly coming across issues with regards to user experience and the common digital language discussed in Designing Social Interfaces.
Through reading Designing Social Interfaces, I was able to more effectively design the skeleton of a social network, and in doing so, realise just how much I had not included in this assignment. In working on XP I was constantly coming across issues with regards to user experience and the common digital language discussed in Designing Social Interfaces.
The matter of presenting all this information becomes complicated when attempting to present any and all input information to an enormous number of users. With respect to user interface and experience, designing for the masses is easier when the designer has the right toolkit (common language) to draw from. As Crumlish and Malone put it “everyone understood there was a practical value in choosing to do the same task the same way” (Crumlish & Malone, 2009).
I found myself representing several features of XP with commonly used icons, which are more easily understood by the user, and thus do not serve to inhibit the user from interacting with the app. This is a positive element of user experience for the user, but certainly gives space to the designers of the world to think about how they might expand upon, or even subvert the common digital language as it stands.
I found myself representing several features of XP with commonly used icons, which are more easily understood by the user, and thus do not serve to inhibit the user from interacting with the app. This is a positive element of user experience for the user, but certainly gives space to the designers of the world to think about how they might expand upon, or even subvert the common digital language as it stands.
XP has been designed with future generations in mind. It could serve young freelancers, or anyone interested in getting a job or some work experience. As such, those motivated to work in a field of their interest will find it through XP, and if XP really functions, that work might even find them.
I had always planned to attempt to subvert the status quo with XP, by having employers search for employees, I believe XP achieves this. While the irony of using the common digital language to do this is not lost on me, people have learned to search for work, rather than allowing work to come to them. This behaviour does not have to be un-learned for new roads to be paved, in both the way we approach job seeking, and the common digital language.
I had always planned to attempt to subvert the status quo with XP, by having employers search for employees, I believe XP achieves this. While the irony of using the common digital language to do this is not lost on me, people have learned to search for work, rather than allowing work to come to them. This behaviour does not have to be un-learned for new roads to be paved, in both the way we approach job seeking, and the common digital language.
References
Crumlish, C., & Malone., E. (2009). Designing Social Interfaces. [Place of publication not identified]: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
Granovetter, M. (1973). The Strength of Weak Ties. American Journal Of Sociology, 78(6), 1360-1380. doi: 10.1086/225469
Crumlish, C., & Malone., E. (2009). Designing Social Interfaces. [Place of publication not identified]: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
Granovetter, M. (1973). The Strength of Weak Ties. American Journal Of Sociology, 78(6), 1360-1380. doi: 10.1086/225469
