CONTEXT
BACKGROUND // In today's world, technology has influenced our daily lives in many ways. One of the ways technology has impacted our lives is through weather forecasting. Almost everyone relies on weather apps to monitor the weather before planning their day. However, as technology advances, simple weather apps have become mundane and uninspiring. Hence, a project was designed to explore the relationship between art and science by creating a weather app that uses weather as an art medium.
PROJECT GOALS // The primary goal of the project was to create a weather app that not only serves its purpose but also provides a visually appealing experience. The app aimed to make weather forecast information easily accessible while combining weather data with creative and engaging visuals targeted towards wider audiences. The app design included four main features:
-
Current weather
-
Future weather
-
Interacting with weather and surroundings
-
Climate change awareness
However, user feedback suggested that the app was too complicated and required a simplified prototype with better readability. Therefore, the design was scaled back to focus solely on a weather app that would provide essential weather data.
METHODOLOGY
To design the weather app, multiple surveys were sent out to over 30 participants, which included individuals representing diverse age groups, professions, and backgrounds. The survey consisted of open-ended questions asking participants about their preferred weather app features, graphical visuals, and overall design. The responses from the first survey were analyzed and used to create a second survey where users ranked the level of importance for each feature. This helped understand user preferences and expectations from a weather app.
Once the data was analyzed, the first prototype was designed, and A/B testing was employed to test the design with potential users. The research team designed two different prototypes for the app, and participants were asked to use both prototypes to complete similar tasks to evaluate which one was more user-friendly. A/B testing helped the research team understand which design was more intuitive and easier for participants to use.
PROTOTYPE
After considering feedback, the prototype was redesigned to include essential weather data such as feels like temperature, chance of rain, sunrise and sunset times, humidity, and UV index. The app also included a radar map to track weather movement in real-time. The design was edited to ensure that the visuals were authentic, easy-to-read, and engaging.
EVALUATION
The revised prototype received positive feedback, and many users appreciated the authentic design and the ease of receiving essential weather data. People also provided additional features they would like to see, such as air quality and pollen count, which will be considered in future designs. The product designer acknowledged that the project was ambitious and had its challenges in terms of implementation. However, the designer considered themselves successful in creating a visually appealing, functional, and user-friendly weather app.
CONCLUSION
The project aimed to create a weather app that would not only provide essential weather data but also integrate weather information with creative and engaging visuals that made the experience memorable, inspired users, and raised awareness about climate change. The feedback received from users helped the team to refine the app's functionality and design, and the feedback will be used to improve the app in upcoming versions. The project has demonstrated that art and science can merge to improve human experiences, and this idea can be extended to other areas of life.
Designing a Better Weather App
We use our weather applications almost every day. However, many weather applications currently on the market are bulky, hard to navigate, and don't include the features that we want the most. The goal for this project was to design a better weather application that includes all of the most wanted features while still remaining aesthetically pleasing.
Scope // Advanced Digital Design
Role in Team // Concept, Research, Design
Duration // One Semester
Tools // Adobe Suite, Google Forms
CONTEXT
BACKGROUND // In today's world, technology has influenced our daily lives in many ways. One of the ways technology has impacted our lives is through weather forecasting. Almost everyone relies on weather apps to monitor the weather before planning their day. However, as technology advances, simple weather apps have become mundane and uninspiring. Hence, a project was designed to explore the relationship between art and science by creating a weather app that uses weather as an art medium.
PROJECT GOALS // The primary goal of the project was to create a weather app that not only serves its purpose but also provides a visually appealing experience. The app aimed to make weather forecast information easily accessible while combining weather data with creative and engaging visuals targeted towards wider audiences. The app design included four main features:
-
Current weather
-
Future weather
-
Interacting with weather and surroundings
-
Climate change awareness
However, user feedback suggested that the app was too complicated and required a simplified prototype with better readability. Therefore, the design was scaled back to focus solely on a weather app that would provide essential weather data.
METHODOLOGY
To design the weather app, multiple surveys were sent out to over 30 participants, which included individuals representing diverse age groups, professions, and backgrounds. The survey consisted of open-ended questions asking participants about their preferred weather app features, graphical visuals, and overall design. The responses from the first survey were analyzed and used to create a second survey where users ranked the level of importance for each feature. This helped understand user preferences and expectations from a weather app.
Once the data was analyzed, the first prototype was designed, and A/B testing was employed to test the design with potential users. The research team designed two different prototypes for the app, and participants were asked to use both prototypes to complete similar tasks to evaluate which one was more user-friendly. A/B testing helped the research team understand which design was more intuitive and easier for participants to use.
PROTOTYPE
After considering feedback, the prototype was redesigned to include essential weather data such as feels like temperature, chance of rain, sunrise and sunset times, humidity, and UV index. The app also included a radar map to track weather movement in real-time. The design was edited to ensure that the visuals were authentic, easy-to-read, and engaging.
EVALUATION
The revised prototype received positive feedback, and many users appreciated the authentic design and the ease of receiving essential weather data. People also provided additional features they would like to see, such as air quality and pollen count, which will be considered in future designs. The product designer acknowledged that the project was ambitious and had its challenges in terms of implementation. However, the designer considered themselves successful in creating a visually appealing, functional, and user-friendly weather app.
CONCLUSION
The project aimed to create a weather app that would not only provide essential weather data but also integrate weather information with creative and engaging visuals that made the experience memorable, inspired users, and raised awareness about climate change. The feedback received from users helped the team to refine the app's functionality and design, and the feedback will be used to improve the app in upcoming versions. The project has demonstrated that art and science can merge to improve human experiences, and this idea can be extended to other areas of life.
Designing a Better Weather App
We use our weather applications almost every day. However, many weather applications currently on the market are bulky, hard to navigate, and don't include the features that we want the most. The goal for this project was to design a better weather application that includes all of the most wanted features while still remaining aesthetically pleasing.
Scope // Advanced Digital Design
Role in Team // Concept, Research, Design
Duration // One Semester
Tools // Adobe Illustrator, Adobe XD