I learned how to use animation to enhance the user experience in figma. Before learning this, I did not realize how much of a difference animation makes to an app.  It adds a sense of fun to the app and makes it feel more “modern”. I think adding animation can be a good thing for the most part but you need to know the right ways to use it. You can easily add too much animation which will make the user experience a headache to use. After completing lab 10 and learning more about the right way to use animation I feel confident with how I used it in my project. 

2. What was easy?

I thought the easy part was adding the content such as the images and information needed for my app. My app is a chatroom for people seeing a Broadway show. I am very passionate about Broadway so it was quite fun and easy to collect all the information to make my app. 

3. What was challenging?

The challenging part was making sure my interactions in the prototype section of figma were where I wanted each frame to go to next. There are so many arrows connecting to different frames that it gets confusing where each arrow is going to next. Sometimes, when I duplicate a frame it messes where I want the interaction of the frame to go too. I have to keep re-checking my prototype example to make sure each frame is in the right place of my app.  

4. How could your submission be improved?

I think my submission could be improved by going more in depth with the “Overture” and “Curtain Call” chat rooms for Hamilton. I only used the “Intermission” chat room in my project but if I had more time than I would have added an example of a chat room for the beginning part of the show “Overture” and the end of the show “Curtain Call”. 

5. How could I improve the assignment for the next class?

I think you could improve the assignment for the next class by adding more specific information for the project 2 document. I was unsure about the requirements and needed clarification so I asked you and that helped. 

6. How might you apply your knowledge in future assignments or work scenarios?

I might apply my knowledge in future assignments by using the animation feature to transition frames. It makes the app more fun to use and enhances the user experience. 

7. How did a specific reading or video inspire or help you?

The powerpoint slides for the labs, watching the class videos, and meeting with Professor Dunkle all helped me with creating my app. I saw examples of projects, read instructions and notes, and spoke with Professor Dunkle in order to make sure I was doing the project to the best of my ability.

Description: I would like to create an app for all the theatergoers out there. Since Broadway has been shutdown for eight months now and does not have a definite date of reopening till at least May of 2021, I thought it would be a good idea to create an app where you can watch “Broadway at Home” and get you theatre fix. Of course, this is not the ideal situation since there is nothing as powerful as live theatre but it is the best alternative for right now.

I would like this app to reflect almost everything of what it would be like if you saw a show in person. You have the option to subscribe to a season of shows, meet the actors and actresses at “stage door”, and mingle with people as you wait for the curtain to rise. You will be able to receive your own Playbill except it will be a virtual Playbill that lists the cast, crew, and synopsis of the show. There will be a link to the show’s cast recording on Spotify/ Apple Music (if the show has a cast recording) and aQR code to the show’s social media accounts.

Broadway at Home -> As a potential customer -> I want to watch Broadway shows at home

1. Broadway Subscription: Option to subscribe to the Broadway season or just purchase single tickets for one show.
2. Stage door: Instead of being physically at the stage door and meeting the actors and actresses there. The actors and actresses will be present on the app and you can virtually meet them as if you are at the stage door.
3. Waiting: Create a waiting room where people are able to mingle with all theatergoers before the show starts.

User- Stories

1. As a theatergoer, I miss theater and want to attend shows even if they have to be virtual for the time being.
2. As a worker in the theater industry, I am out of work and need to get back in to work as soon as possible and I think this would be beneficial for people in the theater industry to get back to work.
3. As a person who cannot afford to see a Broadway show, this way will give me the opportunity to see a show at an affordable price.
4. As a person who was unable to stage door and meet the actors and actresses after the show, this app will give me the chance to meet them virtually.
5. As a person who loves listening to the show’s soundtrack, this app will allow me access to listen to it right away after the show.

User- Problems

1. Some people will not be able to sit and stare at the screen for that long to watch a musical so they will leave and log off their account.
2. Typically, seeing a Broadway show costs a lot of money. With Broadway at Home, the ticket price is reduced since it is virtual show. Broadway still will not be receiving the same amount of money as they would if it would be in person but they would be doing something. Tickets would be $20 with a donation suggestion to The Actors Fund.
3. Technical difficulties is always a problem when using internet so the show might be glitchy at times depending on the user’s wifi situation.
4. People may ask for refunds from their subscriptions if they do not like the virtual experience of seeing a show.
5. People might have to wait a while to meet the stars after the show depending on how long people take to talk to them.

I learned new terminology such as the term “onboarding”. Onboarding process is the user’s first impression of your application. If the app is designed effectively, the user has a positive response during the onboarding process. Pagination is another word I learned which means the results per view. I also discovered the different categories of the application such as front end (user archive, pagination, search, sort, filters, alerts) and back end (dashboard/statistics/graphs, user management, messaging). It was cool to learn this new terminology while creating my app!

2. What was easy?

I thought the easy part was finding pictures and information for my customer relationship management application. I wanted to do a CRM focused on Broadway and found it fun to look for pictures and information related to Broadway. 

3. What was challenging?

I thought the challenging part was making sure all the measurements from the pictures and shapes were aligned correctly. I paid close attention to each page of my application to make sure everything was centered the way it was supposed to be and the spacing was the same throughout the page. 

4. How could your submission be improved?

I think my submission could be improved by creating a more detailed logo for my CRM. I like the stars that I have but I think I could make something better and more relevant to Broadway.

5. How could I improve the assignment for the next class?

You could improve the assignment for the next class by giving a more detailed explanation of the purpose of a CRM. I looked at examples from different websites to see what they were but I was still a bit confused. I think using an example of a previous student’s CRM application would provide a better understanding. 

6. How might you apply your knowledge in future assignments or work scenarios?

After this project, I have learned the importance of measurement and making everything look visually appealing. I understand the value that layout design has on applications. A lot of users don’t even take the time to notice the detail that is put into an application and now I have an appreciation for that. 

7. How did a specific reading or video inspire or help you?

The class recordings and seeing my peer’s work inspired me. As I already mentioned, I was still a little unclear with a CRM and by seeing how my peers approached their own CRM that inspired me to tailor mine the way I wanted to utilize it.  

https://www.figma.com/@pszonakt