UX Project Assignments

Task

Your task will be to eventually develop at least a (paper) prototype or mockup of a software, an app, or a service in a user-centred design (UCD) process. You will use several different methods throughout the UCD, and finally - most probably do some evaluation of the prototype.

Remember: We want to mainly think about the interaction, the user interface, and/or the user experience. We are not concerned about the technology which might be needed in the background and how this technology is implemented. E.g. If your app is supposed to use AI-technology for some kind of matchmaking, you will not need to implement the AI. You will just suppose the AI works fine and work on what the app looks like for the user and how the user can interact with it.

To get the project started, each group will have to

• define the objective, purpose or function of their planned product, or app,
• look for other comparable or partly similar products or apps,
• describe these other products and apps in terms of what is good and what can be improved or should be changed (strength & weaknesses),
• write down their ideas below in the project description.

Examples

Here are some possible ideas which you can take up. But you might as well want to define your own idea. Talk about it in your project team.

Integrate Generative AI into Presentation Software

AI-powered presentation tool supports users not just in designing slides. It serves as a collaborative AI assistant, helping users design engaging presentations from scratch. It is able to understand users' instructions, generate texts and images and add animations, videos, graphs etc.

Travel Journal

This application integrates different useful functions from travel planning, managing bookings and tickets, experience the locations, writing about it, and eventually creating text and picture content for your preferred social media.

Managing Personal ToDo Lists and Agenda

The objective is to integrate different tools for personal work, project and agenda planning into one easy-to-use application that would be accessible on different platforms (computer, tablet, smartphone) and accomodate to the specific needs of students, through managing teaching schedule, project or paper assigments, examination schedule etc.

Personal algorithmic investing support system

Private investors who are interested in investing in the stock market often have little or no knowledge of investment strategies and behavioural economics. Design a platform that supports such investors in pursuing informed and rational strategies, making investment decisions and mitigating typical drawbacks of heuristics and biases.

Integrated remote teaching platform for a medium sized University with three different locations

You are familiar with a couple of video-conferencing and distance learning tools. Now the task is to integrate different functions into one platform and at the same time provide an easy and pleasant to use tool. What would it look like and which functions should be available.

Integrated Tourist Site-Seeing and Mobility App

Where are the nice places and how do I get there? This is what tourist often ask when exploring a city like Berlin. The BVG-App does provide some nice features and Google Maps has surprising function. And what if this is integrated with a travel guide and access to several different mobility services, including car-sharing etc.

Older ideas or examples

These are related to COVID 19 and might seem somewhat outdated, but could still be inspiring.

Vaccination planning, appointments and tracking 

Organising vaccination quickly and efficiently is a daunting task. How could a platform be offered that would support the different actors involved in vaccinations and coordinate them with the patients to be vaccinated.

Remote caretaking for the elderly 

During the pandemic, caring for relatives in need of care has become more difficult when direct contacts pose a risk. How could support in everyday task be organized remotely?

Remote concerts 

In what way can online concerts be conducted and billed so that visitors are satisfied and artists can earn a living.

Covid-19 Tracker 

Develop a COVID-19 tracking device or app that would allow to warn people if they have been in contact or somehow near a person infected with COVID-19. This is a very tricky example, as there might be a lot of concern about privacy and data protection issues.

Project - Summer 2025

Group 1 - Trainex - But better

An all-in-one application that combines and improves functions of Trainex and MS Teams. One log-in for different platforms, having data, documents, projects all in one place. Potentially other functionalities such as event notification, room/table bookings, etc. Basically Trainex but better

Group 2 - <insert title>

<insert short description>

Group 3 - MatchMate

MatchMate is about supporting students in finding suitable partners for group projects. With the planned app, students will be able to create a short profile including their skills, availability, and working style, and get matched with compatible teammates. The goal is to reduce the stress of group formation and make collaboration easier, fairer, and more efficient from the very beginning.

Group 4 - <insert title>

<insert short description>

Group 5 - <insert title>

<insert short description>

Projects - Summer 2024 & Winter 25

Group 1 - OnHand

The project aimed to support people with handyman work at home by offering the following services

• Contact to trained professionals, handymen and contract management,
• Knowledge transfer through online advice,
• placement of support workers

Group 2 - ToteBag

In this project, artificial intelligence was to be used to improve the online shopping experience when searching for clothing.

Projects - Summer 2023 & Winter 24

Group 1 - Cookbook

This project is about enabling people to create their own cookbook, like Granny did. With the planned application it will be possible to collect recipes from all sorts of different sources in a personalized cookbook and use it to organize the meeting, the buying of the ingredients, and the cooking.

Group 2 - Therapy

This platform should support and guide students through the process of finding a therapist while assisting them in improving their mental health on the way.

Projects - Summer 2021 & Winter 22

Group 1 (Berlin) - Remote Concert (GiGGD)

This project is about in what way can online concerts be conducted and billed so that visitors are satisfied and artists can earn a living. The main objective of the project is to overcome the in-site aspect of concerts, while keeping all the salient aspects of the real-life experience, for both artists and concert attendants.

Group 2 (Cologne) - Uni Platform (YoUNIgo)

Please describe your project in a paragraph or two.

We aim to establish a uni platform forming a hub for all tools a student might need. This will be intuitive and aesthetic including functions such as a responsive timetable, canteen plans, support for job hunting, tools for students to collaborate and supplying learning materials.

Projects - Summer 2020 & Winter 21

Group 1 - Student Support System for Uni-related Projects

We want to create an app or platform which will support students in doing their assignments in a more productive and enjoyable way. Our idea is that this will be achieved through a tracking and reward system while also including psychological aspects like motivation. So far we think that it should be able to be included in already existing platforms like Trainex or StudIp. Ideally, teachers could add assignments or projects as well. Furthermore, the connection to existing To-Do apps and calendars should be integrated. Our contextual inquiry shall include a survey for finding out about people's typical apps used and which features they like and miss. Then, a simulation / interview shall be done, where we give people a scenario or make them think of a project they did in uni and walk through it with them to find out more about feelings, tools used, processes and more. Furthermore, we also want to do interviews at their "workplace" with shem showing us how they plan/ned uni assignments in front of the camera while we are able to ask questions.

Group 2 - Investment Portal for Beginners

Simple step-by-step information sharing portal giving an overview of financial investing, investment strategies and steps to invest for novices/beginners i.e. people who have never invested before and don't know how to go about it. We will be using 3 methods for our contextual enquiry. The first method is using a questionnaire to understand the needs and goals of the participant. The next method includes a detailed interview with the participants using the survey to dig deep into their motivation to invest. The third method used is observing the participant as they use other online platforms to gain information via screen sharing.

Group 3 - Student support system in HMKW

A platform for the HMKW University students which enables them not only to enhance their knowledge base by sharing notes with each other but also is a networking system which works like a support group, buddy app, and job portal when required. Formal in its approach with the section which allows them to gain notes from their fellow students as well as their seniors. Informal because it is a medium to connect with friends, share information about events around the city, and also have Job opportunities from the alumni.

Group 4 - Get Together App

We want to build a platform that connects people who are physically close, by activities that they would be interested in doing together. It could be for cooking, exercising, playing board games, learning a new language, etc. In order for us to structure the app, we created a survey that would make us understand better our target audience and their wishes. Afterwards, we want to observe people using apps who have similar goals and see how they perceive their usability. Based on all the informations acquired, we want to enhance the ideas we have for the Get together App and make it the most user friendly possible.