Welcome to the exciting world of design investigation! Today you're becoming a design detective, analyzing real apps and websites to discover what makes them successful! It's like being a design spy, uncovering the secrets of great user experiences!
You've been hired by NextGen Apps, a design consultancy specializing in apps for young people.
The Challenge: Analyze successful apps that teens love (like TikTok, Discord, Spotify) to understand what makes them addictive and user-friendly, then apply these insights to new app concepts
Your Role: Junior UX Researcher & Analyst
Target Audience: App developers and designers creating products for Gen Z
Success Criteria: Deep insights that can be applied to improve existing apps and inform new product development
You'll examine real-world case studies and learn from the masters! You'll analyze successful designs, understand user problems, and discover how designers solved tricky challenges. It's like reading detective stories, but for design!
By completing this activity, you will:
UI/UX Case Studies
Follow the instructions inside the file and complete the tasks.
After completing the tasks, submit the file in PDF or DOCX format in this link.
Before analyzing your case studies, consider:
- Who is the target user for each app? How do their needs influence the design?
- What emotions do these successful apps evoke? How do they create engagement?
- How do these apps solve real problems vs. create entertainment?
- What accessibility and inclusivity features make these apps successful?
Rate your analysis skills on these criteria (1-5 scale):
When reviewing a classmate's work:
- Start with 2 positive observations about their analysis depth
- Suggest 1 additional perspective they could explore
- Ask 1 question about their most surprising insight
- Put on your detective hat - look for clues about why design decisions were made!
- Ask yourself "How does this make the user feel?" for every design element
- Compare before and after designs - what changed and why?
- Concept Applied: Design analysis, pattern recognition, and insight generation from successful products
- Skills Developed: Critical thinking, design critique, and competitive analysis
- Tools Mastered: Design analysis frameworks, user journey mapping, and insight documentation
- Portfolio Piece: Case study analysis that demonstrates analytical thinking and design understanding
- Design Principle: Successful designs solve real user problems efficiently and delightfully
- Analysis Framework: Look at user needs -> design solutions -> business impact -> lessons learned
- Common Mistakes: Surface-level analysis, ignoring user context, not connecting insights to broader principles
- Pro Tip: Always ask "What would happen if this design element was removed?" to understand its true purpose