Based on the feedback I received during our last crit session, I decided to change my project direction. Instead of developing a MR space, I chose to work on a mobile app aimed at addressing how people in NZ often recycle incorrectly. I wanted to come up with a workable and accessible solution to help users navigate proper recycling practices.
This shift in direction wasn’t easy, and I encountered many challenges along the way. So, I want to take this week’s blog to reflect on what happened, what worked, and what I could have done differently.
To begin, I decided to try wireframing and prototyping using Figma. I’m a complete beginner with Figma, so I relied heavily on online tutorials, YouTube videos, and advice from friends and classmates who were more experienced with the software
I knew I wanted to keep things as simple as possible due to my lack of experience. The wireframing process itself was straightforward and allowed me to visualize the structure of the app. However, things became more complicated once I moved into Figma.
For some reason, I really struggled to get Figma to work the way I wanted it to. I didn’t find the software very intuitive, and even basic tasks like linking frames or customizing components felt frustrating and clunky.
Despite these difficulties, I kept pushing through and spent time practicing. After some trial and error and a lot of undoing and redoing, I managed to put together a very rudimentary prototype. It wasn’t perfect, but it was functional enough for a first try.
For this initial prototype, I decided to limit the design to five main screens to give myself a general idea:
- A front/welcome page
- A login screen
- A home screen
- A scanning page (to scan items for recycling info)
- An information page with more detailed content
This small prototype gave me a basic sense of the layout and design, but if I’m being honest, I didn’t enjoy working in Figma. While I’m glad I pushed myself to try something new, I found the process more frustrating than rewarding. I struggled not only with the software itself but also with feeling confident in the prototype’s design and execution. At this stage, I don’t feel like wireframing and app prototyping is something that suits my working style.
That said, I’m still grateful I went through the process. It was a valuable learning experience, and now I have a clearer understanding of the challenges of digital prototyping. I’m also more aware of the kinds of tools and methods that do or don’t work for me creatively.
Looking ahead, I plan to sit down with the brief and take a closer look at the project breakdowns for next semester. I think that will help me better clarify what I’d like to work on for the remainder of this semester and whether I want to refine this concept further or shift directions again.