UX + VISUAL DESIGN // BRAND IDENTITY //
MAKERS DESIGN CONFERENCE APP
the ASK
This project was to create a brand identity and an app for a non-existent design conference. Three fellow designers and myself were tasked to conduct design research together and break off individually to pursue individual visual solutions.
Design Research
We conducted interviews with conference attendees, speakers, and organizers to gather information and better understand the potential users overall experience. With the responses we received we were able to identify the specific needs and pain points of our user group. It was these insights that helped to inform the information architecture of the app.
Brand identity + naming
“Makers”, is a conference for all the makers, thinkers, and doers out there. I chose the name because in a field where the particular roles under the umbrella of design vary greatly, at the end of the day we are all simply creators, or in other words; “Makers”.
visual solution
The combination clean, digital typography with organic, hand painted marks was leveraged to emulate the energy and level of contrast often associated with being a "maker" involved in design. Meanwhile, the UI of the app remains relatively clean to allow the user to easily access important information.
INSIGHT 1
EASY ACCESS TO SPEAKERS
One need that emerged through our research is that people attending design conferences had found it difficult in the past to search for specific speakers that they knew they wanted to see. Many also mentioned that they would love to have the ability to discover other speakers they may be interested in though searching by industry or company.
solution
A simple, digestible grid view of speakers attending the conference allowing the user to both filter the list by searching and read more about each speaker.
INSIGHT 2
make & save Connections
Many people we spoke to had noted that they meet many interesting people during design conferences, but would either forget their name or loose their business card. This ultimately hindered them when they wanted to reach out in the future.
solution
A feature for users to exchange profiles that act as digital business cards. Users can add a connection by scanning another users profile, similar to that of snapchat or instagram. They can then store all the connections they've made over the corse of the conference to reference later.
INSIGHT 3
lessen schedule clutter
We found that people often got frustrated with the calendars on other design conference apps. They didn't want to constantly scroll through all the events happening each day to find the handful that they would be attending.
solution
A schedule that allows for customization. Through bookmarking specific events they would like to attend the user can curate there own personal schedule. By toggling between schedule and my schedule the user can see an exact list of what they have going each day.
