A mobile application designed to bridge the gap between youngsters and the traditional newspaper format. This project aims to foster a love for reading physical newspapers by making the experience interactive and engaging.
Lucky Times-
By Times of India
Client
Times of India
Duration
Aug’21 – Nov’22
Role
UX-UI
Product Design
iOS & Android
My Contributions
- Research
- User Interviews
- User flow
- Wireframes
- Visual Designs
- Prototyping
- Motion & Interactions
- Stakeholder Management
- Planning and scope definition
Project Overview
In the digital age, when the youth was scrolling news online and newspapers were taking a backseat, our aim was to engage and convince the youngsters to read news the traditional way. We created a reward program to generate retention and a meaningful incentive for the users by gamifying the whole experience using Augmented Reality(AR) as the primary medium and therefore help the business grow.
Challenge
Young people nowadays primarily consume information digitally. This has led to a decline in readership of physical newspapers. The challenge was to create a mobile app that integrates with the physical reading experience, making newspapers more appealing and relevant to a younger audience.
My Contributions
I led the complete Product Design for this app including both User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) of this project. My role also included collaborating with our in-house development teams and stakeholder presentations. I worked on this project from inception to the final delivery for both iOS and Android platforms.
Team: 2 Designers, 1 Copy writer, 1 Project Manager
Tools: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe After Effects, Sketch, Adobe XD, X-Mind, 3Ds Max
UX Process
Our goal was to bridge the gap between young readers and physical newspapers through a user-centered design process. We started by empathizing with young people, understanding their needs and frustrations. This led to defining the core challenge: making newspapers feel relevant and engaging in a digital age. We then ideated solutions – AR experiences, personalized feeds, and gamification – to create a more interactive experience. Prototypes at various stages allowed for continuous testing and refinement based on user feedback. This iterative process ensured that Lucky Times becomes a valuable tool for young people to explore the world of news through physical newspapers.
Project Roadmap
For the Lucky Times project, our roadmap prioritized making the app easy to use and maximise the returning users. Subsequent phases focused on enhancing user experience with simplified navigation and gamification elements. This strategic approach ensured both immediate gratification and long-term user engagement.
So, we created an engaging experience that would compel users to buy and read newspapers.
User Personas
To design Lucky Times effectively, we needed to understand who we were designing for. We created user personas based on extensive user research to represent the target audience. These characters represent the core demographics and behaviours of our target audience.
By stepping into their shoes, we could design an app that truly resonated with their needs and preferences. Let’s meet Rahul, Kirtika and Ajay, three potential users of our app.
User Flow
We identified and crafted user journey for new and returning users. Let’s delve into the user flow for Lucky Times, mapping out the steps a young reader takes within the app. This will illustrate how users interact with key functionalities to achieve their goals, whether it’s unlocking AR content or claiming their favourite offers.
Wireframes
Before diving into aesthetics, we established a solid foundation with wireframes. These low-fidelity sketches act as a blueprint for the app’s layout and information architecture. Let’s explore how wireframes helped us visualize core functionalities and finalise the flow and scope of the entire project.
UI Designs: Bringing the App to Life
Moving beyond the blueprint stage, we designed the user interface (UI). Below are the app’s visual elements like colors, fonts and iconography, creating a visually appealing and engaging experience for young readers.
Animations
We went beyond static screens by incorporating animations, that enhanced the user experience, making interactions and transitions feel smooth and delightful. Here are a few samples of animation for splash screen and successful scan.
Conclusion
This project has been a valuable growth experience, solidifying the importance of user-centered design in creating innovative solutions that bridge the gap between technology and tradition.
Understanding the “Why” is Crucial
User research highlighted the disconnect between young people’s digital habits and the perceived outdatedness of newspapers.
This insight informed every design decision.
The Power of Iteration
Through continuous prototyping and user testing, we were able to refine the app’s features and ensure they truly addressed user needs. This iterative process is essential for creating a user-centered and engaging experience.
Technology Meets Tradition
Lucky Times demonstrates how innovative technology like AR can enhance the value proposition of a traditional medium like newspapers. This project paves the way for future exploration in merging physical and digital experiences.
Understanding the “Why” is Crucial
User research highlighted the disconnect between young people’s digital habits and the perceived outdatedness of newspapers.
This insight informed every design decision.
The Power of Iteration
Through continuous prototyping and user testing, we were able to refine the app’s features and ensure they truly addressed user needs. This iterative process is essential for creating a user-centered and engaging experience.
Technology Meets Tradition
Lucky Times demonstrates how innovative technology like AR can enhance the value proposition of a traditional medium like newspapers. This project paves the way for future exploration in merging physical and digital experiences.