Overview
The NEWS BUZZ app aims to inform children about current affairs and world events at the level they are comfortable reading. NEWS BUZZ wants to broaden the horizons of the children's worldview and help parents raise well-informed citizens of the world.
My Role
UX researcher, UX designer
UX researcher, UX designer
Timeline
Four weeks
Four weeks
Tools
Figma, Photoshop, Optimal
Figma, Photoshop, Optimal
The Challenge
In the world of social media, the news is accessible at our fingertips. It is easy to believe misleading, falsely represented, or exaggerated news. The main goal of NEWS BUZZ is to provide world news to the children at their reading level and in an exciting format. NEWS BUZZ wants to encourage the young audience to read the information daily, increasing their world knowledge. NEWS BUZZ also intends to focus on accessibility, representation, and mental health. The app wants to cater to children aged 8-12 and proposes presenting news per their age group.
Goals
• Create an app that provides the user tailored content per their reading levels.
• Design an App that uses the users' prior knowledge and mental models.
• The app should have an exciting UI to entice children to read news on the app.
• Address accessibility and inclusiveness.
• Create an appealing brand logo.
• The news is presented with images, videos, fun facts, and interactive games.
• The app should include a separate account for the educators.
• Address the mental health of the user.
• Design an App that uses the users' prior knowledge and mental models.
• The app should have an exciting UI to entice children to read news on the app.
• Address accessibility and inclusiveness.
• Create an appealing brand logo.
• The news is presented with images, videos, fun facts, and interactive games.
• The app should include a separate account for the educators.
• Address the mental health of the user.
01. Empathy
I started researching why talking to children about world events is essential. I wanted to know how parents today expose their kids to the local and world news. I also wanted to understand which age group kids are not informed of world affairs? I also wanted to understand the children's pain points while using educational and gaming apps.
“Reading news develops understanding, the ability to listen and speak effectively, argue a point coherently, and take a stand. All these things contribute highly to both their EQ and IQ.”
Anita Balagopalan ( Parenting blogger)
Anita Balagopalan ( Parenting blogger)
Secondary Research
How do young people perceive and are impacted by the News?
Commonsense.org has published an article where they have researched to understand how kids perceive news and how it impacts them. This report examines how children receive and perceive the information based on a survey of 853 children aged 10 to 18 living in the United States that SSRS administered from January 10 to January 22, 2017.
Kids Value the news
48% said that the following information is important to them
50% said the next announcement prepares them to make a difference in the community.
48% said that the following information is important to them
50% said the next announcement prepares them to make a difference in the community.
Mental Health
All children have different temperaments and sensitivities. Their ability to understand the world, take in, and react to bad news will depend on their age. You might want to discuss the news with them individually and tailor what you say to their needs and level.
Mentalhealth.org
While researching news exposure to the kids, many mental health issues were red-flagged. According to mental healthh.org, to avoid overexposure, encourage the kids to discuss the news story with parents once they have read it, providing a safe space for all their questions. The kids should be able to express their feelings, opening up a communication channel.
Competitive Analysis
1-1 Interviews
I conducted 1-1 interview in person. I was able to understand the needs and pain points of the users. Their direct feedback gave me insight and information that I had not considered. I realized that in this project, I have two users; first, parents who sign up their kids in the app, and second the kids who will use the app.
Research Questions
Parents:
1. What device does your child use?
2. How often does your child use the device in a day? Can you tell me which apps your child frequently visits?
3. Can you tell me about your experience with an app your child uses?
4. Is there anything you ensure the app has before handing it over to your child?
5. How do you talk to your kids about the news? Is there a source you use?
Kids:
1. Do you read? What do you like to read?
2. Which device do you want to use most of the time?
3. Are you interested in non-fiction stories? - Do you like to know what's going on in space, the Amazon jungle, or who won the last football game?
4. What apps do you use every day? Is there any favorite one?
5. Can you tell me what you like the best in your favorite app?
6. Which apps do you use in school? Can you tell me more about the educational apps you like and don't like?
1. What device does your child use?
2. How often does your child use the device in a day? Can you tell me which apps your child frequently visits?
3. Can you tell me about your experience with an app your child uses?
4. Is there anything you ensure the app has before handing it over to your child?
5. How do you talk to your kids about the news? Is there a source you use?
Kids:
1. Do you read? What do you like to read?
2. Which device do you want to use most of the time?
3. Are you interested in non-fiction stories? - Do you like to know what's going on in space, the Amazon jungle, or who won the last football game?
4. What apps do you use every day? Is there any favorite one?
5. Can you tell me what you like the best in your favorite app?
6. Which apps do you use in school? Can you tell me more about the educational apps you like and don't like?
Research Insight
1. Parents look for educational apps where their kids can learn and have fun.
2. Parents prefer easy onboarding and don’t want to see ads on the website or app.
3. Kids are aware of the world news and want to know more. Most of the time, they learn about world affairs through passive listening.
4. Parents are cautious while exposing their kids to the news as many kids are sensitive and get scared.
5. Kids like educational apps that are engaging, fun, and of their reading level.
6. Children, especially tweens, prefer age-appropriate graphics. They feel animations, and loud sounds are too kiddish.
7. Many kids don’t like to read non-fiction; if they have to read, they prefer the articles to be engaging and shorter.
8. Lack of inclusiveness.
2. Parents prefer easy onboarding and don’t want to see ads on the website or app.
3. Kids are aware of the world news and want to know more. Most of the time, they learn about world affairs through passive listening.
4. Parents are cautious while exposing their kids to the news as many kids are sensitive and get scared.
5. Kids like educational apps that are engaging, fun, and of their reading level.
6. Children, especially tweens, prefer age-appropriate graphics. They feel animations, and loud sounds are too kiddish.
7. Many kids don’t like to read non-fiction; if they have to read, they prefer the articles to be engaging and shorter.
8. Lack of inclusiveness.
Empathy Map
02. Define
Persona
Firstly, I gathered the research information and developed two personas to understand users’ needs, experiences, behaviors, and goals.
Firstly, I gathered the research information and developed two personas to understand users’ needs, experiences, behaviors, and goals.
Erika Smith
Erika is a busy mom who wants her daughter to have a well-rounded and informed upbringing. She is concerned about her daughter as she fears that her daughter might get emotionally affected if she exposes her to the news, which is not edited for kids.
Erika is a busy mom who wants her daughter to have a well-rounded and informed upbringing. She is concerned about her daughter as she fears that her daughter might get emotionally affected if she exposes her to the news, which is not edited for kids.
Alex Reed
Alex is a 5th grader who likes to do research and wants to stay well informed. He feels smart when he knows what’s going on around the world.
Alex is a 5th grader who likes to do research and wants to stay well informed. He feels smart when he knows what’s going on around the world.
Card Sort
The objective was to conduct an open card sorting exercise to discover and understand how users would like to categorize similar yet different news articles. Also, know from the findings how to organize the content. I used the Optimal workshop to conduct an open card sorting. The 5 participants put 20 news articles into categories. It was an invaluable source of insight into how users categorize. The card sorting helped me create a sitemap, task flow, and user flow.
Site Map
I used the findings from card sorting to create the sitemap that matches the users' mental models, allowing the users to find the items quickly.
I used the findings from card sorting to create the sitemap that matches the users' mental models, allowing the users to find the items quickly.
Task flow and User flow
Since this project has two users; parents for onboarding and kids, I created task flows and users for each user.
Parent - Onboarding
Kid using the news app
03. Design
Mind Mapping
I started brainstorming to develop brand values and design considerations based on the research and information architecture.
I started brainstorming to develop brand values and design considerations based on the research and information architecture.
Design Considerations
1. State a clear goal and instructions on how to achieve it.
2. Reduce cognitive load by designing a self-explanatory interface that will avoid possible errors - Auto spell-check.
3. Instant validation
4. Tailor to each user’s reading level and EQ
5. Tappable areas 44px x44px min.
1. State a clear goal and instructions on how to achieve it.
2. Reduce cognitive load by designing a self-explanatory interface that will avoid possible errors - Auto spell-check.
3. Instant validation
4. Tailor to each user’s reading level and EQ
5. Tappable areas 44px x44px min.
“ Designs that fail to consider kids’ cognitive capacity won’t bring joy, but only frustration.”
NN Group - Article by Feifei Liu
Branding: Moodboard and Logo Design
Mood Board
After interviewing kids, I realized that the age group 8-12 (pre-teens) like educational apps that are more colorful, less animated, and less childish.
The apps need to be playful and interactive.
The apps need to be playful and interactive.
Logo
It was a fun exercise to develop a brand name and logo. I hand sketched a few options and then digitized them. I did small testing with the logos. I asked nine kids to vote for the app logo. I wanted to know what the users like. I wanted to create a logo that was fun, attractive, and easy to recognize.
Colors
I conducted a contrast test for accessibility in color. The Mood board helped me create a bright color palette that would bring out the playfulness and a sense of belonging for the young users.
Typography
Typography was exciting to explore, as the app is for kids.
I had specific considerations while selecting the typography with elementary children in mind. The font needs to be reader-friendly and to which kids can relate.
Typography was exciting to explore, as the app is for kids.
I had specific considerations while selecting the typography with elementary children in mind. The font needs to be reader-friendly and to which kids can relate.
Some of the font considerations:
• Avoid the lowercase "a" with no top arch and use "a" for easy readability
• The "g" should be open-tailed and not "g"
• Wide letter spacing makes it easy to read
• Rounded letters are easy to read and look friendly and playful
• Lowest font size is 16 for easy reading.
• Avoid the lowercase "a" with no top arch and use "a" for easy readability
• The "g" should be open-tailed and not "g"
• Wide letter spacing makes it easy to read
• Rounded letters are easy to read and look friendly and playful
• Lowest font size is 16 for easy reading.
Style Tile
Wireframe
I referred back to the research data and then sketched out the wireframes. Since the project has two users, parents and the kids, I sketched out wireframes for onboarding and the new app.
Hi-Fidelity Wireframe
While designing the onboarding, I ensured that the process was fast. Research data helped me create different onboarding pages, allowing the parents to tailor the app to their child's needs. I wanted to make a whole process that was intuitive and easy to navigate.
Parent Onboarding
Kids App
News Buss App
Skeuomorphic design: I wanted to build on the existing mental models. I designed cards for the news articles, as the kids are used to seeing cards on apps like Youtube, Netflix, etc. I created horizontal carousel sections to display the news categories such as science, trending news, etc. I designed the landing page to look fun, colorful, and magazine-style. I researched the navigation bar position and found that kids are more comfortable with the bottom navigation bar than a vertical navigation bar as they use their thumbs for action. Hence, I placed it at the bottom of the news article page.
Onboarding- Parents
News Buzz App
04. Testing
Usability Testing
I conducted usability testing and recruited children aged 6-12 and parents. I ran a Remote Usability Test for most participants by sharing the prototype link and testing through Zoom or google hangout and a few in person.
Test Objectives
• Test the overall usability and the ease of navigation throughout the website.
• Test if the users can finish the task and the effort and time to complete the job.
• Test if it is easy to locate all the necessary information required to make decisions to complete the task.
• Identify any areas of the website that cause confusion or difficulty to the users.
• Test if the users can finish the task and the effort and time to complete the job.
• Test if it is easy to locate all the necessary information required to make decisions to complete the task.
• Identify any areas of the website that cause confusion or difficulty to the users.
Affinity Map
I created two Affinity maps to find patterns and statistics for areas for improvement. The first affinity map was created for the onboarding process and the second for the news app.
Iterations
I learned where I needed to make changes from the affinity map and what was working and what was not. I made iterations accordingly to address all the users' pain points during usability testing.
Reflection
I thoroughly enjoyed the learning and designing process of the kid's news app. This project is my first time designing an educational app for children. The most significant learning was to strike a balance, keeping the app functional, intuitive, and playful. Another complexity in this project was two users; first are the parents who sign up their kids, and second are the kids who will use the app. During the research, I scratched surfaces of accessibility, design considerations for kids app, and kids' mental health issues. The whole process of designing a News app was empowering as a designer for me.
