Unit 21: App Design

Question 1

App Design

Answer 1

“The design cycle can be achieved in many ways. There are four phases of this cycle that ​​
can help design and prototype your own app, much like the process that professional app developers go through. You can decide whether to work through the cycle a few times to understand how it impacts your app’s design, or as many times as it takes to complete a prototype to the level you see fit. If you’re really enjoying this particular portion of the app development process, you’re encouraged to keep iterating, because it’s just as important as the code!

Even though you may not be able to write all of the code for your desired app yet, you’re encouraged to think about what coding concepts you might need to use in designing their app prototype. For example, you’ll need to code a touch event for each button that you design on the screen, or include conditional statements so that a Rock, Paper, Scissors app can determine how to properly score a round

Question 2

Components

Answer 2

1. Brainstorm
2. Plan
3. Evaluate
4. Prototype

Question 3

Brainstorm

Answer 3

In the brainstorming stage, you identify problems and come up with possible solutions.
Tap the five key topics below for ideas and prompts that you can use to brainstorm. Some of the topics have multiple ideas that you can tackle as you dive deeper into the design cycle. Use a journaling app or Notes to document the brainstorming process

1. Purpose
2. Ideas
3. Audience
4. Focus 
5. Reiterate

Question 4

Plan

Answer 4

In the planning stage you plan the details of your app and figure out how your app can achieve its goal.
The three key areas below include topics and accompanying research prompts for your students to consider as they develop their apps. The more they learn about each topic, the more advanced their app designs will be. The Apple Developer website is a good resource for you and your students to learn more about these topics.
You can use an app like Keynote or Popplet to map out the flow of your app to help them think through the user experience. What are the key stages of the app and how does the user get there? And get specific. For example, what happens when a user taps yes or no on the screen? Or, at what point is a certain feature available?

Question 5

iOS Features

Answer 5

1. UI/ UX
2. The Basics
3. Get Connected
4. Get Innovative
5. Accessibility
6. Feature Smash
7. Design

Question 6

Prototype

Answer 6

In the prototyping stage, you create a mock-up of your app. Developers use prototypes so that they can quickly test their ideas and see what works or might not work. One way that developers create prototypes is with Keynote, where each slide represents a screen of the app. Watch this video from WWDC on iterative UI design to learn more about designing apps and creating prototypes with Keynote.
Tap the topics below for tips on how to create a prototype.

Question 7

Evaluate

Answer 7

Now you test the prototype. Have classmates, families, and others try it out, too. If possible, find testers who fit the target audience for the app. Present the prototype to the user, explain your new app idea, and that you want the user to try it out. You can provide them guidance if needed, but the objective is to observe the user and ask questions later.
Once you have gathered user testing data, return to the brainstorm stage and reiterate on the app design.