PRODUCTS
Original Aim
Creating and revolutionizing the product critique industry. Using the physical product of Alpha Meter to review a picture based on well defined, researched aspects that can cover critiquing from all the areas.
What is Alphafly Meter?
The alphafly meter in use:
The alphafly meter is a ruler used to assign esthetic value by measuring whether a person, place, thing, experience or process is “fly”. It is a quality metric, conduct filter, and design framework founded upon 5 principle keys:
- Self-awareness [know who and where you are]
- Attention to details [know the particulars]
- Creativity and risk [manage fear]
- Nuance \ inference (saturation) [master the vocabulary]
- Developed sense of taste [know the rules]
Product Example: Layla is a 25-year-old single female looking to purchase a purse. Something small─ just large enough to carry the essentials, lipstick, a bank card, and compact─ the classic clutch. She’s narrowed her selection to a price range and the color black. But still with so many options to choose from within her budget it’s not an easy decision. However, with her meter in hand she is confident in her ability to solve this dilemma. She begins by asking herself a series of questions: Of the 5 keys which clutch demonstrates the presence of all 5 or at least 3 out of 5? Which one best reflects my personality, and most accurately demonstrates the functionality traditionally intended by a clutch bag (self-awareness) and yet so much more? They’re both “cool”─ but which one is “fly”?
Rules of Engagement (images further explained in the next paragraph)
A Design Framework
By distilling what it means to be fly to the presence of 5 principle keys, we have revealed the blueprint for how to engineer fly products and experiences, birthing a new design approach we call “fly design”. Fly design does not happen by accident. Nor is it a methodical “check box” approach to design. It involves the contemplative or innate exposition of the 5 keys─ a skill cultivated over time as you expand your proficiency with each of these fundamental principles. The practice of examining design through this new esthetic lens will reveal considerable overlap amongst the 5 keys, evidence of their interdependent holistic nature. They represent the ingredients that combine to create a singular flavor, the notes that combine to become the fragrance or the harmonic melody. Throughout every design process you should ask yourself:
By distilling what it means to be fly to the presence of 5 principle keys, we have revealed the blueprint for how to engineer fly products and experiences, birthing a new design approach we call “fly design”. Fly design does not happen by accident. Nor is it a methodical “check box” approach to design. It involves the contemplative or innate exposition of the 5 keys─ a skill cultivated over time as you expand your proficiency with each of these fundamental principles. The practice of examining design through this new esthetic lens will reveal considerable overlap amongst the 5 keys, evidence of their interdependent holistic nature. They represent the ingredients that combine to create a singular flavor, the notes that combine to become the fragrance or the harmonic melody. Throughout every design process you should ask yourself:
- Did I take at least some reasonable creative risk? Or did I play it so safe I failed to create something interesting?
- Does it demonstrate that as a designer I’m self-aware?
- Did I leverage nuance to make a meaningful connection with my audience?
- Did I pay attention to important details?
- Is it tasteful?
- Ask yourself, is this fly?
Goals:
- Making the product a benchmark metric system for measuring the aesthetic values of any product.
- Research on human aesthetics appeal based on the prior research of the aesthetic values require for the product.
- Qualitative Research on “AlphaFly” product.
- Expanding into a new market.
- Product Branding.
- Understanding/Finding the right demographic users.
- Identifying usability problems
- Finding design flaws. Suggesting design corrections.
- Product awareness.
- Product marketing and branding:
- Organizing talks and meetups in various locations
- Making industrial/academic connections
- Active participation and building awareness in the Dallas UX Community
- Improving workflow/process flow.
- Discovering different uses of the product.
User Research Methodologies Used and Why?
Plan of Action
Field Testing:
EXISTING USERS |
NEW USERS |
CATEGORIES |
Directing attention towards the image by enhacing its value by adding attention amplifying props such as a baby or puppy. The alpha meter brings the attention towards the image by being in a simple review. |
Design of the aesthetic meter |
Likes |
Carrying the prop around everywhere |
Use of the product was not self explanatory. Needed a push of explanation which was "using it like a watermark" |
Confusion/ Dislikes |
Artists, Photographers, etc |
IT professionals, mechanics, HR, Managers |
Industry |
1500 $ |
3500$ |
Monthly Income |
YES! |
NO/Maybe |
Buy? |
"There were so many times I wanted to review a picture by clicking its picture and posting it but I didn't have the meter with me" |
" The concept is intriguing although I do not see it suitable for the IT era" |
"Quote" |
African American, art industry, creative |
All Races, Art Enthusiasts, IT industry, HR industry, Technical field, Social Media Industry |
Demographics |
Usability Testing
Existing User:
Highlighted Interview
Conducted a remote skype interview of a participant that was a combination both the existing demographics and new target users. The following interview intercept gave us the initial ideas on how to rebrand our product further.
Suggested Improvements:
Convert the physical product into a digital one and make it into a reviewers website where people come to review a product and add the patented "Alphafly filter/watermark" on the image.
This idea was brilliant as it combined all the strong points from existing and new users:
1. The design of the meter is well shown off.
2. It will be digital and not a physical product.
3. It will be cheap in cost.
This idea was brilliant as it combined all the strong points from existing and new users:
1. The design of the meter is well shown off.
2. It will be digital and not a physical product.
3. It will be cheap in cost.
REBRANDING!!!
Through brainstorming sessions including SWOT Analysis we decided to rebrand by creating a critiquing website where people could come by and review new/existing products, images, stories, amongst others and then repost on social media platform by adding the patented "Alpha Meter Filter" to the image.
The website was redesigned with new ideas, to attract more customers. The idea behind newly designed website was that the pictures can be reviewed on the website using the defined alphafly metrics used in the alpha meter and include the filter on the image and share it on the social media sites of your choice.
The website was redesigned with new ideas, to attract more customers. The idea behind newly designed website was that the pictures can be reviewed on the website using the defined alphafly metrics used in the alpha meter and include the filter on the image and share it on the social media sites of your choice.
Future changes could include:
1. Making it a chrome extension to add to existing pictures on the screen.
2. Introduce extensions to existing social media pages
1. Making it a chrome extension to add to existing pictures on the screen.
2. Introduce extensions to existing social media pages
SEO OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES AND GOOGLE ANALYTICS
To add a real numeric value increase towards these sales we decided to conduct ad marketing campaigns which included SEO techniques using Google Analytics software. To conduct this experiment we employed college students who would conduct this experiment and notice the increase in visitors by the end of the experiment. |
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OUTCOMES:
Increased website interaction through SEO and Ads marketing by 10% using Google Analytics Software. |
Revenue earned based on visits of users on the website. Aim is to keep them engaged. |
Rebuilt brand. Redefined the product experience Impacted user/consumer psychology and found ways to reach the customer. |
Discovered different uses of the product in different industries:
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Found product limitations and benefits.