Interactive Graphic Design
#1 Releasing mobile app on mobile platforms
It is extremely important to analyze the mobile operator platform on which to run an app before embarking on developing it, considering the type of users you are targeting, the cost versus your budget of developing and maintaining, the project’s timeline, the features needed and the revenue targets. Android and Apple are two distinct systems whose and it is absolutely impossible to develop an app for iOS and expect it to run on the Apple platform. On the other hand, iPhone apps cannot run on the android system. It is possible for users to transfer universal apps via means such as Share it, but it is not possible to install an app not developed and owned by the operator apple.
In case you intend to develop an app that you project to launch on the two platforms, you must be ready for a higher cost. It is recommended that you launch on one of the platforms that best suits most of your needs and eventually develop for the other platform (Lazerka 13). For instance, it is evident that android systems are the most globally used operators probably due to the cost of acquiring mobile android devices; therefore, if you are looking to target the most massive audience, you would probably choose to build for iOS initially then eventually launch it for apple.
Advantages of Android
Building an app for android might be a wise idea because it has the largest market share for both established and upcoming market shares across America and Europe. It is easier to build an android app than Apple; therefore, if you have a shorter timeline, android might be the right option.
Advantages of apple
Apple customers have been recognized to be the biggest spenders compared to the other group.
Apple is known to be used by affluent people, especially women. So if you are targeting this specific group, you might as well consider Apple. Apple is not just known for its trusted security but also some of the best technologies, such as Force Touch, that recognizes the amount of force exerted on the phone’s screen. It might just be the best option for the interactive product considering the excellent user experience of using such technologies.
#2 Moore’s law.
Moore’s law was put forth by the founder of Intel, George Moore, in 1965, where he explained that the number of Integrated Circuits in a device keeps on doubling after every two years. Yet, since its inception, the computer devices have kept on reducing in size. It is expected that prices and performance will rise with the ICs doubling in about every 18 months, then went ahead to predict that this will continue for the next five or so decades (Renan, 2). However, researchers are working to have a new style of integrated circuits that are based on graphics (Mitchel 6).
As a graphic designer, there is a need to maintain the competitiveness and challenge of living up to this law in order to continue offering improved technologies at reduced prices for esteemed customers. It is only possible by staying informed about the emerging trends in technology and building capacity to ensure there is enough technical know-how to keep designing products that meet the current portfolio.
As far as my future career is concerned, it is a challenge to keep up with the growing need to keep up with the industry’s emerging trends always. Each day, customer needs keep on evolving. I will be undertaking professional courses to equip myself with the latest knowledge to avoid redundancy. Working with other developers, we will be able to share a lot in terms of experiences gained and how the industry is changing.
Without a doubt, graphic design is indeed a very challenging career that needs determination, focus, and hard work. Therefore, a graphic designer must be on higher alert and be ready to continue learning to avoid becoming redundant. Because of this, he must be able to use his past experiences to predict what the future may look like in order to get technically prepared.
#3 Prototyping
Prototyping is the experimental process of transforming ideas on paper into actual digital form. Therefore, a prototype is an early model that serves as a test product for the concept that will inform the development of the actual product. In graphic design, prototypes are used to measure precision and to have a glimpse of how the final product will look like.
We do prototypes to simulate the real product to test how correct it is, identify design errors, and attract prospective investors to channel funds towards developing the actual product. It gives a realistic look at the actual product.
User experience methodologies- UX, use designs that center on the needs and specifications of the user. These specifications are discovered during research when interviews, questionnaires, and other data collection tools are used. Analytical data will reflect on patterns that will guide further testing assumptions. The use of a balanced approach to both the qualitative and quantitative data analysis of data obtained from both usability testing and focus groups are the best-known methodologies.
Graphic designers can blend together visuals, navigations, elements, and interaction, giving experience on the final product’s feeling and behavior. If working as a team, Figma is a useful prototyping tool as it enables the pieces together of each part created by a team member. It has similar features as Sketch. The IN-vision studio is one of the most designers’ favorite tools due to their ability to keep adding new functionality features to their platform. It enables designers to piece together the prototype functionality features and easily share it with others. It also has tools for developing dynamic effects such as animations for interactive platforms.
#4 How companies can monetize interactive designs
Graphic design companies aid businesses in making their brands visible by enhancing their marketing. According to research, more and more companies are investing in interactive design (UX). (Loyanis, 7). It is an indication that there is a lot of financial opportunities in the industry.
Companies can make money through the sale of apps to firms that need solutions in the app. They can charge a one-off fee and a periodical renewal service fee for products. Another method of making money through interactive design is by advertising through ads.
My simple idea is based on providing HIV/AIDS patients with a solution to their need for support in their medications. The app will remind them to take their daily drugs and ask them to confirm by pressing a key if they are taking them.
The app will capture the details of the patients. Doctors will be able to view of hoe patients are faring on and add a prescription to their profiles.
They will be able to interact with the features in the app in customizing their specifications such as the time they will be taking their medications, so that every time of the day during the time they set, they will receive a notification asking them to respond on whether they have taken their daily drugs. To monetize this app, the users will be able to pay a one-off registration fee to use the services and remit a monthly renewal fee that will be enforceable monthly.
#5 Less as More
The theory of less is more is primarily based on improving productivity for less. In graphic design, it can be termed as minimalism designing where simplicity and objectivity are the focus to ensure the reduction of designing work to what is necessary (Yue 67). The design should be in the most basic form that cannot be further simplified. It is mostly used with websites and is becoming popular because it yields great results, whereas it relies more on developing content rather than designing the graphics. It is therefore a cost saving technique or strategy. It is characterized by better topography, reduced color and grid layouts. It removes all the unnecessary elements, while only focusing on what is vital and necessary, an example of such a design is the google background on chrome browser, which has been designed in very simple graphics yet the search engine is very effective. Gmail and You Tube as well have all been designed in line with the concept of simplicity. Other examples include blogs and small websites that have cut down on the features that do not add any actual value on the performance of the product. They have been designed following a minimalism architecture.
The concept works well for developing apple products considering the fact that it is costly to develop for the platform as opposed to any other, so foregoing some unnecessary elements. It is ideal for startup. The concept is finding relevance in the industry because investor prefer to invest in projects whose unnecessary expenses have been scaled down. At the same time users are preferring simple and easy sites to access their consumer needs, the reason for this simplicity is in the use of simple and planned user interface. It has shifted the focus of designers’ motives from trying to balance content with other appearance feature to focusing on presenting the content in the simplest and comprehensive way possible.
#6 Interactive designs to Christians
In their evangelical work, Christians can make good use of interactive design products that will enable them to take the gospel to a larger audience and in the most creative way. Most believers and potential now are attached to their computer devices at any given time for any reason. This presents a great opportunity to minister to them the gospel of Jesus via UX. The interaction design should be based on developing engaging interfaces. The use of an organized and well-structured page layout will depend on good wire-framing techniques. The designer should use mock-ups to come up with the right color themes. It must also be easy to use, and employ the design elements capable of revoking emotions
To come up with the best design, gather some idea about the possible requirements. Then next is to draw the Sketch and then design elements, UX guidelines and develop a prototype.
Due to the fact that evangelism relies heavily on the bible as reference material for the religion, there is need to develop the website in a way that makes it easy for believers to locate information and navigate around the site, ensuring that it caters for the availability and navigability to persons with disabilities. The end users must be able to easily interact with the content and be able to capture their details and customize their experiences on the site.
It is without a doubt that such a product will be very useful in evangelism. In the sense that it will cover a large audience and enable spiritual nourishment and guidance to be ofered remotely.
Works cited
Bradley, Loyanis “Design prototyping method, strategies, techniques, and guidelines.” Design Science 3 (2017).
Lazareska, Lazarela. “Analysis of the Advantages and Disadvantages of Android and iOS
Systems and Converting Applications from Android to iOS Platform and Vice Versa.” American Journal of Software Engineering and Applications 6.5 (2017): 116-120.
Waldrop, M. Mitchell. “The chips are down for Moore’s law.” Nature News 530.7589 (2016): 144.
Wu, Shan. “Application of Graphic Design Based on Image Design Software.” Journal of Physics: Conference Series. Vol. 1533. No. 3. IOP Publishing, 2020.
Yue-juan, C. H. E. N. “Application of Minimalism in the Graphic Design.” Packaging Engineering 2016.14 (2016): 46.