Cengage MindTap
- Mobile_App
- Requirements_Gathering
- Interactice_Prototype
Cengage is one of the leading producers of higher education textbooks. They approached Slalom to help them build a native companion app (iOS + Android) for their numerous education and study materials.
Qualitative Research
Cengage knew they wanted a companion app but were unsure of what it should be. The first step was to gather information via interviews with college students from various institutions to gain insight on current study behavior and how students are engaging with digital devices in the context of coursework. Luckily, we were in Boston and universities were in no short supply.
Findings were presented to the client and refined to produce a list of feature for a MVP (minimal viable product). From there a high level app map was developed to gain consensus on flow, functional requirements, and design priority.
Early User Testing
Once functionality was fleshed out, it was time to test design paradigms on a mobile device with real users. Fifteen college students were asked to perform various tasks on an interactive prototype to assess gaps and refine the flows and interactions.
Visual + Interactive Design
During prototype refinement a visual language was being developed in parallel. Redlines and motion mockups were referenced by developers while building the app in Xamarin. Collaboration between designers and developers insured a cohesive final product.
