UI, UX

Oddword

A mobile application for free writing. The app allows the user to write, share, and read from a public feed of writing. It’s the writing app with no looking back.

The app does not require a delete button, or predictive text as there is no reason for editing. These restraints will encourage the user to continue moving forward.
What is Free Writing?

Free writing is a creative exercise where the writer sets a time, page, or word limit and writes continuously to fulfill the limit. There is no worry for grammar, spelling, punctuation, or consistency. The purpose is simply to write whatever comes to mind.

Why an App?

Free writing is a creative exercise where the writing isn’t meant to be purposeful, rather it is to exercise the mind. The mobile device has become a commodity that is nearly always within arms reach of it’s owner, this allows the activity to be pursued any time anywhere with no paper or computer needed. Additionally, the user can read the public writing from other users if they are interested.

RESEARCH
Research for this project consisted of looking at mobile applications that offered similar functions and noting where they can be improved.

The overall visual design was a fault found in most similar applications. An overuse of texture, outdated UI, and poor typographic hierarchy were areas needed of improvement.

Focusing on the writing is important for an application like this. Another area of improvement is allowing the user to write within the app. Other applications were found that only acted as timers or prompts for writing. Writing in the application is a necessity.

Finding another secondary function for the app became important as well. Although it is a writing app, I found that applications that only focused on writing left the user wanting more. This opened up the idea for the ability to share and read the writing of other users in a public feed.

EXPERIMENTATION
Experimentation began when thinking of what interactions were needed for the app. From here a site map and wireframes were designed to roughly visualise the app. The design of final screens followed this process.
The above image is the site map for the final application. The user is able to move through screens via a four button nav bar.

On first use of the application the user will be brought to a writing screen immediately so that they may genereate their first piece of content. Following this they will be brought to their profile and have full use of the application.

While in the writing screen the user will notice that the delete button has been removed. This one of the key features of the app. This will force the user to continue writing and moving forward rather than worrying about correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

The user will be prompted after writing to add tags and possibly submit their writing to the public feed. Submitting to the public feed will allow other users to search for, and read the just completed writing.

The options menu will let the user mildly customise the application for themselves. Ideally this will help initiate a personal attachment to the app and encourage them to return to the app for future use.

THE APP
The final app maintains a light UI that focuses on the writing and reading. It remains user friendly by limiting actions while curating a lot of content.
Freelance Design