Momento
University of Europe for Applied Sciences · Feb 2024 · Berlin
UX/UI
branding
product design
master thesis
Apple Vision Pro
AI
PROJECT
This is the Final Thesis for my Master's Degree in Visual and Experience Design at University of Europe for Applied Sciences, in Germany. The work entailed 5 months of work and consisted on the creation of an app, including product design and a fully functional prototype.
Applying Contemporary Technologies to a user centered interface that aims emotional engagement with immersive custom designed content: Exploring AI immersive content creation in a specilative app for Apple Vision Pro
Methodology & Project breakdown
Research
Investigation of the current technological landscape
Benchmarking
Qualitative analysis SWOT analysis
Theoretical Framework
User-Centered-Design Principles
Final Design Thinking Stages
Ideation, Wireframing, Prototypying, Testing
Deliverables
Fully funtional prototype on Figma. Component library. Style guide. Explanatory video that shows interactions. Pitch deck
MOMENTO APP
Concept
It is an app designed for Apple Visio Pro, that allows the creation of assets through NeRF and AI generative tools, using Speech Recognition. The digital service elevates user engagement through immersive multisensory digital display by VR and AR in an interface that enhances adaptability and responsiveness to the user’s physical surroundings, creating a true context-aware interaction, by using an empathy-driven design that seeks to understand user’s emotions and reactions, tailoring the content.
The concept roots in storytelling and fostering a sense of ownership and personal connection to the virtual creations, achieved by the high level of customization of them, triggering emotions in the users, fomenting digital relationships, exploiting creativity and even finding psychological support.
The main goal of Momento is to allow users immortalise moments: by recreating past ones or designing new ones to live them again in an immersive way.
A moment is composed by a Location and a mix of Characters and Objects
These are the categories for the content
Key Functionalities
AI Content Creation & Customization
Digital assets are designed introducing prompts, by uploading multimedia (NeRF tech) or modifying other’s creations. All the creations (spaces, characters, objects and any other scenery details) can be modified with high level of personalization
Content Interaction & Immersion
Every asset can be modified and placed in the virtual world, and users can interact with them. Multisensorial display of the virtual scenes elevates the immersion level, including visuals, sounds and haptics, based on BG noises, time references and other virtual adjustments
Creator's Community
Users can share their creations on a collaborative channel, as well as download and edit others’ to make it their own. Not only can it serve as inspiration to others, but also can motivate users to make use of the service and get to know about other’s experiences, connecting them
VR & AR Content Visualization
Characters and objects are displayed through VR because they can be manipulated. Locations and Moments are displayed through AR because they are virtual scenes that adapt to real life environments and can be navigated, integrating physical elements to provide a better experience
Commands through Speech Recognition
The creation process is simplified aa a natural conversation with Mem, the virtual assistant that generates 3D assets in real time
Potential Users
The public included all Apple users and it doesn’t require previous experience with technology. Some of the identified possible users are people that use it as a therapeutic tool to get emotional relief, as well as digital artists and people who use it as an entertainment tool to consume content in this format.
Momento's first conceptualizations were based on a map that outlined the sections and helped understanding the user journey and expectations.
User Flow
Sections
Wireframes were then were sketched, and they contributed to explore layout ideas, structure, and user flows before committing to the digital version.
First Sketches, Wireframes
Final Key Screens
Design Principles
For Momento, User-Centered Design's principles are the base for the designing phase. These prioritize the individual’s behaviours, needs and desires throughout the processes, both research and creative. It focuses on the user and its way to interact with the solution, from a holistic approach to design.
Among the main principles there are user involvement, accessibility, design's flexibility, user's control and freedom. Morover, for this project, the design decisions need to combine User Centered, Mixed Realities and Spatial Design principles. So, the user is prioritized, at the same time viewing distance is taken into consideration, as well as attention areas, mapping and spatial sound design while enhancing performance optimization and motion.
Interaction Design
This project, based on Apple’s Swift UI requires that the information is presented contextually and that users can engage naturally, so commands involve intuitive gestures and responsive feedback. These can be given by voice, eye tracking and by gestural controls.
Buttons and panels are placed at different distances to provide more realism and might overlay, so only ones that require immediate interaction are focused, while the ones on the back are blurred to indicate that they are not interactable at that moment.
BRANDING
Strategy
A corporative image has also been designed to strengthen the value of the proposal. It is based on Momento’s values: simplicity, transparency and emotionality.
Naming
It makes exact reference to its meaning, which is a short, specific time.
Logotype
It is composed of a pictorial and a letter mark. These elements can be used separated to ensure adaptability and scalability in all different media. It also aims to be associated to Apple Photo, so that is why its icon has served as the main inspiration.
Colors
The main palette is minimal, since the focus is on the virtual content and these are the ones bringing the colors, adding meaning and value.
Typeface
The font is determined by Apple’s guidelines, since the app is designed for VisionOS and must be aligned with the entire design ecosystem. This is San Francisco sans-serif typeface, that guarantees maximum legibility in different languages and interfaces regardless of the size and resolution of the visualization.
Icon
Horizontal version
Vertical version
STYLE GUIDE
This is a reduced version of Momento’s Style Guide that aims to gather design rules to ensure consistency.
CHALLENGES
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Lack of digital resources and assets
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Limited testing
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Apple Vision Pro launch date
OUTCOME
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App creation and complete branding
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Fully functional prototype on Figma
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Component Library and Style Guide creation
FINAL DESIGN
FINAL REFLECTION
The future projections for Momento are based on updates and improvements on the technologies. There are also limitations in terms of privacy and ethical considerations, especially when dealing with location data and personal information and ownership of the digital assets. At an academic level, working on this project has allowed me to apply Design Thinking and gain knowledge on technologies and design trends. At a professional and personal level, it has been a chance to develop an idea that i think can contribute to society from its conception to its materialization.