Project 1: Mobile App Project: Healthy Apps for Kids

Objective:
Design an innovative, fun and engaging mobile device (smartphone and/or tablets) application that encourages youth,
directly or through their parents, to make more nutritious food choices and be more physically active.

Specifications:
+ Smartphone application should be in the form of a game (that educates through engaging the user in an entertaining
experience) or a tool (that empowers users to access, sort, track data in ways that will inform user behavior)
+ Application should focus on ONLY ONE of the following nutrition and health concepts:
• Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption
• Making food group education fun
• Understanding calories and energy balance
• Increasing choices of foods with high nutrition value & decreasing foods with fats, added sugars, and sodium
• Identifying and consuming proper food portion sizes
• Being more physically active
• Balancing physical activity and food intake
+ Student must research chosen nutrition/health concept and present factual information in application design
+ Project scope should include a minimum of 10 well-designed screens/sections.
+ You must design and digitally prep application screens either Photoshop and/or Illustrator.
+ All art work and graphics used in your application design must be original or licensed under Creative Commons
(respect copyright laws)

Deadlines:
Project Proposal: Proposal summary (use provided template) due Week 2 (Wednesday, Sept 4, 11:30am).

Wireframes + Flowchart: Flowchart for application flow and wireframes (info architecture) due Week 3 (Monday, Sept 9, 11:30am).

Design Layout MidPoint Critique: PDF of rough designs layout due Week 5 (Monday, Sept 23, 11:30am)

Final Project Submission: USB Drive with following files: Process Work (proposal, wireframe,flowchart, sketches, Design Files
(Midpoint version and final saved as PDF), and advanced prototype due Week 7 (Monday, Oct 7, 11:30am).

Grading criteria:
Design Aesthetics (composition)—50%
Communication—20%
Usability —30%

Week 2 Day 1 - Wednesday, Aug 28 - Homework

1. Complete Project 1 Proposal, submit for review as PDF by next class (Wed. Sept 11:30am). Be sure to address all project requirements as outlined in Proj 1 specification PDF

Examples of Interactive Experiences

Color in Motion
Days in a Day by Pierrick Calvez
99 Rooms
Catfish
Incredibox
HBO Voyeur by Big Spaceship

Week 1 Day 1 - Wednesday, Aug 26 Homework

1. Find 3 "interactive experiences" (online or mobile) take 4-6 screenshots of your interaction experiences(s), and be prepare to share the sites with the class. Please be ready to answer the following questions pertaining to each site.

- How is this an unique interactive experience?
- Is it an effective way of sharing information or promoting interest in a topic, service or product?
- Who is the intended audience/target market?

2. Begin brainstorming for the interactive experience (term) project. You will need to submit a typed proposal in two weeks.

Software Resources

Although there will be some desktop computers available in the classroom with Adobe Software, computers are limited to a first come first serve basis. If you are interested in using your own laptop in class (or using your own computer at home) here are some resources for software purchasing.

**FYI: It is recommended you have access to Adobe Photoshop/Fireworks and Adobe Dreamweaver throughout the semester (roughly 4 months),  and After Effects (roughly 1 month, trial version is ok)

Link for UI Student Discount Adobe Software (this option is no longer available to UI students)

If you are interested in purchasing Adobe Software, you can receive a student discount for the following packages. Although the cost is somewhat high, the benefit of purchasing software via Creation Engine is that it is a one time fee and this can be installed on 2 computers (usually a desktop and laptop)

Creative Suite 6 Design & Web Premium ($359)
Includes: Adobe Creative Suite 6 Design & Web Premium includes Photoshop CS6 Extended, Illustrator CS6, InDesign CS6, Dreamweaver CS6, Flash Professional CS6, Fireworks CS6, Acrobat X Pro, Bridge CS6, and Media Encoder CS6

Creative Suite 6 Master Collection ($609)
Includes: Adobe Creative Suite 6 Master Collection includes Photoshop CS6 Extended, Illustrator CS6, InDesign CS6, Acrobat X Pro, Flash Professional CS6, Flash Builder 4.6 Premium Edition, Dreamweaver CS6, Fireworks CS6, Premiere Pro CS6, After Effects CS6, Audition CS6, SpeedGrade CS6, Prelude CS6, Encore CS6, Bridge CS6, and Media Encoder CS6


Link for Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription Packages

Adobe offers 30 day trial versions as well as Subscription packages to all its software. Depending on your needs for specific software, this may be a more economical option.

Download 30 Day Trial Version of Adobe Software (only good for 30 days)

Adobe Creative Cloud Student Subscription ($19.99, offer good til 10/27/13)
Includes: Adobe Creative Suite 6 Master Collection includes Photoshop CS6 Extended, Illustrator CS6, InDesign CS6, Acrobat X Pro, Flash Professional CS6, Flash Builder 4.6 Premium Edition, Dreamweaver CS6, Fireworks CS6, Premiere Pro CS6, After Effects CS6, Audition CS6, SpeedGrade CS6, Prelude CS6, Encore CS6, Bridge CS6, and Media Encoder CS6

Syllabus + Student Profile

Download Syllabus

Download Student Profile (fill out and submit via email rfujita@uidaho.edu by end of first class session)