WHAT IS THE CITIZENSHIP APP?

The free app enables users to practice for the US Civics test, which is part of the naturalization process to becoming a US Citizen. There are 100 civics questions on the test. The USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) officer will ask applicants ten of these questions at random.

FINAL DESIGN

I also made a couple of microinteractions in Principle and After Effects for the app including the swiping interaction, the positive feedback interaction and the card interaction.

RESEARCH

We researched demographics about the test takers, interviewed 3 people who have taken the citizenship test, conducted 2 usability testings and card sorting.

DECIDE ON IMPROVEMENTS

As a team, we decide to focus on our redesign on five main improvements:
■ Reorganize the information hierarchy to add clarity
■ Allow users to track progress and see improvements
■ Enable full simulation of the verbal test environment
■ Create consistencies among interactions thoroughout the app
■ Revamp the visual design to add beauty and credibility

START WITH THE FLOW

This is the flow chart of the original app. The main screen has way too much information so it looks too overwhelming. We decide to add more depth to the app structure.

After multiple iteractions, we decide on the first new flow for the app where we added an onboarding, an audio overview and different types of tests.

THE "LEARN" SECTION

I took over the "learn" section in the app. I wireframed to explore the flow of the section and the UI of each segment.

MEDITATE MORE ON THE FLOW

As a team, we decided to get rid of the categories and that we will separate card and list/audio after many rounds of feedback, discussion and testings.

VALIDATION

We tested our prototype with 3 users including 2 new people have never seen the old app before and 1 person from the previous session. We validated the flow and some key interactions. One big change is that we decided to bring back the categories.

THE VISUAL STRUGGLE

After our settlement on the final flow, the struggle now is to explore the actual visual details of the UI and overall identity of the app. The screens marked by pink borders are made by me.

FINAL THOUGHTS

It is my first time working in a team of four designers. Teamwork is a lot more challenging when there are simply a lot more opinions but the productive discussions are what lead to the high quality of work in the end.

It is also my first time working in a team which one of my teammates cried after our first critique but we as a group ended up submitting all of us can be proud of. I learned to hold back my emotions that are negative to the team but try my best to be positive and supportive.