Diary App


This diary app is a side project, and it's currently in progress. So I put the 1st iteration here for reference.

For the past few years, I've been keeping a diary. And I'm so glad that many others also agree writing down details of personal lives adds fun into daily routine.

So for this project, I'm working on designing a minimalist diary app for use.

  • Year2015.8
  • My Role
  • UI/UX Designer

hypothesis & research


About this app

A minimalist diary app that provides users with a clean interface, and a straightforward, functional experience.


Research & Analysis

Comparing some popuplar diary apps currently available in App stores,


Day One (Journal / Notes / Diary)

Pros:

Allows users to addpictures, sync across multiple devices, auto save to the cloud, and backing it up to export diary in one PDF.


Cons:

For each diary/note users can only attach one photo. The Timeline page is over crowded and unnecessary.


Momento

Pros

Besides writing notes, the app also clipping users' social media posts. Combines them together to create a more complete timeline of your day.


Cons
  1. Limited export/back-up options
  2. Photos restriction is hard
  3. No formatting for text


My Wonderful Days: Daily
Avatar

Pros

Fun app, extra function is select up to two stickers for each day that describe your mood and how you felt.


Cons

Doesn't allow you to view photos in landscape view.



Conclusion

My hypothesis for this app is:

  1. Can attach multiple photos along with users’ written thoughts;
  2. Stickers indicating mood adds more fun;
  3. Calendar/timeline should have a better visualization overview;
  4. From user study, quite a few mentioned they are not crazy about pulling data from their social networks, an app functions just as a diary one would be a solution.



Information Architecture

Based on the results of 1st research, I built the information architecture. As simplifying whole procedure would make it easier to actually use the app as a journal, here I put the process very straightforward, just as a real notebook would do.



Wireframe & User Flow


Icon Set for the UI


UI Screens Preview


The scrolling effect for calendar page


From calendar page to diary screen transition