A mobile app for phone calls
with background noises.

A mobile app for phone calls
with background noises.

Challenge

Challenge

Strategy

Discovery

The project had started with defining the concept and the goals. This approach included stakeholder interviews and building the UX strategy of the product.

Business goals
Give customers a new solution to their needs. Launch an Android app and get the first users. 

User goals
Get some freedom in digital telecom society. Especially, when they want to get out of an awkward situation over phone calls.

User problems
Sometimes users don’t want to reveal their real location when they speak on the phone. Usually, we able to recognize a location of other people because we hear background sounds like a wind, a subway or a concert. But what if it was possible to disguise this sound. Such a tool would be a real benefit.

The whole design process was split into different steps.

The project had started with defining the concept and the goals. This approach included stakeholder interviews and building the UX strategy of the product.

Business goals
Give customers a new solution to their needs. Launch an Android app and get the first users.

User goals
Get some freedom in digital telecom society. Especially, when they want to get out of an awkward situation over phone calls.

User problems
Sometimes users don’t want to reveal their real location when they speak on the phone. Usually, we able to recognize a location of other people because we hear background sounds like a wind, a subway or a concert. But what if it was possible to disguise this sound. Such a tool would be a real benefit.

The whole design process was split into different steps.

Market Research
The goal was to find similar products on the market and define how they provide their services. Besides usual dialer apps, I found just two barely similar products which I downloaded and tested for usability, sound quality and overall concept. I wanted to understand the advantages and disadvantages. It helped to gauge needed features for business and users.

Market Research
The goal was to find similar products on the market and define how they provide their services. Besides usual dialer apps, I found just two barely similar products which I downloaded and tested for usability, sound quality and overall concept. I wanted to understand the advantages and disadvantages. It helped to gauge needed features for business and users.

User Research
I have interviewed some users who use similar apps with paid calls. None of them has ever heard of an app with background sounds, but their experience in using telecom apps helped to figure out how they use phone calls and what pains they have. Plus, they gave hints to which situations they would need to use background sounds.

User Research
I have interviewed some users who use similar apps with paid calls. None of them has ever heard of an app with background sounds, but their experience in using telecom apps helped to figure out how they use phone calls and what pains they have. Plus, they gave hints to which situations they would need to use background sounds.

Sketching
I used sketching book to visualize ideas for the core screens.

Sketching
I used sketching book to visualize ideas for the core screens.

Process flow
To understand the whole process properly, I created the user flow allowing to evaluate all steps while using the app. It was useful in communication with developers who wanted to know the app behavior through the whole user journey.

Process flow
To understand the whole process properly, I created the user flow allowing to evaluate all steps while using the app. It was useful in communication with developers who wanted to know the app behavior through the whole user journey.

Wireframes
To cooperate with the client in designing the product, I chose the Draw.io web app. It helped design low-fidelity mockups quickly plus the client was able to add feedback in an easy way. Once we checked the wireframes for all screens and flows, I started the UI part.

Wireframes
To cooperate with the client in designing the product, I chose the Draw.io web app. It helped design low-fidelity mockups quickly plus the client was able to add feedback in an easy way. Once we checked the wireframes for all screens and flows, I started the UI part.

Design library
For designing the UI part in the Sketch app, I use the Atomic design approach with nested symbols. It helped to keep the style consisted, and it made easier to manage all design components of the app.

Design library
For designing the UI part in the Sketch app, I use the Atomic design approach with nested symbols. It helped to keep the style consisted, and it made easier to manage all design components of the app.

Logo
Additionally to the app design, the client wanted to create a logo. I’ve gathered logo requirements and started searching for references online. The main idea was to combine two objects: location and sound since they are the main elements of the app. In the end, we got two solid concepts which we wanted to test and define how users find the connection between the logo and the product. And we chose the 'noisy location icon'.

Logo
Additionally to the app design, the client wanted to create a logo. I’ve gathered logo requirements and started searching for references online. The main idea was to combine two objects: location and sound since they are the main elements of the app. In the end, we got two solid concepts which we wanted to test and define how users find the connection between the logo and the product. And we chose the 'noisy location icon'.

Prototyping
For testing the UI part, I used the Invision app and created the clickable prototype. The mockups were reviewed inside the company and by friends who decided to test the app.
After minor changes, the mockups were confirmed. Then I switched to the UI documentation for the first version.

Prototyping
For testing the UI part, I used the Invision app and created the clickable prototype. The mockups were reviewed inside the company and by friends who decided to test the app. After minor changes, the mockups were confirmed. Then I switched to the UI documentation for the first version.

The main idea is to provide to developers easy-to-implement specifications. I created the UI library and specs for all screens: colors, margins, sizes etc.

The main idea is to provide to developers easy-to-implement specifications. I created the UI library and specs for all screens: colors, margins, sizes etc.

The Android version was succesfully designed, developed and published on the Play Market. The next step is to get first feedback and start adding new features. 

The first version is on its way, and soon it will be available on the Play Market store.