Graduation Project - Book Bag APP (Campus Library)

1. Source of the topic

As a student at Hunan University of Technology, I have encountered a lot of tedious problems in the library borrowing process during my four years at university. With helpless questions, I experienced frustration.

At the same time, I want to do something meaningful when I graduate from college. It was decided that this graduation project would be completed with a product that specifically solves the problem of book inquiry and communication between the Hunan University of Technology library and teachers and students at the school, so as to solve the problems of cumbersome borrowing and overdue books when borrowing books from the school library, and optimize the search. The book borrowing process improves the problems encountered before, during and after borrowing books, improves the user experience of book borrowing, and makes the relationship between the two closer. This can also lead to the improvement of students' learning and promote the development of the school.

(1) Analysis of the current situation of the library

Observation in the past month shows that students generally use the library at a high rate; the exhibition in the new library has begun to gradually improve the display of works. ; Electronic equipment interactive display machine, users rarely participate in the interaction, and the resources stay in the scanned version and e-book resources in cooperation with Chaoxing. Video resources and open class resources are scarce; school student activity organizations and exchanges are relatively common (book exchange clubs, reading sharing meetings, book exchanges, etc.).

(2) Analysis of book borrowing problems

There is a lack of platform for book sharing between classmates and classmates, and it is difficult to communicate effectively; when borrowing books, inquiries are troublesome and Query classification is complex, resulting in low search efficiency. It is difficult for users to quickly locate the books they need according to their own needs. For borrowed books, it is easy to forget the return time, leading to book anticipation. Traditional book query machines cannot query at any time. , and the queried information cannot be viewed in real time.

2. The purpose and significance of the design

(1) Design purpose

The product can help teachers and students of Hunan University of Technology solve the problem of borrowing books Some of the problems encountered in the three stages of the process are comprehensively improved to improve users' ability to find the books they want and improve users' experience when searching for books. Investigate the current real needs and feelings of students in our school regarding the process of borrowing and returning books from the library, and explore the possibility of shaping the concepts and methods of new mobile libraries. Through the analysis of the traditional model process of university libraries, the two directions of library development and user needs are taken into consideration.

(2) Design significance

Help users optimize the traditional borrowing experience during the borrowing process, and make the relationship between the library and teachers and students closer. Through the use of the app, users are encouraged to borrow books and study. Only when the quality of students is improved can the development of the school and the continuation of the products be promoted, and the common development of the three parties be achieved.

In order to better understand the current development status and progress of the field in which our topic selection direction (product) is located, we need to conduct a certain in-depth analysis of the relevant competing products of the product, and based on the analysis results, find Identify core competitiveness, find the early experience basis for product differentiation, and put forward certain design directions and reference suggestions for products.

First determine the analysis goals, which are the two major directions of domestic library applications - electronic reading materials, information services, and the current situation of the domestic market. On this basis, we searched for relevant applications of corresponding categories (selecting 4 representative products with leading ratings in the current application stores on the market - Meizu App Market, Baidu App, and App Store), and then conducted comparative analysis through multiple dimensions.

1. Analysis of the current market situation

(1) Current status of mobile app reading products

In the domestic market, reading and reading communication apps are becoming increasingly popular. In contrast, my country's mobile library app is in its infancy, its functions are relatively backward, and it is still in the query service stage.

(2) Current domestic mobile library business forms

Libraries independently develop mobile clients (such as the National Library, Jinling Library); cooperate with other mobile e-readers ( Such as cooperation with digital libraries such as Chaoxing and Founder); co-development with local operators ***;

(3) School library app development trends

As far as universities are concerned, With the phenomenon of "resource sharing" and the expansion of university teachers and students, the daily traffic of university libraries will increase day by day. At the same time, the service problems of traditional offline libraries will gradually become more prominent; mobile libraries have their convenience, speed, and real-time nature, and can help students to maximize information service inquiries; currently, most users use mobile terminals highly. Regarding the use of the web; online education and online learning have attracted more and more attention, which can make better use of fragmented time; as a university circle, learning and knowledge transfer have become the scope and link of student exchanges.

2. Analysis of domestic design status

Based on product concepts and main functions, we start from two major directions, namely electronic readings (Guangdong Provincial Library, Superstar Mobile Books Library) and information services (Huanghuai University Library, Shanghai Library) for research and analysis, and the Android platform is given priority for evaluation.

(1) Guangdong Provincial Library

Target group: Shanghai citizens

Product positioning: a regional mobile library application serving Shanghai citizens.

Navigation and architecture: Adopt label-based interaction framework and list-based navigation. The bottom navigation is clearly classified and the information is reasonably classified. Since the settings are placed on each navigation page, it is too repetitive, and its users do not pay much attention to this aspect. There is little guidance when using it for the first time, some functions are too vague and difficult to understand, and the levels are complex and rich.

Visual expression: Adopt a flat design, with blue as the main color and white as the supplement. The use of modular colors is relatively monotonous and the design is quite satisfactory.

Advantages: The product functions are comprehensive, and the main information queries are divided into: book query, e-book query, lectures and exhibitions, and comprehensive positioning of electronic resources; the search function is equipped with popular searches to guide users with unclear goals to quickly locate Goal: The information that individuals are concerned about can be properly set up for My Favorites and My Reservation functions to effectively help users query personal related information.

Disadvantages: Electronic resources account for a large proportion of the displayed information, but their resources are limited and scarce; network latency is high, system information is unstable, and information loading is garbled.

Summary: A library information query and information service application that cooperates with the Chaoxing platform, but its own electronic resources are limited and scarce.

(2) Chaoxing Mobile Library

Target group: National citizens + partner institutions

Product positioning: Professional online reading applications specially produced for each library .

Navigation and architecture: Adopt drawer-style interactive framework and list-style navigation. The bottom navigation is clearly classified and the information is reasonably classified. Jiugong format navigation and list navigation will focus on electronic resource service homepage display, and personal information will be hidden at the secondary level

Visual expression: adopt flat design, use light blue as the main color, supplemented by white. . The current design is bland in tone, the interface is boring, the design is heavily official, and there is little creativity.

Advantages: The system applies metadata integration technology to comprehensively integrate Chinese and foreign books, journals, newspapers and other documents inside and outside the library, and realizes resource search on mobile terminals with a wide range of resources; my subscription Service functions effectively provide users with personalized information services; electronic media functions such as open classes and audio books facilitate such learning needs.

Disadvantages: Collection query and borrowing information network loading is slow; for the push of platform resources, the school's own library services only focus on book query.

Summary: Positioned as a learning university cooperation platform that provides academic electronic resources, it is a professional mobile reading platform specially produced for various libraries. It has a large number of online electronic resources to facilitate users to learn online, but it is not targeted at major universities. Detailed service information of colleges and universities is lacking.

(3) Huanghuai College Library

Target group: teachers and students of Huanghuai College

Product positioning: a special library focusing on students of Huanghuai College Service-oriented application

Navigation and architecture: Adopt tabbed interaction framework and list-based navigation. The four main functions are clearly designed as separate entrances. The entrance is clear, the hierarchy is relatively clear, and the hierarchical design is streamlined and simple. However, in the design of the search bar in book query, placing it on the right side of the top navigation and using the icon icon as the entrance cannot highlight the importance of search.

Visual expression: Adopt a flat design style, with white as the main color and blue as the supplement. The overall interface design is clean and tidy, the visual combination is comfortable, the trend of flatness is obvious, and the icon design is cute and interesting.

Advantages: Visual three-dimensional library and refined library map campus display; unique seat reservation can help users reserve study locations.

Disadvantages: The information display about borrowing inquiries does not design the information that students are more concerned about (borrowing records, borrowing quantities, overdue reminders, etc.), but instead highlights the information that students are least concerned about (borrowing information). times, certificate information, and accumulated borrowing). Regarding the design of seat reservation, the effectiveness of the design needs to be evaluated based on the remaining number of seats in the library every day;

Summary: An innovative library service app that only focuses on serving users and lacks a library Information display, ultimately positioned as a library service application.

(4) Shanghai Library

Target group: Shanghai citizens

Product positioning: a regional mobile library application serving Shanghai citizens.

Navigation and architecture: Adopt label-based interaction framework and list-based navigation. The bottom navigation is clearly classified and the information is reasonably classified. Since the settings are placed on each navigation page, it is too repetitive, and its users do not pay much attention to this aspect. There is little guidance when using it for the first time, some functions are too vague and difficult to understand, and the levels are complex and rich.

Visual expression: Adopting a light materialized design, the color is mainly white and gray, supplemented by dark yellow and blue. Due to the overall wooden quasi-physical design, the interface design is relatively simple and has a good sense of hierarchy.

Advantages: An online library driven by offline libraries, using its own rich exhibition and lecture resources and many branch library areas to design, effectively combining its own advantages Play it out. By integrating various types of information about the Shanghai Library, users can quickly locate the information in the library they want. Compared with other domestic mobile libraries, this information design is more suitable for regional public groups.

Disadvantages: Because of its positioning as a citizen library information service, the display direction of books is weakened.

Summary: A domestically representative regional mobile library that facilitates Shanghai citizens to conduct library information inquiries and services.

1. Market and audience positioning

After market research and competitive product analysis, this topic mainly focuses on teachers and students of Hunan University of Technology as the target group. In order to further refine the main target users, based on the current target group, the two major survey dimensions of borrowing frequency and library visit frequency, the target groups are divided into: main target users - people who are good at borrowing books, and secondary target users - who have difficulty borrowing books. The most important target user type is the type that is difficult to maintain when borrowing books.

(1) User experience

Have rich and proficient app experience and be able to learn to use it quickly; master the basic traditional book borrowing process, and have a certain understanding of the library borrowing process, etc. Know.

(2) User characteristics

Reading efficiency is low, and the same book needs to be renewed for reading; going to the library is not frequent, and books are likely to be overdue; it is difficult to choose books to borrow, but it is good to borrow them Books; easy to accept new things, like simple and convenient shortcuts; like to recommend books or seek exchange and sharing of books with classmates.

2. Design strategy positioning

This design mainly achieves the product from demand to prototype, to vision and final product generation. Therefore, based on the product research summary, not only Combined with the limitations of its own technology and resources, it is also necessary to conduct detailed planning for the product completion cycle.

To this end, we first conducted general qualitative and quantitative research on teachers and students at the school. After summarizing the research, we designed the product information architecture based on the functions and requirements of the product, and sorted out the main task processes. After sorting out and concatenating the functions, Axure was used to carry out low-guaranteed prototype design, and the overall functional process was expressed in the form of an interface. After ensuring that the interface layout arrangement and user experience are basically completed, start the design and positioning of the product's visual interface and its style. Finally, Axure was used to complete the high-fidelity interactive effects according to the visual draft, and the product was packaged and put on the shelves.

3. Design creative positioning

(1) Featured positioning

Unique community communication function of library books

(2) Design style

Lightweight and niche design style, focusing on the main functions.

In order to form the competitive advantage of the product, in terms of product features, it is not just a simple community setting. Through market analysis, we know that currently students will basically use the suggestions of classmates and teachers when borrowing books. Compared with competing products, the community-based setting just meets the unique functions.

4. Design ideas

(1) Demand analysis

First of all, it is a market research and background analysis, and an overall overall design of this graduation design Research and analysis, trying to find a foothold for the product.

Then, conduct a comparative analysis and summary by comparing four domestic products. Maintain the consistency of the design, look for problems with competing products, optimize the design, and look for the product's characteristic positioning direction.

Finally, through user research, through the combination of interview method and questionnaire method, the problems faced by users in the traditional borrowing process are investigated; at the same time, based on the research results, the current user model and Usage scenarios.

(2) Information architecture

To determine the information architecture, I use a more systematic design method:

Step one: use the card sorting method, Identify 3 main target users, and assign them to the 3 testers by listing the function cards. Without any detailed prompts, let the testees make general classifications based on their own experience in using similar products, and finally confirm and take photos. Archive.

Step 2: Based on the design of the information architecture of similar products, organize the second-level and above-level architectures.

Step 3: Re-examine your own needs and whether you have comprehensively considered business needs, user needs, and product needs.

Only under the premise of satisfying the above three parties, the information architecture can be fully expressed.

(3) Process design

Carry out main task process design for the summarized information architecture, and simulate what the user group does when using the product based on the user model and scenario settings. The process is deduced step by step according to the "see" and "do" methods to complete the entire task.

Due to the lightweight nature of the product, when designing, we always consider strengthening the four main functional navigation entrances: homepage, collections, circles, and mine. Set tasks for these four functions, prioritize the main tasks, and layout the page based on the final arrangement.

(4) Prototype design

The design of the prototype is the final summary of the interaction design. It is not only a simple layout based on the user experience, but also the final analysis of all requirements and task processes. Presentation method, so when drawing prototypes, you must always consider emotionality and functionality, and constantly design between user experience and product functions.

In terms of design, in order to ensure the efficiency and completeness of the design, it is necessary to draw hierarchies according to the arrangement of the information architecture to ensure smooth logic. Every page must always ensure the integrity of every task, so as to avoid problems with missing logic. The interfaces are designed in series according to the task settings, and relevant design instructions are provided. The abnormal process interfaces encountered are designed side by side below. When drawing, using Gestalt visual psychology to create an emotional interface layout can greatly improve the user's cognitive experience.

(5) Visual design

The visual design is mainly based on the current popular flat style for preliminary positioning. In terms of color matching style, it uses the purity of white, turquoise, and red. In the selection of colors, it was determined that the main color is green and auxiliary white, and the overall style of the interface adopts a lightweight contrast design.

(6) Interactive effects

In order to meet the final requirements of the design, I used Axure to create interactive effects to ensure the perfect reflection of the small animation effects on each page. Concatenate the entire page. Finally, after packaging and uploading the generated Html file to the server, use the Chameleon installation package packaging generator to generate an apk installation package.

Due to the large number of pages, this article mainly talks about the four important navigation pages (low-fidelity) in the design, and elaborates on multiple solutions for the same page.

1. Home page interface

Through the combined design of carousel image and search box, redundant layout space is reduced and helps users with clear goals to search quickly; three main function buttons are used As the entrance to the list, the design of university must-reads and hot interest recommendations is also added to help users with unclear goals gradually clarify their goals. From the overall design, the logical relationship is clear and the overall layout is comfortable.

2. Collection interface

The collection interface is designed in a form similar to a shopping cart. Due to the special importance of the collection list, users will frequently check the information of their collected books, so we put aside the relationship of conventional logical chains and design it as the main entrance alone; a collection management page can be created on the same page. The switching realizes the quickness between levels, which reduces the jump between levels and improves the user experience; the humanized search icon placement can help users inadvertently encounter problems and ideas when viewing collected books. , a convenient entrance provided when you need to re-search books.

3. Circle interface

Merge my published messages and message replies into personal status, and use the floating circle to select the publishing status. And the survey shows that due to the limited population base of the product, when it comes to dynamic arrangement, using labels will be more lightweight and sufficient to meet current user needs.

Since the existence of a circle, users can edit information. However, since users are divided into requesting books and recommending books when publishing status, they must select the status before publishing. Although they are of the same level, It cannot be set uniformly; as a circle, in addition to publishing, there must be replies to messages and personal updates. From the perspective of personal dynamics, message replies are included in personal updates; status publishing, if there is a filtering function, will allow users to based on Make customized choices according to their own needs, such as: selection of popular news and regular news; subject classification filtering allows users to select subject information according to their own needs;

4. My interface

Since there is not much personal information and it is not commonly used, when designing the secondary page, the avatar is directly used as the entrance.

Although this design has already appeared, due to the low promptness of this method, it will be difficult for users to find it, and the design is lacking; the personal dynamic module is divided into: borrowing, borrowing history, users can go through the first-level page Get a quick look at especially important book updates. This design not only reduces jumps between levels, but the most important thing is that it is placed on the first-level interface, which can always remind users when to return the book and whether it is overdue. It can also increase the number of user book reviews and ensure product goals and objectives.

1. Product concept

Product positioning: A query service software for library book exchange specially used by teachers and students of Hunan University of Technology.

Core functions: book exchange community, book inquiry, book records, personal information.

User group: Teachers and students of Hunan University of Technology.

Target users: those who have difficulty borrowing; secondary users: those who are experts in borrowing; potential users: those who have difficulty borrowing

Main function: book query; special function: book exchange community

User characteristics: Reading efficiency is low, and the same book needs to be renewed for reading; going to the library is infrequent, and books are likely to be overdue; it is difficult to choose books to borrow, and want to borrow excellent books; easy to accept new things, and like simplicity and convenience shortcut; enjoy recommending books with classmates or seeking exchange and sharing of books.

Product goal: By serving the purpose of serving college students in librarianship and book borrowing, it is designed around the issues faced by today's college students before, during and after borrowing books, with the goal of better improving the user's borrowing experience.

Design goals: In book borrowing, provide a variety of book recommendations and rankings suitable for target users, so that users with unclear goals can quickly establish their goals; in book retrieval, use commonly used search tags and push searches by users Labels and other designs enable streamlined design and quick query; after book retrieval, the arrangement and filtering of recommended book list information help users select books more humanely; for book collection, a separate book collection information list is set as the main navigation entrance. It is convenient for users to quickly query and borrow; the socialization of classified book recommendation and search is mainly aimed at helping users find/recommend books socially; my design intuitively displays personal information, borrowing status, borrowing form, etc.

2. Business model

The school provides book data support and product promotion for the product, and the product provides users with an app. Users are encouraged to read through the reading community function of the app, and through reading sharing and query services, it attracts new users while maintaining user stickiness of the product. The quality of students has been improved, which has promoted the development of the school. After the school benefits, it will support the development of the school more.

3. Information architecture

According to the final information architecture summary, the product is divided into four main entrances: home page, collection, circle, and mine. The specific architectural relationship is as shown in the figure. shown.

4. Visual design

(1) Simplified book search query

Through simple fuzzy matching search of book titles and authors, and matching different query arrangements methods and filtering methods to meet different user needs.

(2) Mutual aid book exchange platform

Taking book requesting and recommending books as the points of mutual influence, through mutual recommendation and requesting books, a book building on Yuedu is established Sharing mutual aid platform.

(3) One-click borrowing status query

With one click on My page, you can know the status of the current borrowed books, so you no longer have to worry about whether the books are overdue.

(4) Humanized book details introduction

Through book introduction, library details, and book reviews, you can learn more about the books you borrow.

(5) Unique collection entrance

The comprehensive collection list allows you to quickly check your borrowing list and its location in the library.

1. Demand analysis

The root of all products, according to my understanding, the most fundamental decision of a good product comes from a complete and detailed demand Report.

Only with sufficient research and analysis on the market can you understand the current status of the product, help you form a macro understanding of the entire market, and avoid being eliminated by social development.

Competing product analysis helps you understand the development methods of the entire industry, avoid blind spots, highlight yourself, and let the product form its own characteristics from the beginning.

User research can help you quickly locate your target group, allowing you to serve your own users. Only when the target users are clear can the product have its own users. What we have to do is design everything around our users. After all, products can only develop if users pay for them.

Business model analysis shows that a product is inseparable from three elements: users, customers, and platform. Only when the three parties form a closed loop of mutual influence can it be considered a complete business form. Product concept positioning, with the above research and analysis, there should be a final product summary, so that you can have a comprehensive understanding of your product from the early stages of the product.

2. Prototype and visual design

After having a detailed and complete requirements report, the next step is to find a way to sort out the product's information architecture, and the design of the information architecture, The most important thing is of course the card sorting method. Let users help you design. All you have to do is help them complete the design. In fact, this is not yet complete. You still need to refer to the architecture and complete requirements of competing products in order to design the most complete product information architecture.

A flow chart is a set up that can help your product complete its tasks, sort out each step of the process, and complete the entire product process.

What low-fidelity prototypes need is the integration of product functions and emotional interfaces, and pages need to be drawn according to the logic of the task.

The design of the visual draft must follow the specifications of the platform design and design according to the specifications. This is a combination of user experience and aesthetics, and Gestalt design can be used.

Low-fidelity prototype address (prototype hosting pool)