Capstone Project:
App Concept for Writers
Project Objective
During my Master’s Capstone Project, I chose to focus on an area that combines my interests in design and technology. I became intrigued by the inner workings of apps—how they are designed, function, and engage users. This curiosity led me to develop a concept for an app that would offer writers a unique platform to collaborate, share their work, and connect with their audience in a more immersive way.
Role: Focused on design and user testing. Individual project.
The design challenge I created stemmed from my personal experience of enjoying guided tours at museums, which enhance the visitor’s experience by providing rich context. I wondered if a similar concept could be applied in the reading and writing space. This idea evolved into an app where writers could:
Collaborate and network with fellow writers.
Refine their creative processes.
Publish their stories, poems, or novels.
Pin locations that inspired their writing, offering readers deeper insights into the places that shaped the narrative.
This app concept would transform how writers and readers interact, making storytelling more immersive and interactive. By linking stories to real-world locations, the app offers readers a richer experience and a new way to engage with the writer's journey.
If you’d like to explore the prototype or learn more about the project strategy, competitive advantage report, style guide, or user testing, please scroll down.
Nebula offers the flexibility to share your stories and track your creative journey, connecting you with others who share a passion for storytelling.
Function-Oriented Onboarding Idea
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Create
Sign up for a Nebula account to join our storytelling and creative writing community. Gain access to the latest stories from writers around the world.
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Browse
Writers can publish stories, poems, and novels they’ve been wanting to share. Readers can explore stories by filtering through genres, locations, or publication dates to discover the latest works from both nearby and distant authors.
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Collaborate
Writers can connect with fellow authors and organize meet-ups. Readers can visit locations pinned in their favorite stories, offering deeper insights into characters, backstories, and the places that inspired the stories they love.
Business Analysis
Market Research
The mobile app industry continues to grow rapidly. According to Statista, global app downloads increased from 143.7 billion in 2016 to 194 billion in 2018, reflecting the rising demand for accessible mobile content. Despite the market's apparent saturation, there are significant opportunities in niche areas, especially within the creative and storytelling sectors. Storytelling apps, in particular, have the potential to engage users by offering a unique and interactive experience, blending creative writing with location-based storytelling.
Opportunity in Storytelling Content
While many apps focus on social media, gaming, or productivity, the storytelling space remains underdeveloped. Nebula aims to fill this gap by providing a platform for writers to share their stories and connect with readers in an engaging way. With the increase in digital content consumption, this app taps into a growing audience of readers and writers seeking innovative ways to create, share, and experience stories.
Key Insights
Rising Demand: The growth in app downloads shows that users are consistently looking for new, accessible content across mobile platforms.
Niche Focus: By targeting a specific audience—writers and readers—Nebula can stand out in the competitive app market, offering a differentiated product that blends storytelling with location-based elements.
Project Timeline
I worked on the Nebula capstone project over the course of a year. In Fall 2018, I began by ideating and brainstorming potential concepts. By Spring 2019, I selected the final idea and completed the business analysis and design phase. Throughout Summer 2019, I developed the prototype, and by Fall 2019, I conducted testing and presented my findings. This structured, phased approach allowed me to refine the concept and ensure a thoughtful, user-centered solution.
The Technology
Adobe CC Photoshop, XD, and Illustrator
I began by sketching initial concepts, which quickly evolved into wireframes and user flows. Nebula started to take shape, transforming from a concept into a structured design. By the end of Fall 2019, Nebula was finalized as my capstone project for the remainder of my Master’s program.
Style Guide
This four-slide style guide outlines essential branding elements for Nebula, covering logo usage, color palettes, typography, and layout principles. The guide ensures a consistent and professional brand presentation, with clear guidelines for maintaining visual integrity across different mediums. Here’s a link the slide deck below.
UX Test Results
Participants & Procedure:
I tested 15 iOS users from Grady College, University of Georgia, and Atlanta, GA. The moderated test included a pre-screening survey, task completion analysis, time on task evaluation, and a post-test questionnaire.
Goals:
The test aimed to assess whether app navigation was intuitive, identify confusing areas to improve the user experience, understand user interests, and determine the most engaging features for different app pages.
Proposed Solutions:
Based on the findings, participants recommend adding an “About Us” section to guide users on how to use the app and publish stories. To enhance engagement, they proposed integrating collaboration and feedback features between writers and readers. Additionally, they suggested creating a dedicated space where users can store and categorize their published stories by genre. Here’s a link to the slide deck below:
