Author: Grant Jackson Rebecca

A feature that I would like to include on my website is having character templates for making individual character cosplays. By being able to search a character and having different angles and detailed close ups come up would make my product superior to other platforms available. Instead of generating a search of all the images of the character, it would only show ones that are clear and detailed enough to help a cosplayed base there costume upon it. This could be done by having a spinning image (http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/rwby/images/8/86/Yang_by_montyoum-d67l7j3.gif/revision/latest?cb=20130602225337), or by having the character from all angles appear.

Both of these methods are available for the characters from RWBY, making it easy for them to be cosplayed. In the future, I would like my product to have exclusive models of characters for cosplayers to base there designs on; opening up clear, new images. This would mean more people would want to use the product, as it would offer a useful service unavailable elsewhere.

When designing the colour of my product interface, I need it to be comfortable to the eyes of the user. As it is designed to work on both a large screen, and a small screen; the design choice needs to take both these elements into account. Most popular websites and apps use a shade of blue for there personal branding, with the majority of there interfaces being white with black text  (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter). This use of colour is also seen in Siako+, which is an app similar to the one that I am planning. They use white as they are very text based, and black text on a white background is what we are used to seeing, as it is pen and paper. This makes it clear and easy to read.

The app ‘Cosplay Animo” uses a dark red header, and white boxes for its content. The dark red does not fit with the bright white, as it contrasts too much. Cosplanner uses a black interface with white text. This works well, as the app is very text based, it fits in with the darkness of most phones, and lows naturally. This works well as there is no desktop version, which would be too dark in these colours. I would use the same colour scheme for both the desktop and mobile versions of the product.

The website ‘my anime list’ has been an inspiration for my design elements; as although it is very basic to begin with; custom themes and backgrounds can be coded in, in order to make the list personal to its user. The method used by the website is very complicated, as it involves using coding; a skill that is not generally owned by the majority of users, so for it to be implemented for my concept, it would have to be able to be done simply; or feature a simple tutorial on how to change it. However, this feature only applies to the user-specific areas of the website. This means that there is a base design for the rest of the website, but the area that is generated by the user can be customised to reflect there personality.

               

After conducting audience research, I discovered that it would be beneficial to split my product into two connected parts. Although they would share an overall collective branding, there would be a clear divide between the two sides. This could be shown through subtle design elements. My original idea was to feature a dark blue colour scheme for the planning side, as this connateness as a blueprint. From this, the social side would be a complementing colour, such as orange. This colour scheme is the one used by MCM, which is an event that is popular among my target audience. However, after using the red design on Cosplay Animo, a bright colour may make the productive come across too garish.

In order to analyse the need and/or want for my product I posted a survey link on a forum of people who would be a part of the target audience. These responses will help me decide on features that the audience would want in the product in order to make it as beneficial to them as possible.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/summary/CAEpl6uJ118oEnequdBeZOdrb12YwnSc1DFQyhayIu4_3D?utm_source=RPS

The first question asked if people used Cosplay apps already. If lots of people used them, it would show that there is a lot of competition and a lot of reach, meaning that my project would not be necessary. However; 80% of people were not using anything specific for there Cosplays. This shows that, although there is already some products out there, they do not have a wide reach; meaning that a new platform would be able to draw in more users if it was aimed more towards them.

From the users that said they did use products already; one product was mentioned by all users, Cosplanner. After my personal experience with Cosplanner, there are many ways in which I can improve on this app. By using an already used product as a bases, I can see what works on it, and build upon it to improve my product. I can also leave out what makes the app slow and hard to use, as well as removing any unnecessary features. Another app that was mentioned by multiple users was Cosplay Animo. Again, from my experience using this app, there are clear elements that can be improved upon. All of the products mentioned by users who already use products, none of them had a desktop application. This shows a clear gap in the market, allowing my product to fill a void left by products already.

Although 80% of people said they weren’t using apps already, only 73% said they would use a specific app for social elements. This is still a large proportion of the audience base asked, but doe show that my concept is not one that will apply to everyone. However, from the responses that were for a new Cosplay social app gave some good feedback on features that they would like to feature in the end product. By utilising this feedback, I will able to add in and focus on ideas that the audience would want to see in the product.

The same amount of people who want a social app also said that they would use a planning app as well. This shows that the audience what to use digital media to both plan and socialise based around Cosplay. The feedback on what people want in a planning product has also given me some good ideas and an insight into what would be required to make a product based around this. Cosplanner was also mentioned again, with people stating it mostly has what people need, but also offered up some features that are missing, which would be worth exploring for my own app.

I asked the audience how they would want both the apps to be integrated together, if at all. Only 6% of people wanted both the elements to be completely separate, which is how the current market seems to be now. This confirmed that I need to put both elements together in one place for the audience to get the most enjoyment out of it. 31% wanted the products to be completely joined in one platform; whereas the majority of people, 63%, wanted the apps to be together, but with a clear separation between the two elements. This would allow for a user to only use one side of the product, but have access to the other if desired. It would also allow for instant sharing between the two sides, but doesn’t make it a necessity. As this design method is the most popular among the audience asked, it will be the method I will pursue.

An idea I had considered for the product was the use of including advertising/selling of services directly from the product. 12% of people did not want this to be a feature in the product. People did like the idea of certain services being advertised over others. 25% of people wanted models to be featured in this element of the product; making it the least popular category in this section. Templates/patterns, Materials, and designers and creators were the most popular categories wanted by the people asking, each being wanted by 70% of people asked. Photographers were wanted by  56% of the people asked. This shows that people are looking for more buyable help and resources in terms of making and planning Cosplays. The popularity of these features shows that it should be included in the product; but it could be more focused into the creation side, as opposed to the social side.

Overall, the research yielded by this survey shows that there is a need and a want for the concept that I am developing. Although people want it; there is no linked element on the market for both social cosplay use and planning. There is also no desktop based system for either of these elements, which shows a void that can be filled by my product. There is a want for this link, but a divide is also wanted between the two sides of Cosplay. People are also looking for help in planning and creating Cosplays from outside sources, so a conduit between the two could be utilised in my final product.

 

In the lecture on Monday, elements of design composition were explained to us. This included  Focus, Balance, Structure and Depth. By using these elements of design, then the aesthetics of a PDF or webpage can be greatly improve. Examples of this were shown, and we were tasked to make our own image to show ‘An Epic Journey’, like the example image, using these new techniques. On the left is the example image, on the right is my attempt at the task.

                    

By using colour, it is clear which elements of the piece are in the distance, and which are closer. By making something appear more faded; it shows that they are further away. This is why they use smoke on film sets, as this adds further depth to the layout. The composition also follows the rule of thirds. Once you place a grid on my image (pictured below) it using the rule of thirds to draw in the viewers to the appropriate places. The eye first goes to the tall structure in the top left. This makes it a focus point, and makes it intimidating and towering. The bottom right features the small person looking into the distance at the structure. This shows the brief of ‘An Epic Journey’ as the layout clearly shows that the guy is travelling into the distance to his target; the large tower.

Cosplanner is an app that allows the user to save reference pictures, and list all the objects/materials needed for making there cosplays.

http://cosplanner.catokusanagi.com

      

Cosplaner allows the user to keep track of cosplays they are currently working on as well as ones they have planned for the future, although it does not clearly separate the 2. It stores information entered by the user in an easy to use system, that lays out the information clearly. It acts as a tracker, as it displays summaries, percentage of completion, money spent, and other features. The information is also split into what needs to be bought, and what needs to be made. This allows the user to track all elements of the cosplay and see how far along they are in them. The app features an area for the user to save there own reference images, for easy access at a later date. It also allows for the user to add progress pictures, as well as ones that show finished elements, and the complete cosplay as a whole.

When personally using the app, I found it easy to use and navigate from the start. It laid out its information clearly and was simple to use. However, some of the button layout was not as clear as it could have been. Other issues; such as not having a part-way done option, or a weight system on the percentage completion, can lead to some confusion and complication when being practically applied.

This app uses a good system, and will act as part of the bases for my own project. However, as it does not have on;line connectivity or a social element, the concept can be built upon during the course of my project.