SciQuel
Project Snapshot
Role
Project timeline
Tool used
Project Statement
SciQuel is a new and growing non-profit science media organization. We are scientists, developers, writers, and illustrators who create original content (articles, podcasts, and videos) meant for a non-technical audience. We are passionate about making science understandable for the general public through the lens of scientists.
Our mission is to benefit society by making scientific knowledge freely accessible. We want to truly change the world by inspiring people to think and talk about science on a daily basis.
How might we make complex scientific content more accessible and engaging for users with varying levels of expertise?
01 Understanding the Problem
Why do we need a new Science-Media Mobile App?
In today’s digital age, the intersection of science and media has become increasingly important as people seek reliable, engaging, and accessible information to better understand the world around them. Yet, many current platforms face challenges in conveying intricate scientific ideas to a wider audience, balancing accuracy with compelling storytelling.
Understanding the User
Curious Learner - Leila, 23, College Student
Background: Leila is a college student studying history with a growing interest in science, but she finds traditional textbooks and academic papers hard to engage with.
Goal: She wants a simple and fun way to learn about science topics like climate change without feeling overwhelmed by technical jargon.
App Interaction: Leila uses the app to explore bite-sized articles and explainer videos that help her learn at her own pace. She values features like topic recommendations based on her interests.
Science Enthusiast - Leo, 35, Researcher
Background: Leo is a professional researcher with a background in biology. He loves keeping up with the latest breakthroughs in the scientific world but has limited time to sift through journal articles.
Goal: Leo wants quick, trustworthy summaries of cutting-edge research, along with access to detailed articles when he needs to dive deeper.
App Interaction: Leo uses the app to access articles, podcasts, and expert interviews. He appreciates the app's ability to summarize complex research while providing links to original sources.
Educator - Candice, 42, High School Teacher
Background: Candice is a high school science teacher and mother of two. She is always looking for engaging ways to introduce science concepts to her students and make learning fun at home.
Goal: She wants a resource that provides clear, engaging science content that is both educational and appropriate for her students, while also being fun for her children.
App Interaction: Candice uses the app to find educational content, such as interactive science experiments and kid-friendly explanations that she can show in class or share with her kids.
Two Big User Needs
· Accessible science content
· Personalized learning experiences
02 Design System
Building an app from scratch requires lots of preparation to ensure consistency and usability across all design elements.
The first step is defining the brand identity, including color schemes, typography, and logo usage.
Next, we established UI components, such as buttons, icons, and navigation elements.
We defined the design language of the app interfaces, outlining what kind of interactions and transitions we want our users to feel.
03 The Final Design Flows
The app features tools that empower users to explore science interactively, including quizzes, bookmarking, commenting, and note-taking. These features foster a supportive learning community while helping learners build confidence in understanding and discussing scientific concepts.
Home Page
The app’s Home Page is designed to immerse users in a world of discovery from the moment they open the app. It organizes content into three main sections:
Staff Pick, featuring standout articles curated weekly by SciQuel’s team.
Trending Now, a dynamic space showcasing the most popular content based on user engagement, perfect for joining the hottest science discussions;
Latest Stories, a chronological feed of newly published content to ensure users stay up-to-date with the newest discoveries.
Article Page
The Article Page of the app is designed to provide an immersive and interactive reading experience. Each article is displayed in a clean, reader-friendly layout, ensuring that users can focus on the content.
At the top of each article, there is a short quiz designed to encourage active reading. This quiz introduces a question related to the article’s content, prompting users to approach the material with a question in mind.
The page includes intuitive tools such as highlighting, allowing users to mark key points for future reference.
The note-taking tool lets users jot down thoughts, questions, or summaries as they read. Notes are automatically stored in a "Your Notes," accessible anytime.
The commenting feature allows users to share thoughts linked to specific sections of the article. Users can upvote comments and engage with other learners or even SciQuel staff.
The app also offers a click-to-define feature: users can tap on unfamiliar scientific terms to instantly view clear, concise definitions, making complex topics more accessible to everyone.
04 Next Step
We aim to design and implement a Profile Page that allows users to create their own personalized accounts within the app. This feature will enable users to customize their use experience by saving preferences, bookmarking content, and receiving personalized recommendations based on their interests and usage patterns. This profile page will also serve as the central hub for managing personal settings, ensuring that the app adapts to each user’s unique needs and providing a more engaging, customized experience overall.
