In our Product Design (UI/UX) class at Moringa School, our Technical Mentor, Silas Silkhe, challenged us to devise design solutions that tackle this issue while upholding essential design principles. Our collaborative effort, involving Amy, Stephen, and myself, led to the development of these solutions.

To illustrate our concepts, we also worked together on a low-fidelity prototype showcasing how our proposals could be effectively implemented.

Proposed Solutions in 5 parts

Like any other app, the initial step involves signing up into the platform.

After accessing the app, here comes the first proposal.

 1. Identity Verification Feature

Implementing ID/passport identification would ensure that only adults can create and set up accounts. This would also deter spam and bot accounts since each ID would be linked to a unique user, making user tracking more straightforward.

2. Family sharing accounts

To maintain a family-friendly environment, we propose enhancing the existing family-sharing feature. During onboarding, underage users can select their age group by scanning their parent’s account, allowing for age-appropriate content access. For underage users, this will lead them to either ‘Kidtok’ or ‘Teentok’.

‘Kidtok’ (ages 5-12) offers locked features that give families direct control over what children can watch, accessible via a PIN resettable monthly. The content here includes cartoons and lighthearted comedy.

‘Teentok’ (ages 13-17) features content that appeals to teenagers, such as dance challenges, lip sync, fashion, travel, education, comedy, relationships, mental health, gaming, and more.

On ‘Kidtok’ and ‘Teentok,’ only ‘like‘ and ‘comment‘ buttons will be available to reduce objectification and predatory behavior. This limits inappropriate content sharing, addressing past privacy and violation concerns.

For adults, TikTok remains a hub of laughter, fun and engaging conversations. Adult users are free to tweak their content preferences as they use the app. In the initial sign-up process, the content preferences page will look as below.

3. Live Steaming Latency

Stream latency is the delay between a camera capturing an event and the event being displayed to viewers.

This streaming delay is designed to provide TikTok’s algorithm with an opportunity to evaluate the content being broadcasted, particularly in cases involving explicit content, which has been a significant concern on Kenyan TikTok. We recommend implementing a 15-60 second delay for all live content streams.

This approach to latency timelines empowers TikTok to maintain a vigilant watch over content, promptly identifying and addressing any potential violations of guidelines.

4. Introducing ‘Incognitok’

Also referred to as ‘Incognito Mode/Adult Mode. This feature effectively separates potentially sensitive or explicit content from the rest of the platform, granting users greater control over their content experience.

Content on “Incognitok” will be marked and restricted to users who have verified their age and consented to view such content. Some of the topics on this side of the app will be what is considered potentially upsetting to other users such as extreme sports, medical procedures, sensitive topics such as violence, and some mental health topics – among others. It’s important to ensure that the use of “Incognitok” aligns with platform guidelines and local regulations.

‘Incognitok’ homepage will look like this.

Access to this feature is contingent upon age verification, as outlined earlier in the post. While using ‘Incognitok,’ your content consumption will not influence or impact your account’s search and watch history, ensuring privacy and content separation.

5. Well-being pop-up

This proposal tackles addiction concerns and prioritizes user well-being. Presently, this feature can be enabled within TikTok’s settings, but its inconspicuous nature may inadvertently encourage excessive use, potentially resembling a dark pattern in app design.

Our solution proposes the inclusion of a built-in timer for first-time users, triggered after 45 minutes of continuous activity, reminding them to take a wellness break. After encountering the initial pop-up, users have the option to disable or personalize this feature according to their preferences. Offering an exit point from the app aligns with well-being guidelines, fostering a responsible platform that promotes mental health and balanced usage.

Conclusion

Overall, these solutions address various issues, including user safety, age-appropriate content, and well-being. However, their success will depend on the effective implementation, clear communication of changes to users, and continuous monitoring and improvement of these features. 

Additionally, collaborating with local stakeholders and considering cultural sensitivities in Kenya will be essential to ensure that the solutions align with the needs and values of the Kenyan user base.

Would you like to create or improve digital products like apps and websites? Learn more about our Product Design (UI/UX) course and join the next intake – here.

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A lot of newbie designers misunderstand the terms UI and UX to mean the same thing and often use the two words interchangeably. The first step to creating life-changing user experiences using digital products is to understand the difference between these two terms. So let’s dive right in!

User Experience (UX)

At the crux of every product in the world is the ability to satisfy its users. Regardless of how great your solution is, if your end consumers are dissatisfied with your product, then it will go down the drain. This is the philosophy behind user experience. 

UX or user experience is the process of crafting seamless user experiences to improve user satisfaction with your digital product – could be your app or website. This is achieved by boosting the accessibility, usability, and performance of the solution. Overall, users must be pleased when interacting with your product.

Exemplary UX is having a user-centred design. Each product design decision must be made after considering the wants and needs of the users. It is noteworthy to mention that UX is not limited to the user’s experience with the product. Instead, it includes the customer’s perception prior to, during, and after the use of the digital solution. This involves crafting a compelling overview of the product, the download process (in the case of an app), and the actual usage, and post-usage with the brand. 

For example, in the case of an e-commerce website, the user experience will involve the branding efforts of the business, the ease of navigating the site from scrolling through the products to placing an order, and the reviews and push notifications, and emails the brand sends. 

User Interface (UI)

The user interface revolves around the usability of the solution. A product with a great UI will be one that is highly user-friendly and features an efficient interface. 

A common misconception about UI is that it is only about the development of navigation menus and buttons. However, in reality, it is more complex than this. 

User Interface includes all interactions between the product and the user. It is about the look and functionality of the product.

Continuing with the above example, when making a decision on where to place the cart option on the e-commerce website, developers must consider what position would be optimum for their users. They must also decide the colour scheme to use to help consumers in detecting the presence of the cart. 

What is more, the developer should ensure that the overall flow of the website makes sense. Having the consumer journey mapped out simplifies the interface design process.

Main Difference Between UI & UX

While UI consists of the technical elements that allow users to interact with the solution, UX involves the overall perception of the user takes away from the experience with the app.

Taking Google for example, the user interface of the platform is simplistic. It is designed to enable users to get information quickly. If the search engine featured a high load time, hampering the users’ ability to access information, the user experience would be compromised.

Besides the basic difference, here are other ways UX and UX differ from one another:

• UI focuses on product performance while UX focuses on the entire user journey.
• UI determines how the app will look, while UX determines what problem it will solve in the users’ life.
• UI revolves around visually directing the users around the app/website interface while UX includes researching, testing, developing, and prototyping the product.
• While UI is limited to the screen, UX transcends it and includes all interactions and touchpoints of the user.

The Overlap

The reason why many people consider UX and UI to be synonymous is that quality apps/websites must include both. Without proper UX, UI is guaranteed to be compromised. 

Why?

When interacting with a digital product, users require the platform to be user-friendly and efficient to call the experience smooth and convenient. Therefore, usability plays a crucial role in attaining optimum user experiences. 

Final Thoughts

It is imperative to understand that UX is above and beyond the product’s performance – and UI is more than the buttons added. A proper understanding of the synergy between the two is the key to creating winning solutions. 

Are you looking to create design life-changing user experiences for digital products and websites?

Visit our website to enroll in our Product Design (UX/UI) course.

Full-time program:  https://bit.ly/45fQOxk

Part-time program: https://bit.ly/3Flv4EU

Connect with the author of this post on Linkedin: Cecilia Akinyi.

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In today’s world, where technology is constantly advancing, and new products are being developed every day, there is a need to create products that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Learning Product Design can be a valuable skill in a world where user experience and user interface is essential in meeting the needs of consumers.  The rapid advancements in technology, the growing importance of sustainability, and the changing needs of consumers have created new opportunities for product designers to innovate and create products that are both ergonomic and visually pleasing. Here are some reasons why it’s a great time to start considering learning Product Design (UI/UX) in 2023:

1. Emerging technologies

2023 promises to be a year of innovation and growth, with emerging technologies such as AI, AR, VR, and 3D printing shaping the future of product design. By learning product design in 2023, you’ll gain a deep understanding of these technologies and how to apply them to your design thinking process. You’ll also be better equipped to keep up with the fast-paced changes in the industry and stay ahead of the competition.

2. Focus on sustainability

The focus on sustainability has never been stronger, and it’s changing the way products are designed and manufactured. Product designers are now tasked with creating products that are environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and made from sustainable materials. By learning product design in 2023, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of sustainability and how to incorporate it into your designs. This knowledge will make you a valuable asset to companies that are committed to sustainability.

3. Growing demand for product designers

The demand for product designers is growing, and it’s expected to continue to rise in 2023. This is due to the increasing growth in the tech industry with an uprising demand for e-commerce, online shopping platforms, and more innovative digital solutions in various industries. Product Designers are in demand more than ever in creating products that are user-friendly, responsive, and stand out in the crowded marketplace. By learning Product Design in 2023, you’ll be well-positioned to take advantage of the growing demand for product designers and secure a rewarding career.

4. Versatility

Product Design is a versatile field that offers a wide range of career opportunities. You’ll gain skills that are applicable to all industries such as automotive, healthcare, manufacturing, retail industry and more. This flexibility makes product design a great choice for individuals who are interested in exploring different fields and industries throughout their careers.

5. Impactful work

Creating products that solve real-world problems and enhance people’s lives makes product designers create a lifelong impact on the users and make a difference in the world. Take the example of Uber and Uber Eats, these products have made life easier for users looking to hail a taxi or order food from the comfort of their phone. Product design will help you gain skills in design thinking, UI/UX, user research, prototyping, testing, and more.

In conclusion, learning Product Design in 2023 can be a valuable investment for your future. The emerging technologies, focus on sustainability, growing demand for product designers, versatility, and potential for impactful work makes it a great choice for anyone interested in pursuing a career as a  product designer. With the right skills and knowledge, you’ll have the opportunity to create products that are sustainable, adaptive, innovative, appealing, and transformative to users, have a significant impact on people’s lives, and leave a lasting legacy.

Start your journey into Product Design with our 22-week full-time course. Apply Now for the class starting in June here: https://bit.ly/3AVhXI7

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