Self-initiated Project - 2022
My role
- UX/UI Design
Tools used
- Pen+paper sketch
- Figma
- Photoshop
I attempted to redesign the Camera Remote app for my favorite camera brand.
Problem statement
Despite Fujifilm being among the most popular digital camera companies, Fujifilm’s Camera Remote app appears to be an afterthought. With over two thousand reviews, most users are unhappy with the app, as indicated by the app’s reviews averaging 1.5 stars. Users are generally identifying that this app is cumbersome and not very intuitive.
As a decade-long dedicated Fujifilm user, I believe I have the passion, insight, and experience to attempt to redesign their app. Due to my expertise with a myriad of Fujifilm cameras, I can help create a more user-friendly experience for other users like myself.
PROJECT GOALS
Redesign the current Camera Remote App while following Fujifilm's design aesthetics, emphasizing modern and practical interface design.
Follow Fujifilm’s philosophy of “Kaizen,”; the thought of always striving to improve a product and experience.
Have the app compliment the experience of photographing as if the digital product were an extension of their physical product line-up.
RESEARCH METHODS
User survey
User journey
Lo-Fi prototypes
I reached out to 5 Fujifilm photographers to gain insights into their needs and pain points regarding the current camera remote app.
CUSTOMER NEEDS
Main focus area + main takeaway
What are the challenges or barriers with current app use?
What are photographers' needs and unmet needs?
What's essential for a fantastic app experience?
How are users interacting with their smartphone while photographing and not photographing?
Everyone is frustrated
All users reported lag and connectivity issues, while most added confusing UI as a pain point. Several users complained about unintuitive design, while others were bothered by the unnecessary information cluttering the homepage. All users ended up spending too much time on the app and ended up with frustration in various degrees.
Not a Fujifilm experience
All users shared that Fujifilm cameras provide an exciting photography experience and that Fujifilm's attention to design played a reason in their purchase of a camera. However, two users noted that the ad did not match the same design language. All users agreed that the app did not provide the same positive experience as the cameras.
Consistency is key
Four users expressed excitement about having a live view feature, whereas one user asked for a simple remote shutter button without the 15 seconds connection time. Everyone stressed the importance of essential images in a gallery, while one user pitched the idea of a social media platform for Fujifilm users. Ultimately, all users wanted a consistent app to support their photography at a moment's notice, whether in the field or at the studio.
Lots of potential
All five users agreed that a camera remote was not a tool they would frequently use but would be helpful when occasionally needed. Although, everyone shared that they would be ecstatic to reliably, wirelessly transfer photos via Bluetooth from their camera to the mobile app. Two users reported that they carry a phone external SD card reader because they enjoy editing on the go but do not find the current app reliable enough.
After conducting my user interviews, I synthesized my findings, went on to card sorting, and created a flow diagram. This process allowed me to work on ideation and create a lo-fi prototype.
Card sorting
User journey
Sketches
VISUALS
Lo-Fi prototypes
I sketched variants of quick prototypes before making more detailed paper mockups based on feedback from the users of the current app.
Moodboard
As the goal is to create another product of the vast Fujifilm lineup, I need the app to look identical to the company's current design ethos. Thus, I grabbed screenshots to better understand Fujifilm's branding and visual identity and implemented a similar grid, layout, and color scheme.
Styleguide
The style guide is straightforward; Colors that match Fujifilm’s visual identity, and the typeface is at close to the official font as possible. Overall, the goal here is a sleek look with clean lines.
App icon
I created the app icon with visual cues from the style guide and mood board. My intention with the icon design was to reflect the purpose and personality of the Camera Remote app: modern and approachable.
Shutter button
I wanted to ensure that the shutter button communicated exceptionally well with users, as it's the most critical feature of a camera. However, a shutter button alone is not enough; Since it's impossible to set the camera's focus point on the touch screen, I had to add a focusing button to the shutter.
The user interface must match the real world. Thus I added the octagon joystick as its the most common way to set the focusing point on Fujifilm cameras. However, I sent a prototype to the handful of participants to see what they would gravitate to, and to my surprise, three of them could connect the octagon with the actual cameras.
ONBOARDING
As the app is straightforward with a few simple functions, I created a quickstart model as a part of the onboarding process. The benefit here is to get the user quickly started with the app's core functionality.
Connect your camera
Users browse the extensive catalog of Fujifilm cameras to connect to their specific camera model.
Enable settings
User enables their preferred setting to offer a more transparent, positive, and customizable app experience.
Activate an instax printer
Users are asked to activate a pocket printer as they are becoming a more popular product.
HI-FI PROTOTYPES
Homepage
I designed the app around its two main features: a camera remote with live view and a gallery. As the app is intended to complement users who are photographing, I needed the layout as intuitive and straightforward as possible. In addition to the two main functions, I added a standard remote button should a user not need live view. Furthermore, I added a small information bar at the top, where users can always see the connection status to connecting or disconnecting a camera.
Connect Cameras
Users can effortlessly connect or disconnect cameras to the remote app. A simple click from the homepage makes this efficient without having to menu dive.
Live view mode
I expanded the features from the current app but kept it to the most essential that a photographer may need. My intention with the extended features is to give users more flexibility while also matching the experience of using a real-life camera. The main design challenge here is having a clean layout, considering the amount of information. Following Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines became very useful for this particular screen.
Gallery mode
Most Fujifilm cameras have dual memory cards making it possible for photographers to record a jpeg file optimized for social media, while the other slot records large RAW files. Therefore, having a minimalistic gallery with the option of choosing a card slot speeds up the user's workflow.
LEARNING
Test an actual prototype
I would be curious to see how well users would respond to an actual prototype. As I have created the screens in Figma, making a functional prototype would not be challenging. With more time and a budget, I would love to revise this project, conduct A/B testing, and gather more feedback.
Balancing form & function
My user research indicated a clear need for an updated interface of the current Camera Remote, despite the main complaint being the unreliable connection and the overall sluggish feel. Ultimately, no matter how efficient and modern the interface is, users will continue to have a poor experience with the Camera Remote if Fujifilm does not invest in a software update. Fujifilm, one of the most popular camera companies, will hopefully invest in a product where form and function meet.
