Overview
Anime Boston is an annual three-day anime fan convention held in Boston, Massachusetts celebrating and promoting Japanese animation, comics, and pop culture.
This event has been a cornerstone of the North East Anime Convention circuit since its inaugural event in April 2003. Following unprecedented growth, Anime Boston quickly outgrew the space in the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and moved to the Hynes Convention Center in 2005. Anime Boston is home to events and activities like panels, concerts, cosplay, meet and greets, karaoke, videogames, and buying amazing merch!
Anime Boston is an annual three-day anime fan convention held in Boston, Massachusetts celebrating and promoting Japanese animation, comics, and pop culture.
This event has been a cornerstone of the North East Anime Convention circuit since its inaugural event in April 2003. Following unprecedented growth, Anime Boston quickly outgrew the space in the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and moved to the Hynes Convention Center in 2005. Anime Boston is home to events and activities like panels, concerts, cosplay, meet and greets, karaoke, videogames, and buying amazing merch!
Problem
The way-finding and scheduling app for Anime Boston has not kept up with its rapid growth and expansion. A refresh of the app is needed to help make it easier for attendees to find where they are going and to successfully create an itinerary from many options.
The way-finding and scheduling app for Anime Boston has not kept up with its rapid growth and expansion. A refresh of the app is needed to help make it easier for attendees to find where they are going and to successfully create an itinerary from many options.
Challenge
Organizing the information architecture a massive amount of information into a clear and compact app experience.
Organizing the information architecture a massive amount of information into a clear and compact app experience.
Scope of Work
Michael Konstansky | UX/UI design, Mobile design, Prototyping, Design research, Animation
Nick Leonce | Illustration
Michael Konstansky | UX/UI design, Mobile design, Prototyping, Design research, Animation
Nick Leonce | Illustration
Design
Getting Started
The login process was created to be as simple and painless as possible. Almost all the features of the app — except for the store — can be used without logging in. Anime Boston, like most conventions, can have terrible wifi and data experiences. To limit the app's data usage, information is downloaded and stored locally within your device. It only updates when absolutely necessary.
The login process was created to be as simple and painless as possible. Almost all the features of the app — except for the store — can be used without logging in. Anime Boston, like most conventions, can have terrible wifi and data experiences. To limit the app's data usage, information is downloaded and stored locally within your device. It only updates when absolutely necessary.
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Tutorials
Instead of front-loading the user with tutorials during the onboarding, tutorials and information about the app pop up when relevant to the user.
Instead of front-loading the user with tutorials during the onboarding, tutorials and information about the app pop up when relevant to the user.
Notifications
Notifications help attendees keep to their schedule, reminders to get food and recommend times to wait in line for popular panels.
Notifications help attendees keep to their schedule, reminders to get food and recommend times to wait in line for popular panels.
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Navigation
Most convention apps use the same basic format for navigation. They either use a navigational drawer or a remote-like navigational page. In use, neither of the pre-established solutions felt like the best solution to the navigation problem. The refreshed app has navigation that uses a bottom drawer to contain its content. This drawer was designed to be more comfortable to use for single-handed users compared to the pre-established alternatives.
Most convention apps use the same basic format for navigation. They either use a navigational drawer or a remote-like navigational page. In use, neither of the pre-established solutions felt like the best solution to the navigation problem. The refreshed app has navigation that uses a bottom drawer to contain its content. This drawer was designed to be more comfortable to use for single-handed users compared to the pre-established alternatives.
Inventory
The inventory works as a quick way for people to access their tickets, etc. Inspired by video game inventories, this feature helps reduce wait times in lines with ticket checks.
The inventory works as a quick way for people to access their tickets, etc. Inspired by video game inventories, this feature helps reduce wait times in lines with ticket checks.
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Featured
The Anime Boston schedule can be overwhelming, especially for new attendees. The featured section helps reduce decision fatigue by showing attendees a curated list of the biggest and most popular events.
The Anime Boston schedule can be overwhelming, especially for new attendees. The featured section helps reduce decision fatigue by showing attendees a curated list of the biggest and most popular events.
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Schedule & Filters
Wayfinding & Maps
Ticketing
Anime Boston Companion App Screen Collection
Mascot Illustrations
By | Nick Leonce
To make the app experience more memorable and pleasing a mascot character was introduced. Utilizing one of Anime Boston's pre-existing characters. Interaction with the mascot is designed after light novel videogames. Utilizing a small group of faces and poses to convey a wide range of expression.
By | Nick Leonce
To make the app experience more memorable and pleasing a mascot character was introduced. Utilizing one of Anime Boston's pre-existing characters. Interaction with the mascot is designed after light novel videogames. Utilizing a small group of faces and poses to convey a wide range of expression.
Research
Survey Questions
1. How many years have you attended?
2. What are you most interested in at Anime Boston?
3. Least favorite parts about Anime Boston?
3A. Why?
4. Favorite parts about Anime Boston
4A. Why?
5. What’s your age?
6. Do you attend alone or with others?
7. Do you know about the Anime Boston mobile guide/ schedule?
7A. (If yes) Do you use the mobile app?
8. Do you use the Anime Boston Schedule?
9. Do you read the Anime Boston Booklet?
9A. Why?
10. Do you get lost while at the convention?
10A. Why?
11. Do you get food from inside or outside the con?
12. (Be honest) Do you skip meals to see panels, find merch, get autographs, etc.?
1. How many years have you attended?
2. What are you most interested in at Anime Boston?
3. Least favorite parts about Anime Boston?
3A. Why?
4. Favorite parts about Anime Boston
4A. Why?
5. What’s your age?
6. Do you attend alone or with others?
7. Do you know about the Anime Boston mobile guide/ schedule?
7A. (If yes) Do you use the mobile app?
8. Do you use the Anime Boston Schedule?
9. Do you read the Anime Boston Booklet?
9A. Why?
10. Do you get lost while at the convention?
10A. Why?
11. Do you get food from inside or outside the con?
12. (Be honest) Do you skip meals to see panels, find merch, get autographs, etc.?
Findings
Most people didn't know about the Anime Boston Mobile Guide. New con-goers often got lost looking for panel rooms. Experienced attendees also often got lost when looking for panels outside the Hynes Convention Center. Some people only go for the merch, some are mainly interested in panels, and others mainly cosplay. With a smaller set interested in mainly the guests. People reported wayfinding as a pain point.
Most people didn't know about the Anime Boston Mobile Guide. New con-goers often got lost looking for panel rooms. Experienced attendees also often got lost when looking for panels outside the Hynes Convention Center. Some people only go for the merch, some are mainly interested in panels, and others mainly cosplay. With a smaller set interested in mainly the guests. People reported wayfinding as a pain point.
User Personas
Attendees can be a diverse range of people, from kids to elderly with the majority being in their twenties to thirties. Attendees can be experienced or new.
Attendees can be a diverse range of people, from kids to elderly with the majority being in their twenties to thirties. Attendees can be experienced or new.
App Map
The app's information architecture map was designed to be thin and wide to help prevent users from getting lost within the app. With wayfinding being one of the biggest pain points for users, the maps section is connected to every section of the app with settings being the only exception.
The app's information architecture map was designed to be thin and wide to help prevent users from getting lost within the app. With wayfinding being one of the biggest pain points for users, the maps section is connected to every section of the app with settings being the only exception.
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