Android app, mobile development university course project

#Code app

The problem: Learning a programming language can feel daunting and exhausting, and the three students I interviewed reported procrastination, distress and low motivation.
The outcome: A study app with bite-size C# lessons, motivating copy, study streaks, downloadable modules and a completion certificate, approved by our professor as client.
My role: I ran the user research, shared the flowcharts, designed the wireframes with one UI designer, prototyped, and built the UI.

Redesigned homepage with open dates and booked date with status, and a bottom nav bar to check fees and accepted recyclables list.

Hard to stay motivated while learning to code

The app is for anyone learning a programming language, with a focus on computer science and IT students. Our class asked for any Android app, and we chose a topic we knew, which made interviewing users easy.

How I researched

Interviewed 3 students about learning to program
Presented findings to the team before brainstorming
Used findings to prioritize features

Who it’s for

Beginners learning C#, especially computer science and IT students who want to feel progress and stay engaged.

The team

Reanne, project manager and QA
Fordy, UI designer and navigation planner
Rov, content strategist
Dennis and Kenneth, back-end

What I found

Technical detail made learning daunting and exhausting.
Students procrastinated and felt distressed and demotivated.
Students prefer a mix of text, video and visuals to grasp concepts.

Brainstorm

Prioritization matrix

We mapped ideas by user value and team effort to decide what to build first. Faded ideas were deprioritized, and the matrix helped guide ownership across the team.

Impact and effort matrix comparing app feature ideas by user value and team effort

Four user goals, no dead ends

I shared flowcharts as the team’s common language. Designers used them to check every path leads somewhere.

User flow diagram showing four core user goals and no dead ends

Wireframe

Using what we've learned from research and the prioritization matrix, we wireframed key screens.

Three looks, tested with the team

The team suggested colors and typography, and I made three high-fidelity versions of the same screens so everyone could feel each one. Switch between them.

Decision: Lawn Green with Poppins, in a light theme.
A light green inspired by Duolingo, which suits a friendly, encouraging learning app.
Two UI design iterations before I built the UI.
The designs was presented to and approved by our professor, who acted as client.

#58CC02White GreenStorm Dust

Style	Size	Weight
Header One	24 px	Poppins Medium
Header Two	20 px	Poppins Medium
Body	16 px	Poppins Regular
Small	14 px	Poppins Light

Design

Feedback in words, not just color

Every quiz ends with encouraging copy and a clear next step, such as a break or the next lesson. Streaks, quizzes and the certificate keep users moving.

What I learned

Research is never wasted, however small. I also learned to ask why each deliverable matters instead of just ticking a list.

Next steps

Before any Google Play release, I would test with users and iterate, and keep updating both features and content as student needs change.