Assignment One challenges you to prepare a comprehensive 'Design Specification Document' and a User Interface (UI) prototype for a new and exciting mobile application that you will develop for Assignment Two. Mobile applications that are innovative, commercially feasible and fill a gap in the market will be considered more favourably. 

Assignment 1 is broken into three (3) separate, but related, tasks:

1. Task A: Design Specification Document
2. Task B: Mobile User Interface Design Prototype
3. Task C: Online Peer-Review

Task A: Design Specification Document (1500-2000 words)

For this first task, you will develop a Design Specification Document which will lay the foundation for the development of a prototype mobile application in Assignment 2.

• The mobile application that you are propose in this document should serve a purpose in one of the following areas:
• education
• business
• industry work-cycle
• lifestyle e.g. fitness, food, travel
• gaming
• If you would like to suggest another category e.g. 'health' you are welcome to confirm this with your unit coordinator.
• Document will be developed in Microsoft Word (or similar).
• Wordcount is to be between 1500-2000 words.
• Document must be presented professionally. This means that you will include the following information on your title page:
• unit code & name;
• assignment number & title;
• student name; and
• student number, and
• due date.

• Ensure you include a header & footer (page number in the footer).
• Ensure you use logical headings & sub-headings within your document (provide signposts for the reader). Suggestions are:

• Introduction
• Functional Requirements
• Navigation Map
• Prototype User Interface Design (Refer to task B: User Interface Prototype)
• Schedule / Timeline
• References
• Appendix (refer to Task C: Online Peer-Review)

• You are encouraged to include supporting illustrations, diagrams, tables or flowcharts within your document to clarify ideas or functionality.
• Ensure that you pay credit to ALL information or ideas that you use in your assignment by using the APA referencing scheme in accordance with the assessment criteria.
• Ensure that you include the results from Task C (Online Peer-Review) in the Appendix of your document.
• Ensure you proofread your work. As a future developer you are expected to have an eye for detail (if you make simple mistakes in your writing, what might happen in your code?)

Task B: Mobile User Interface Design Prototype

Drawing on information from Task A (Design Specification Document) design and develop a user interface for the mobile application that you intend to prototype for Assignment Two.

• The user interface design must correspond to the 'Navigation Map' which was included in Task A.
• During the term you will learn about recommended mobile user interface guidelines, it is VITAL that you follow these principles when developing your user interface designs for this task.
• It is strongly recommended that you use Adobe XD (part of the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription) for the purpose of designing and creating the mobile user interface for your mobile app. However, you are welcome to use another prototyping tool if you choose (if you are unsure, check with the Unit Coordinator).

Task C: Online Peer-Review

For the final task in Assignment 1 you will share your mobile user interface design prototype (Task B) on the DGTL12008 unit website forum for feedback from your peers. Additionally, you will write a 150-300 review for three of your peers by addressing the following questions:

• Does the overall design of the user interface show an aesthetic and minimalist approach?
• Does the mobile app's user interface design facilitate a good user experience?
• Does the mobile app's user interface give the user a degree of control and freedom?
• Are the images/icons/buttons/instructions easy to recognise and understand?
• Are there any suggestions that should be made to improve the user experience navigation?

Assignment 2 consists of two (2) related tasks:

1. Task A: Prototype Mobile Application, and
2. Task B: Written Report (800-1000 words)

Task A: Prototype Mobile Application

For this first task you will create a prototype for the mobile application that you proposed in Assignment 1. As previously stated, the best prototypes are innovative, serve a specific purpose such as solving a researched problem, or fill an identified gap in the market. Additionally, mobile applications should afford the user with tangible benefits e.g. lowering costs; improving productivity; creating new income streams, or improving customer service or workflow.

You must implement your mobile application using HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript. During the term you will learn about mobile application development using tools such as IONIC and REACT, and it is strongly advised that you use these for the development of your prototype. If you intend to use other development tools, you must obtain permission from the unit coordinator. Please be aware that a 'drag and drop' no-code application development tool is NOT recommended for this assessment, and will result in students not receiving any marks for this assessment task. Furthermore, ALL content and media elements within your prototype must be original i.e. created by YOU.

As a minimum, your mobile app will include the following:

• A logical, consistent and usable navigation system.
• Content that aligns with the purpose of your mobile application prototype.
• Well-designed elements such as icons and images, which allow the user to intuitively and easily interact with your application.
• An interactive form that allows the user to fill out their information.

It is important that the content, commands, and layout of information within your mobile app match the placement and composition of your chosen mobile operating system. Similarly, images, fonts, colours, shapes, textures, and other design elements should match the mobile application theme.

You can find more information about this task on the unit website.

Task B: Written Report (800-1000 words)

You are required to submit a written report of 800-1000 words that documents the design and development of your prototype mobile application.

• Your report will be prepared as a Microsoft Word document titled 'Lastname_Report.docx' (where 'Lastname' is replaced with your surname).

• Ensure you use logical headings & sub-headings within your document (provide signposts for the reader). Suggestions are:

• Introduction
• Resources
• Challenges
• Lessons Learned
• Conclusions
• References
• Appendix (for additional supporting materials - if required)

• Ensure that you pay credit to ALL information or ideas that you use in your assignment by using the APA referencing scheme in accordance with the assessment criteria.
• Ensure you proofread your work. As a future developer you are expected to have an eye for detail (if you make simple mistakes in your writing, what might happen in your code?)
  

Allocation of marks:

• Conceptualisation - 10 Marks
• Functionality - 10 Marks
• Style and media elements (all content is to be original) - 10 Marks
• Coding - 10 Marks
• Innovation - 10 Marks
• Professionally presented report (content, clarity and completeness) - 10 Marks