Video Prototype: Yuka

Feb 18, 2024 • 4 minute read

For this assignment, I created a video prototype that communicated a potential use case for the mobile application, Yuka. Yuka is a health and nutrition app that scans products to get clear information on the health impact of the products you consume. After creating a scenario, designing storyboards, and filming clips I was able to use iMovie to edit my video together.

Storyboarding

After brainstorming a basic idea, I began drawing out a simple storyboard. This storyboard would later be presented to a few peers in my class for feedback. I primarily focused on the narrative of a user going to a grocery store and using Yuka to scan their products before finding out which was the healthiest one.

Drawn Storyboard and Feedback Notes

Filming and Editing

After making edits to the overall storyboard based on peer feedback, I went to my local Safeway to film clips for the video. Here I was able to record the content I needed and planned on using voice-over to explain the spoken elements for the video. This was the easiest location and editing option for me given the time available to complete the assignment.

Then I used iMovie to edit the clips together and posted it on my YouTube channel for submission.

There are some minor audio mixing issues, after uploading to YouTube; however, I was able to outline a primary use case for the application successfully.

Evaluation Criteria

The prompt for this project was to create a video less than 2 minutes long that would communicate the user interaction with the app. It was important to write down what criteria I would evaluate my prototype on. Specifically, focusing on how I would measure these. I decided upon the following:

  • Desirability - The video shows that Yuka is an important application, with apparent benefits that users should be encouraged to download.

  • Feasibility - The primary use case of scanning a product and viewing the nutritional/health information should be easy for users.

  • Usability - The mobile application should have a streamlined user journey, in which people can envision themselves using Yuka in a similar way.

  • Impact - The health benefits of using Yuka to scan products should be translated in a meaningful manner.

Final Video Prototype

Analysis and Reflection

Once I finished uploading my video, I presented my creation to fellow peers to see what could be improved. I noticed that they appreciated the overall storyline of how the use case was portrayed. Additionally, the sound effects and screen recording of the actual application, made the video more realistic.

In terms of improvements, one piece of feedback was regarding the plot of the video for usability. Rather than having the user pick up items for purchase prior to scanning them, it would be more realistic to use the feature that suggested healthier options. This way the user wouldn’t need to scan multiple unhealthy products before finding the healthy option. I wish I had considered this in the beginning so there was a better flow for the user journey. Additionally, with better cinematography and editing, the tone of the video could be less amateur.

One challenge I faced during this assignment was filming all of my shots in a visually appealing way. Because I was the main subject in the video, I had to ask a friend to film me through the store. As a result, some shots were framed differently than I had initially planned. In the future, clearer directions and potentially the use of a detailed shot list could help alleviate this.

Overall, this exercise was fun and very different than the physical prototyping that we had done in the past. Specifically, I was able to learn about using iMovie as a video-editing software. iMovie’s simplistic UI made importing and editing clips/audio very easy; however, I wish there was more capability regarding effects and inclusion of text. This could make the video more visually appealing and add closed-captioning automatically.

I was able to meet all of my originally set objectives relating to desirability, feasibility, usability, and impact. Adding voice-overs to a real screen recording of Yuka highlighted the health information in the most practical and realistic use case.