Challenge Summary
Welcome to another LUX Challenge! The LUX is a "Live User Experience Design Challenge" that we like to run as a fast design challenge to get quick exploration and new concepts on a user experience problem.
The "LUX - Audit Easy Flow Tools Design Concepts Challenge" will be run during the next 9 days. Throughout this challenge, we will be showcasing your concepts during a LIVE event in London England. At the end of the challenge, we will take your final concepts and present them as an InVision App prototype!
The LUX Challenge Series provides you with an opportunity to show digital leaders from some of the largest brands in the world just how good your user interface and user experience (UI/UX) design skills are. LUX challenges are fast, fun, and have more chances for you to capture prize money.
Note: No previous experience in a LUX challenge is needed to compete - jump in and give it a try! Make sure to follow the challenge forum and ask questions as things move very fast throughout a LUX challenge.
Challenge Details
The goal of this challenge is to take the provided design problem, analyze the user experience and provide design concepts and visual ideas on how the application might look and work!
Challenge Timeline and Rolling Checkpoint
- Challenge Starts: Monday 28th December 2015 20:00 EST
- Rolling Checkpoint will start: Sunday 03rd January 2015 08:00 EST
- Challenge Ends: Wednesday 06th January 2015 08.00 EST
We are offering 8 Placements plus $50 Rolling Checkpoint prizes!
1) $2000
2) $1500
3) $1000
4) $500
5) $250
6) $250
7) $150
8) $150
Rolling Checkpoint Review ($50)
Adam Morehead (adroc) will provide a design review if you submit your initial designs by (Sunday 03rd January 2015 08:00 EST)
— Within 36 Hours or less, we will provide any design feedback/guidance
— You must watch the forum for your feedback!
All qualifying* checkpoint submissions will win $50
Challenge Details
This LUX challenge is focused on analyzing and improving a single aspect of the company’s client auditing process. The company is a very large professional services firm that provides Audit as one of its service offerings. An audit in this case, is an independent inspection of financial statements and internal controls to verify accordance with professional standards. During an audit engagement, team members will meet with several members of a client team to document process flows. Using this documentation, they will generate a story (i.e. text-based documentation) of the process and then create a flowchart. We are looking to simplify this experience with the help of a new application.
Design Problem
The professional services company is looking for design concepts and ideas for a new application that will assist their employees when documenting text-based or verbal descriptions of a client's process flow and translating them into a flowchart using an intuitive, drag and drop interface and modern smart application principles. The company values innovation and is looking to explore the art of the possible - so this concept should be more than just a process flow tool.
This application will allow team members to capture the documentation process more efficiently, generate and share flowcharts easily, and improve communication and collaboration with the overall team and client.
Audit Details
Employees are tasked with completing flowcharts as a part of an audit engagement. At the start of the project, a junior member of the staff will meet with several members of the client to document the process flows and current controls. Based on the documentation they will generate a narrative/story (i.e. text-based) of the process as well as a flowchart. The scope of this documentation is limited to understanding the flow of financial information and potential risks as well as the current controls and oversights in place to ensure that the information is authorized/approved, accurate and complete. A senior member of the team will then review the process flow and narrative to ensure that it is complete and accurate.
~
Sample Flows for Inspiration
We are providing two options for how the documentation flow could work, but we expect you to think out of the box and be creative about this. Our main expectation is your concept is less time consuming and more intuitive to use. Therefore, these two different approaches can be a good starting point to think of different ways to tackle the challenge.
Word based flow chart
1) The auditor needs to pick the template that fits best the client/business process (inventory/revenue/etc.). We envision something that is similar to the intuitive use of Word's SmartArt where you choose the best template for your need.
2) After you choose the template you have a table hierarchy genius that helps you to fill out the text easily
3) Since in Flow Charts each shape has a different role, we need to provide the auditor an easy way to change the shape according to the role. For example, after I enter the text for a specific shape I hit the right click on my mouse and choose the shape's role and characteristics (shape's role/potential risk/etc.)
The company likes the template idea as work usually never begins with a blank canvas.
Visio based flow chart
1) Drag a Start shape to the canvas
2) Prompt the user to enter text for the canvas.
3) Drag Task shape to the canvas, which auto-snaps to the canvas and lines up with previous shape, a line is automatically extended from the first icon to the second
4) Prompt the user to enter a text for the shape.
5) Drag a Decision box to the canvas, it prompts you to select what type of decision it is (e.g. amount, yes/no, etc.),
-- If enter yes/no, it will enable two paths
-- If enter amount, it will ask for the number of thresholds (see sample flow below for guidance) and then prompts for the thresholds
The company likes how Visio models processes but feels the tool should be more intuitive, customized, and automated.
Challenge Goals
- We are looking to explore the art of the possible!
- This concept should be more than just a process flow tool – the company wants to work smarter
- The application will be cloud-based to create a more collaborative team environment that allows for interaction and integrated approval cycles (and to avoid process flows being stored on an employee's local machine)
Branding Guidelines
- See Flow-Chart-Sample.pdf for standard shapes that are used as a part of the audit methodology and example client deliverables
- See Branding-Elements.zip for colors and icons
Design Size
- Desktop: 1280px width with height adjusting accordingly
- We only need 7 screens plus the presentation screen - so pick/design what you think will "showcase" this your concept and this new application!
- In these LUX challenges the "Concepts" you propose are key to the presentation. Make sure to focus on the problem and new ways to solve the experience.
Design Considerations
- This application needs to be simple and intuitive to use.
- Think of the "input flow" of gathering information and how that information can transform to the desired flow flowcharts
- Flowcharts: The application should also be smart by filling in the arrows between the shapes, auto-snapping to the flow, etc.
- The application should enable the following:
--- Selection of standard shapes and symbols (flow chart - check attachment)
--- Interactive dialog (check attachment)
--- Automate the arrangement of icons to reflect flow
--- Enable annotations of the flow
--- Flow should automatically be re-arranged when a shape/object is inserted "upstream."
--- Output should be exportable as PDF as well as image file (in addition to being to be displayed from the app itself)
--- Output should be printable
--- The auditor should be able to link and connect between the different flow charts. For example, if we draw a production flow chart and want to add a link and connection to another flow chart (Inventory/Purchasing).
Things to think about (as App user)
- When I first open the application what do I see?
- What is the priority (based on the design problem)
- I should be able to create quickly a new documentation flow or continue with my most recent flow.
- What are the navigation items (primary and secondary)?
- How easy is it to quickly create flow diagrams based on text-based or description narrative input.
- The process should be collaborative with my team
Screen Requirements
00) Presentation Screen - 1920x1080 (16:9 Ratio)
- In a LUX challenge, this screen is very important so make it look good!
- If you were walking into a meeting and needed to sell your idea - use this screen to showcase your concept.
01) Home/Dashboard Screen
- Create a simple Logo that reflects the application goals of the application. (audit tools/flow process tools). This is not a logo challenge - do not spend all your time on the logo. Keep the logo simple and do not distract from your overall concept.
- Think about the overall experience and key navigation items, features and user actions.
- Provide a list of recent activity for any documentation or flowcharts that the user is currently working on.
- Show a history of user interactions, suggestions for reports that might be of interest to the user, etc.?
- What else is important here?
02) New Template Selection Screen
- What is the flow for creating or starting a new documentation process?
- What makes sense for the initial creation process?
- Imagine an experience where a user can view and intuitively select various types of business flow process templates (inventory/revenue/etc.)
03) Blank Canvas Interaction Screens
- Imagine the experience of just needing to start capturing and documenting the process (having a blank canvas to work with)
- How would this work?
- What are the tools?
- Review the two Sample Flows
- Imagine a layout where a user can choose from a variety of shapes and all flow chart design elements.
- The layout needs to provide at least 3 major sections, flowchart element items, main canvas to work with, and preview pane to see user current works.
- Needs some sample design to simulate how the canvas will work when being used by user.
- User can save their progress anytime so they can edit it later.
- Once the user finishes working on the business process flow document, they can save and send it to review.
- Explore any possibilities to make this screen and its interactions more simple, intuitive, innovative and modern.
04) Flow Diagram Review Screen
- This screen specifically will be use by senior members to review junior members business process flow creation.
- What is the best way to review the flow diagram?
- User (senior members) will be able to approve or reject the business process flow document.
05) Report Creation Screen
- All approved process flow files will appear here.
- User can generate reports of the business process flows by printing or exporting it via email (PDF, JPG, etc) to their client from this screen.
- There should be a history that indicates where, when, who and how many times the business process flow files have been printed or emailed for tracking the documents easily.
06) Manage Flow Diagram Screen
- User can view all their flows in this screen and view their status (Pending for review, in review, rejected).
- If a flow has been rejected by another user, they will be able to see the rejection comments and fix the flow as needed.
- After doing the revision, they will be able to re-submit and ask another user to review the business process flow.
07) Additional Screens/Experience
- Showcase your concepts and complete any flows/experiences
Target Audience
Team members who are looking to capture, document and eventually output flowcharts as part of the audit engagement.
Judging Criteria
- Concepts! How do you tackle simplifying this experience?
- Modern user interface combined with good and effective usability
- Cleanliness of your graphics and design.
- Your design concepts should be possible to build and implement.
Submission & Source Files
Preview Image
Create your preview image as one 1920x1080 (16:9 Ratio) JPG or PNG file in RGB color mode at 72dpi and place a screenshot of your submission within it.
Submission File
- Please upload JPG/PNG images in a zip file with all requested contest requirements stated above. Number your files (01, 02, 03, etc.) this will help review them in order.
- Please submit documentation in pdf format with as many pages and images as required to explain your design and solution.
Source Files
All source files of the submitted design. Files should be created in Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator or Sketch and saved as layered PSD/AI/SKETCH files.
Final Fixes
This challenge will require final fixes for the winners.
Please read the challenge specification carefully and watch the forums for any questions or feedback concerning this challenge. It is important that you monitor any updates provided by the client or Studio Admins in the forums. Please post any questions you might have for the client in the forums.