Lesson Plan: Design an App People Will Love!

Materials Needed

• A computer with internet access
• Paper, pencils, and colored markers/crayons
• A free and easy-to-use digital design tool (e.g., Canva, Google Slides, or even MS Paint/Paint 3D)
• Optional: A smartphone or tablet to take a picture of drawings

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Explain what a "user" is and why they are important in design.
2. Brainstorm ideas for a digital product (like an app) based on a user's needs.
3. Collaborate as a team to design one screen of an app.
4. Present your design and explain the choices you made.

Part 1: Introduction (15 minutes)

The Hook: Good Design vs. Bad Design

Educator: "Vienna and Troy, have you ever used a website or played a game on the computer that was super confusing? Maybe the buttons were hard to find, or you didn't know what to click next? Now, think about your favorite app or game. What makes it so fun and easy to use?"

• Lead a short discussion about their experiences. Talk about what makes something "user-friendly."
• Introduce the main idea: "Today, we're not just going to make something cool on the computer; we're going to be inventors who solve a problem for someone. We're going to learn the number one secret to creating things that people love: thinking about the user first!"

Today's Mission

Educator: "Our mission is to work together as a design team. Vienna, you'll be the Lead Designer, and Troy, you'll be the Creative Director and official Idea Tester. Together, you will design one screen for a brand new app: 'The Perfect Pet Picker!'"

Part 2: The Body (45-60 minutes)

I DO: What is a "User?" (5 minutes)

Educator explains: "A 'user' is just a fancy word for the person who will use what you create. If you bake a cookie for your friend, your friend is the 'user' of that cookie. To make a cookie they'll love, you have to think about them. Do they like chocolate chips or sprinkles? The same is true for apps!"

"For our 'Perfect Pet Picker' app, our user is a kid just like you who wants to find the perfect imaginary pet to adopt. Let's call our user 'Alex.' Alex is 8 years old and loves animals, bright colors, and things that are simple to use."

WE DO: Brainstorming for Our User (15 minutes)

Educator leads a collaborative brainstorming session.

Educator: "Okay, Design Team, let's think about Alex. If Alex is going to use our app to find a pet, what does he need to see on the screen?"

• Question for Vienna (Lead Designer): "What are the most important pieces of information Alex needs? Maybe the pet's picture, name, and a button to learn more?"
• Question for Troy (Creative Director): "What would make this app fun for Alex? What kind of pets should be in it? Dragons? Unicorn-puppies? What are some fun colors we should use?"

Activity: Paper Prototypes

1. Give both Vienna and Troy paper and markers.
2. Educator: "Let's sketch out our ideas! Don't worry about it being perfect. This is just for getting our ideas down."
3. Vienna's Role: Sketch the layout. Where will the picture go? Where will the name go? Where should the buttons be?
4. Troy's Role: Draw some of the cool, imaginary pets! Or draw what the buttons could look like. Let's make it exciting!
5. After 5-10 minutes, have them share their sketches and decide on a final design plan together.

YOU DO: Building the App Screen (25-40 minutes)

Educator facilitates as the team builds their design on the computer.

Educator: "Great job, team! Now let's build it. Vienna, you'll be at the controls using our design tool. Troy, your job is to make sure the design is fun and easy to understand for our user, Alex."

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Open a blank document in your chosen tool (Canva or Google Slides is great for this).
2. Team Task 1: The Background. "Troy, what's a fun color for the background that Alex would like?" Vienna, can you set the background color?
3. Team Task 2: The Pet. "Troy, let's use one of your awesome pet drawings!" You can take a photo of the drawing and upload it to the computer. Vienna, can you place the picture on the screen where you planned in your sketch?
4. Team Task 3: The Information. "Vienna, based on your design, where should we put the pet's name and a short, fun fact about it?" Work together to write a name and fact (e.g., "Sparky the Dragon-Dog. Fact: He breathes glitter!").
5. Team Task 4: The Buttons. "What do we want Alex to do? Let's add two buttons. Maybe one that says 'Adopt Me!' and another that says 'See More Pets'. Vienna, you can create these using shapes and text. Troy, what color should the buttons be so they are easy to see?"

Success Criteria for the Design:

• Is it easy to see the pet?
• Is the text easy to read?
• Is it clear what the user should click?
• Does it look fun and inviting for an 8-year-old?

Part 3: Conclusion (10 minutes)

Show and Tell

Educator: "Design Team, you did it! You've created your first app screen. Now it's time to present your work."

• Have Vienna and Troy present their final design.
• Ask them questions to guide their presentation:
  • "Tell me about your user. Who did you design this for?"
  • "Vienna, why did you decide to put the picture there and the buttons at the bottom?"
  • "Troy, tell me why you chose these colors and this amazing pet."
  • "What do you think is the best part of your design?"

Recap and Takeaway

Educator: "You both did an amazing job today. You learned the most important secret of making things people love: it's not just about what *you* think is cool, it's about understanding your user and designing something that works for them."

"You worked as a team, with a Lead Designer and a Creative Director, and together you made something that is both well-designed and super fun. That's exactly how real design teams work!"

Differentiation and Extension

• For Vienna (Extension): Challenge her to think about the next screen. What happens when Alex clicks the 'Adopt Me!' button? Have her sketch that screen too. Introduce a simple design principle like "The most important thing should be the biggest."
• For Troy (Scaffolding): Keep his role focused on creative input and feedback. His drawings are a vital part of the project. He is the "voice of the user." If he says something is confusing, the team has to listen!
• For a Classroom/Group: Break students into pairs (Designer and Creative Director). Have each pair design an app screen for a different user (e.g., a grandparent, a scientist, a chef). Then, have the groups present their work to the class.