Design Cultures in Conflict: An Analysis of User Experience Design Standards in Social Media Smartphone Apps
Date
2021
Authors
Dannaoui, Sami
Editors
Advisors
Pugsley, Peter C.
Humphrey, Aaron
Humphrey, Aaron
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Thesis
Citation
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
Abstract
This thesis explores the User Experience Design (UXD) standards of social media apps through a cultural and media studies lens. UXD is a philosophy that guides how products are designed. Its most defining aspect is that designs are informed by knowledge about users. Research on UXD is generally focused on presenting practical considerations for designers and tends to lack historical and cultural accounts of the UXD practices and standards implemented within the app industry. To address this gap, this research project drew on a comprehensive historical snapshot of 60 social media apps available in 2016 divided equally into text-driven and image-based subgenres and stratified the apps’ design features using a move-scheme analysis. The findings of this analysis were then used for app case studies grounded in a framework of UXD principles and explored through theories such as hegemony, remediation, and dominant design. This thesis demonstrates that the designs of social media apps are culturally contingent and shaped beyond the mere application of technical know-how through historical and cultural perspectives. The cultural contingency of design is highlighted through the many examples of conflicting app design standards in relation to media formats and navigation. These case studies demonstrate the complexity and challenge of designing for different users and meeting the UXD philosophy of putting the user first.
School/Discipline
School of Humanities : Media
Dissertation Note
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Humanities, 2022
Provenance
This electronic version is made publicly available by the University of Adelaide in accordance with its open access policy for student theses. Copyright in this thesis remains with the author. This thesis may incorporate third party material which has been used by the author pursuant to Fair Dealing exceptions. If you are the owner of any included third party copyright material you wish to be removed from this electronic version, please complete the take down form located at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/legals