by arinze.onyebuchi -

13 – Home Tab, How should it work?

After figuring out the broader structure of the tool, the next step was to zoom in and really understand what should happen on the Home tab. This is where everything begins. It’s the screen someone sees the moment they open the app, so it needs to be clear, simple, and useful right away.

I started thinking through the experience from a user’s point of view. What would they be trying to do here? Most likely, they just want to know how exposed their personal data is and what they can do about it. They’re not coming in to explore every setting or dig through past reports. They want a quick answer to a big question: “Am I okay online?”

So I mapped out the user flow for this part. It starts with a clean welcome screen that gives a clear privacy status. This might say something like “You have 3 data exposures found” or “You’re all clear.” Just enough to give the user a sense of where things stand. From there, the most important action is the Scan Now button. This is the main thing the app offers, and it needs to be obvious and easy to tap.

Once the user hits that button, the app begins scanning for their data across different online sources. I imagined a simple progress indicator, maybe a friendly loading animation or a visual scan bar. No need for too many details yet. Just a sense that the app is working quietly in the background to find their information.

After the scan is complete, the user is taken to a short summary. This is where the tone really matters. It shouldn’t feel scary or overwhelming. It should feel clear and in control. Something like
“We found 4 pieces of your personal data online. Tap to review and take action.”

Home tab user flow
User flow to perform a scan

I also had to think about smaller touches. What if the user has never scanned before? Do we show an empty state with a short message that explains the tool? What about returning users? Should they see their last scan result or a prompt to scan again?

These are the kinds of small questions that start to stack up once you begin thinking through a full user journey. The challenge is to give people just the right amount of information without making things feel too heavy.

At this stage, I’m keeping things flexible. The layout will probably change as I move on, but the flow feels right. Welcome the user, show them where things stand, let them take action quickly, and offer a calm, clear summary when the scan is done.

by arinze.onyebuchi -

11-Quick Concept Prototype and Speed Dating Session

Early Prototype: Designing the Home Screen for an Information Scrubbing and Management Tool

From Idea to Prototype

For my latest project work, I started sketching out the home screen/dashboard for an information scrubbing tool, a mobile app designed to help users find and remove their personal data from the internet with ease. For some context, I’m planning on working on a thesis about effectively managing our digital footprints on the internet, and as part of that, I started sketching out the home screen/dashboard for a privacy scrubbing tool—a possible mobile app designed to help users find and remove their personal data from the internet easily. Since privacy management can often feel overwhelming, my goal was to make the interface simple, clean, and user-friendly right from the start.

I created a prototype, exploring the ways users could interact with the tool. Since this is meant to be a mobile app, I focused on layouts that would feel intuitive on a phone screen. The main elements I worked on included:

  • A clear status overview (showing how much data has been found and removed).
  • A quick action button for immediate scanning.
  • Navigation tabs for different privacy tools and settings.

I focused on the layout, content structure, and information hierarchy to see what felt the most natural.

What I Learned from Testing

After creating the prototype, I brought it to class for testing. The feedback was reassuring—most people understood the purpose of the app right away, with very little explanation. That was a good sign that the design was intuitive. There was also curiosity about what additional features could be included in future iterations, which gave me ideas for expanding its functionality.

Speed Dating and Unexpected Insights

During class, we did a fun rapid feedback session where we shared our prototypes in short, fast-paced rounds. Each person I spoke with provided different perspectives, and I got some valuable insights:

  • People grasped the concept quickly, meaning the layout and flow were already on the right track.
  • They were excited about seeing more features, suggesting that users would appreciate a more in-depth look at what the tool could do beyond just scrubbing data.
  • If my project had a “dating personality,” it would be ‘careful’—which makes sense, given that the app is all about privacy and cautious data management!
  • We were asked to give the most unexpected feedback on our prototypes and one date gave feedback that the “scan now” button felt like a button to launch the camera for a QR code scanner (this means the icon definitely needs some work🤣🤣)

This session helped me validate the direction I was going while also giving me fresh ideas to improve the user experience. Next, I’ll refine the prototype based on this feedback and start thinking about more detailed interactions.

by arinze.onyebuchi -

02 – What is a Digital Footprint? Why You Should Care About Ethical Design in a Digital World

What is a Digital Footprint?

Have you ever thought about the trail you leave behind online? Every post, search, and click contributes to your digital footprint. It’s a record of your online activity, and it’s something everyone should understand. In this post, we’ll explore what digital footprints are, why they matter, and how ethical design can help you manage them.

What is a Digital Footprint?

A digital footprint is the trail of data you leave behind as you navigate the internet. It comes in two types:

  • Active Footprints: Data you share intentionally, like social media posts, comments, or filling out online forms.
  • Passive Footprints: Data collected without you realizing it, like browsing history or location data from your smartphone.

Analogy: Think of it like footprints in the sand—some you leave on purpose, and others are left just by walking around.

image source: Bitdefender

Why Do Digital Footprints Matter?

Your digital footprint is valuable because it reveals a lot about you. Here’s why it’s important:

  • Privacy: Your online activities shape your digital identity.
  • Security: Unmanaged footprints can expose you to risks like data breaches.
  • Influence: Companies use your data to target ads and shape your online experience.

Real Example: In 2018, Facebook’s data misuse scandal with Cambridge Analytica showed how social media activity could be used to manipulate political opinions.

image source: FasterCapital

The Role of Ethical Design

Designers have a huge role in making digital spaces safer. Ethical design means creating experiences that:

  • Avoid Deception: Don’t use tricks to collect data.
  • Provide Transparency: Clearly show what data is collected and why.
  • Empower Users: Make privacy settings easy to find and use.

Take a Simple First Step

Start by checking the privacy settings on your favorite apps. Make sure you know what data is being tracked and why. This is the first move in managing your digital footprint more effectively.