Chapter 1 - Brainstorming with FigJam
Introduction
Every successful app starts with a great idea. However, moving from an idea to a fully developed app requires careful planning, brainstorming, and collaboration. In this chapter, you’ll learn how to use FigJam, a digital whiteboard tool from Figma, to brainstorm app ideas, develop user personas, create mind maps, and sketch initial app designs. By the end of this chapter, you will have a clear vision for your app and a well-organized FigJam board that outlines your app’s purpose, target audience, and key features.
What is FigJam?
FigJam is an online whiteboard designed for brainstorming, collaboration, and visual planning. It provides tools for creating sticky notes, drawing, adding images, and building diagrams. FigJam is widely used by designers and developers to map out ideas, plan projects, and visualize workflows. One of the greatest advantages of FigJam is its collaborative features, allowing multiple people to contribute to a brainstorming session in real time.
Key Features of FigJam:
- Sticky Notes: Quickly jot down ideas and organize them on the board.
- Drawing Tools: Sketch ideas and wireframes directly on the whiteboard.
- Mind Mapping Tools: Create visual representations of how app features connect.
- Interactive Elements: Add shapes, connectors, and flowcharts to visualize app flows.
- Collaboration Tools: Work together with classmates, add comments, and provide feedback.
Step 1: Defining Your App’s Purpose
Before jumping into brainstorming, it’s essential to define the purpose of your app. Ask yourself:
- What problem does my app solve?
- Who is my app intended for?
- What makes my app unique or better than similar apps?
Activity: Create a Purpose Statement
Write a one-sentence purpose statement for your app. For example: “Our app helps high school students manage their homework assignments by organizing tasks and sending reminders.”
Once you’ve defined your app’s purpose, add this statement to your FigJam board. It will serve as a guiding light throughout the development process.
Step 2: Developing User Personas
A user persona is a fictional character that represents your app’s ideal user. Creating personas helps you understand your users’ needs, preferences, and pain points. When building a user persona, consider:
- Age, gender, and background
- Hobbies and interests
- Daily challenges related to the app’s purpose
- What they hope to achieve by using your app
Example User Persona:
- Name: Alex, 17 years old
- Background: High school junior, involved in extracurricular activities
- Challenges: Struggles with managing homework and balancing school with sports
- App Goals: Needs an app to help organize assignments and set reminders for due dates
Activity: Create Your Own User Personas
Work in groups to create at least two user personas for your app. Use sticky notes in FigJam to outline each persona’s characteristics, challenges, and goals.
Step 3: Brainstorming Features and Creating a Mind Map
Now that you know your app’s purpose and audience, it’s time to brainstorm features. Features are the specific functions or tools that your app will offer to meet the needs of your user personas. Start by asking:
- What does my app need to include to solve the problem?
- Are there any must-have features that my app needs to work properly?
- What additional features could make my app stand out?
Mind Mapping in FigJam
A mind map is a visual representation of your ideas, showing how different features connect. In FigJam, you can create a mind map using shapes and connectors. Start with your app’s main purpose at the center and branch out with features and sub-features.
Example Mind Map:
- Main App Goal: Help students manage homework
- Feature 1: Task Manager
- Feature 2: Calendar View
- Feature 3: Reminder Notifications
- Feature 4: Integration with School Platforms
Activity: Build a Mind Map of Your App’s Features
Use FigJam’s tools to create a mind map for your app. Include at least 5 main features and show how they connect to your app’s primary goal. Collaborate with your peers to refine and expand your ideas.
Step 4: Sketching Initial App Designs
With your app’s features mapped out, the next step is to create initial sketches of your app’s screens and user flow. In this phase, you are not focusing on design details but rather on how the app will function and how users will navigate through it.
Considerations for Sketching:
- What screens does your app need? (e.g., Home, Settings, User Profile)
- How will users navigate from one screen to another?
- What information should be displayed on each screen?
Activity: Create Screen Sketches in FigJam
In your FigJam board, use the drawing tools to create rough sketches of each app screen. Label buttons, menus, and key elements to show how the app will work. Share your sketches with your group and get feedback.
Step 5: Organizing and Presenting Your FigJam Board
A well-organized FigJam board will help you and your peers understand the full scope of your app idea. Make sure your board includes:
- Your app’s purpose statement
- User personas
- A mind map of app features
- Initial app screen sketches
Activity: Present Your App Idea to the Class
Prepare a short presentation that walks through your FigJam board. Explain the thought process behind your app’s purpose, features, and design. Answer any questions from your classmates and gather feedback.
Conclusion
By completing this chapter, you have laid a strong foundation for your app development project. You have defined your app’s purpose, identified your target audience through user personas, brainstormed app features using a mind map, and created initial screen sketches. These steps will guide you as you move into the wireframing and design phase of your app using Figma in the next chapter.
Review Questions
- What is the purpose of using FigJam in the app development process?
- How do user personas help shape app design?
- What are the benefits of creating a mind map when brainstorming app features?
- What should be included in initial app sketches?
- Why is it important to organize your FigJam board before presenting your app idea?
Vocabulary Review
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| FigJam | An online whiteboard tool by Figma for brainstorming, collaboration, and visual planning. |
| User Persona | A fictional character that represents the ideal user of an app, including demographics and goals. |
| Mind Map | A visual diagram that organizes information and ideas, showing connections between concepts. |
| App Purpose | The main goal or problem that the app aims to address for its users. |
| Sketch | A rough drawing or outline of an app’s design and screen layouts. |
| Sticky Note | A digital note in FigJam used for jotting down quick ideas during brainstorming sessions. |
| Collaboration | Working with others to share ideas, provide feedback, and improve the app development process. |
| Flowchart | A diagram that shows the sequence of steps or processes in an app, often used for user flows. |
| Visual Planning | The process of organizing ideas using visual tools like diagrams, sketches, and mind maps. |