Building a 0-1 Feng Shui compass app that enbles practitioners to consult on the go
Role:
Company: 9 Earth LLC
Timeline: 6/15/23—1/2/24
Project Overview
Context
The term Feng Shui is certain to elicit some skepticism, often because it is viewed through a lens of mysticism. Concepts like the flow of chi and the significance of specific elements can feel enigmatic, almost esoteric. However, as I began working on this project with an open mind, I discovered something different. Beneath the mystique of Feng Shui lies a practical framework for creating harmony and balance in our spaces. This philosophy is not just theoretical; it is actively practiced throughout Asia, playing a significant role in the urban planning of cities like Hong Kong and Singapore. In recent years, American companies have even consulted Feng Shui experts to arrange office spaces, aiming for enhanced harmony and well-being.
My Role
I was introduced to this project by my UX mentor, with whom I had developed a strong connection through ADPList. As a practitioner, she recognized a growing market for individuals like herself and pitched the idea of creating a Feng Shui app, believing my skills perfectly fit the task. This sparked a months-long journey into the unknown as we challenged ourselves to bring this concept to life from the ground up.
The Challenge
Our initial goal with 9 Earth was to make Feng Shui more accessible. We identified a key issue affecting both beginners and seasoned practitioners: the frustration of using a "Luo Pan"—a traditional instrument essential for accurate measurements and readings. These instruments were not only inconvenient to transport, but users often needed multiple units, making them a significant financial investment. Consequently, they became highly inaccessible for those eager to start their journey in Feng Shui. We recognized this as an opportunity to create an affordable digital solution in the form of an app.
Unlike a typical compass, which features only a few directions and degree markers, the Luo Pan employs a complex system of symbols, elements, and layers—essential for obtaining precise readings.
Market Research
We began by exploring existing Feng Shui apps on the market. Most were either poorly designed, outdated, or lacked key features. This prompted us to ask…
How might we design and build a compass that supports flexibility and complexity while maintaining legibility on a mobile device?
The Solution
Early wireframes and prototypes
We initially experimented with ways to break up our compass into more digestible and readable components. This resulted in a "pie-like" piece that users could click on to get an enhanced view through a pop-up window.
At the time, we were experimenting with creating each compass ring separately as an SVG in Adobe Illustrator. This allowed us to adopt a more dynamic approach to modifying our compass content and model. However, we later decided that pursuing this as a minimum viable product (MVP) would be too costly, opting instead to consider it as a potential feature for the future.
Using the SVGs we created, we shifted our focus to the user interface, aiming to provide a more intuitive and readable experience. We explored various methods for tilting the phone and allowed users to adjust zoom and layout through different buttons.
This led to our first successful prototype, which we then refined iteratively.
Final Outcomes
Hi-Fi Prototype & MVP
Reaching this point was more challenging than we anticipated. After navigating various setbacks related to finances and staffing, we finally arrived at a stage where our product was ready for testing and launch. In the final version, we included different compass models for various periods, color-coded elements for intuitive navigation, and a zoom-and-flip configuration to enhance readability.
Launch!
We did it! Over 10,000 downloads and a 4.7-star rating, :) Building a product from scratch to launch has been incredibly challenging but rewarding throughout these months. I'd like to thank Katia and the rest of 9 Earth for their amazing work.
Product demo