I redesigned the Camera Remote app for my personal digital camera brand.
ROLE
UX Designer
UX Researcher
DURATION
Dec 2024
[2 weeks]
SOFTWARE
Figma
Photoshop
Illustrator
TEAM
Self-Initiated
FUJIFILM CAMERA REMOTE APP.
The Fujifilm Camera Remote app is a companion mobile application designed to connect Fujifilm digital cameras to smartphones via Bluetooth. It serves as a bridge between the camera and the mobile device, offering a variety of useful features to enhance photography convenience and workflow.
TARGET AUDIENCE.
The Fujifilm Camera Remote app is built for Fujifilm camera owners that wants greater convenience and control. Whether you're a hobbyist transferring photos to post on your social media, a professional needing remote shooting capabilities, or a creator uploading high-quality images and/ or videos, this app aims to bridge your Fujifilm camera and smartphone to streamline your workflow.
TERRIBLE.
Despite being widely regarded as one of the biggest digital camera companies, Fujifilm seems to have missed the mark on their Camera Remote app.
Users say that the app is unintuitive and borderline unusable.
As a dedicated user and proud owner of their exceptional cameras, I see a unique opportunity to redesign the app with a focus on improving usability, streamlining the user experience, and better complementing the brand's high standards.
REDESIGN
FOLLOW
Follow the Fujifilm's brand identity and their philosophy.
People hate their app, not their brand.
REFLECT
Have the app reflect their 1 of 1 experience of photographing.
This digital application should be a seamless extension of their physical products.
[3 key findings]
1. LACKS FEATURES THAT MAKE FUJIFILM CAMERAS SPECIAL.
While Fujifilm cameras are renowned for their meticulous attention to detail and professional-grade features, the app falls short of matching this standard. It lacks advanced camera control capabilities that many users expect, such as full manual adjustments for settings like shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.
Additionally, the app does not provide smooth access to all camera modes, limiting the user's ability to fully utilize their device remotely. One significant omission is the absence of Fujifilm’s signature film simulation modes, which are a key feature for photographers who seek to replicate the classic film look. This disparity between the cameras' precision, particularly the film simulation options, and the app's functionality creates a disconnect that undermines the overall user experience.
2. CONFUSING UI.
A significant number found the interface difficult to navigate, with some describing the design as unintuitive and others frustrated by the cluttered homepage filled with unnecessary details. This led to prolonged app usage and widespread frustration.
3. FRUSTRATING TO USE.
A common frustration among users was the challenge of connecting the app to their camera via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Many reported that establishing a stable connection required multiple attempts, often leading to delays and a painful setup process.
Even after successfully connecting, users experienced slow response times during key functionalities such as remote shooting and photo transfers. These delays not only hindered the app's convenience but also disrupted workflows.
USER FLOW.
The redesigned user flow aims to address key pain points and deliver a seamless, intuitive experience. By simplifying tasks and prioritizing essential features, the app becomes easier to navigate and more efficient to use.
Simplified Onboarding: A guided setup process with clear instructions ensures users can quickly connect their cameras without frustration.
Prioritized Core Features: Remote shooting, photo transfer, and camera settings are now easily accessible from the homepage, reducing unnecessary navigation.
Intuitive Navigation: Logical grouping and a consistent layout make it easy for users to find tools without confusion.
Real-Time Feedback: Progress indicators keep users informed during tasks like photo transfers, improving confidence and transparency.
Reduced Complexity: Redundant steps are removed, and frequently used settings are integrated into relevant workflows for efficiency.
MOODBOARD.
As previously mentioned, my goal is for the app to feel like a natural extension of the main product. To achieve this, I’ve drawn the majority of the branding and visual inspiration from Fujifilm itself, ensuring a cohesive and harmonious design that aligns with the brand's identity.
COLOR & TYPOGRAPHY STYLE GUIDE.
APP ICON REDESIGN.
The current app icon fails to effectively represent Fujifilm's brand identity and the app's core functionality. The design feels generic, flat, and lacks visual appeal, making it easily overlooked on a crowded home screen.
The redesigned app icon prioritize simplicity, clarity, and brand alignment.
The redesigned icon embodies Fujifilm's innovation and attention to detail, incorporating photography-inspired elements like a subtle black-and-white landscape background. A signal emanating from the "FUJI" lettering highlights the app's wireless connectivity with the camera. The refined color palette and typography, aligned with Fujifilm's branding, enhance the icon's recognizability and convey a sense of professionalism.
By addressing these shortcomings, the new app icon serves as a more effective visual representation of the app and a stronger invitation for users to explore its features.
ONBOARDING.
The redesigned onboarding focuses on clarity, simplicity, and guiding users step-by-step to establish their connection and understand the app's key features.
Connect Camera
Guides users through connecting their Fujifilm camera via Bluetooth with visual prompts and real-time feedback for a smooth setup.
Live View Shooting
Introduces remote shooting, showing users how to control settings like focus and shutter speed while viewing the live feed on their device.Transfer Images
Demonstrates how to transfer photos quickly, offering options for individual or batch transfers with clear progress indicators.
HOMEPAGE.
The redesigned homepage is structured to provide seamless access to the app's four key functions: Live View Shooting, Gallery, Connect Camera, and Settings.
Live View Shooting: Quickly start remote shooting with real-time camera control.
Gallery: View and manage transferred images in one centralized location.
Connect Camera: Easily pair your Fujifilm camera via Bluetooth through the swipe up menu.
Settings: Adjust app preferences and camera configurations to suit your needs.
With a clean, clutter-free layout, the homepage ensures users can navigate effortlessly and focus on completing tasks efficiently.
LIVE VIEW SHOOTING.
In addition to viewing a real-time feed from the camera, users can now access and control advanced settings directly from their device.
ISO: Adjust sensitivity for optimal exposure in various lighting conditions.
Aperture: Modify depth of field for creative control over focus.
Shutter Speed (SS): Fine-tune motion blur or freeze fast-moving subjects.
Exposure Value (EV): Make quick adjustments to overall brightness.
Film Simulation: Select from Fujifilm’s iconic film profiles to achieve a desired look before capturing the shot.
These enhancements provide users with full control over their camera’s settings, making the app an essential tool for professional-grade remote photography. The intuitive layout ensures that adjustments can be made effortlessly, allowing users to capture stunning images with precision and ease.
GALLERY.
The new Gallery feature offers an iphone-like experience for seamless photo management. Users can easily browse images, swipe through previews, and pinch-to-zoom, just like in a standard phone gallery.
Phone-Like Gallery Experience: Browse, swipe, and zoom on images with a familiar interface.
Live Storage Indicator: Displays available phone storage and updates dynamically as you import photos to your device.
Photo Size Display: Each image shows its file size, with the total size of selected photos calculated in real-time.
SD Card Slot Indicator: Users can select which SD card to view in their gallery if their cameras have more than 1 SD card slot in use.
Camera Setting Display: Displays the exact camera settings used to take the shot when selecting a specific image.
Enhancing the Gallery feature can transform the app into an essential tool for Fujifilm users by making photo browsing and management fast, intuitive, and trouble free.