SunSketcher
Fall 2023 – Ongoing
SunSketcher is a free mobile app, supported by NASA, that allows users to capture photos of Baily’s Beads to contribute to a massive, citizen-scientist database. This database helps scientists better measure the shape of the sun.
SunSketcher was originally published on the App Store and Google Play for the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse in the US. I served as the faculty lead for UX/UI on this project.
Then, in Fall 2024, the IDEA Lab worked to develop the next iteration of the app. With future eclipses taking place outside of the US, the challenge was designing an app that used as little written language as possible. This required simplifying any remaining language and developing new graphics to convey concepts clearer.
Weeks 1 – 4
User Research
Students Amanda Zhang and Sarah Woodson researched users in the path of the next eclipse, seeking to understand language opportunities and challenges, cultural connotations, and any nuances in UI design.
Amanda Zhang, Sarah Woodson
Weeks 5 – 9
Ideate & Prototype
The user research informed the next two versions of the SunSketcher prototype—one in English, and one in Spanish.
Rebecca Jury, Nika Harrington
Weeks 10 – 12
UX Testing
With IRB-approval, students conducted UX testing on 15 participants. Research methods included usability testing, product reaction cards, and a System Usability Scale (John Brooke, 1986).
To simulate an eclipse, researchers showed a video of an eclipse on a projector.
Emma Simpson, Sam Tinsley
Weeks 13 – 14
Iterate Prototype
With the UX testing results analyzed and presented, it was time for students to iterate the prototype and fix issues.
Nika Harrington, Rebecca Jury
Simultaneously
Video Tutorial
While all this was going on, a new animated tutorial video was developed. The new, simplified animated tutorial was designed to be appealing to users who’s first language may not be English.
Cole Lamkin
Prototype V1
April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse (US)
Prototype V2
August 12, 2026 Total Solar Eclipse (Iceland, Spain, Portugal)
Hear from the Students
Check out case studies from the students:
SunSketcher in the News
- designboom: “NASA-backed sunsketcher app lets you photograph the april 8th total solar eclipse“
- Fast Company: “Total solar eclipse 2024: How to help NASA with these important citizen science projects“
- Fox Weather: “NASA wants you to help gather Sun data during total solar eclipse“
- MSNBC: “You always wanted to be a scientist. The eclipse is your chance“
- NASA: “More Than 36,000 Volunteers Helped Do NASA Eclipse Science“
- Popular Science: “NASA needs your smartphone during April’s solar eclipse“