Abstract:
With the rapid advancement of mobile technology and the increasing popularity of
smartphones, mobile applications have become an integral part of modern life. The success of a
mobile application is no longer solely dependent on its features and functionalities; instead, usability
has emerged as a critical quality dimension that significantly impacts user satisfaction and adoption
rates. Multiple domains have gained benefits from the usage of mobile applications such as education,
logistics, transportation, and security sector. Apart from these domains higher educational institutes
such as universities use mobile applications for educational purposes. The Faculty of Humanities and
Social Sciences (FHSS) at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ), Sri Lanka has implemented a
performance evaluation system for students, alongside the introduction of a mobile application aimed
at enhancing mobility, efficiency, and user engagement through effective interfaces. However, during
usability testing, the mobile application exhibited significant usability issues, including readability
challenges, a lack of trending gamification features, and an absence of notification pop-ups. This
concept paper examines the issues of existing mobile applications and demonstrates the significance
of the design thinking process in the redesign of the mobile application for the Faculty of Humanities
and Social Sciences at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. By employing user-centric
methodologies, involving users, and integrating trending features, the mobile application's usability
was substantially improved. The concept paper provides valuable insights and practical guidelines for
educational institutions seeking to leverage design thinking to enhance their mobile application's
usability, user engagement, and overall effectiveness.
