Introducing: our elven enchantress
Dear friends and backers of YARPS!
It is time for an update! As you might remember, our usability design expert Sarah worked out a sophisticated concept and conducted a user testing that showed us quite some space for improvements. But magic not only evolves from knowledge – it needs the fine arts of crafts(wo)manship as well.
The rings of power weren’t forged by the dwarfs at Khazad-dûm, widely known for being legendary blacksmiths, smithing inscrutable armors, lethal swords and marvelous jewelry. Those were forged by an elven smith whose name was Celebrimbor. Forging the rings of power demanded all his skills and efforts, be it either physical or mental. And what else shall YARPS become for you all than a powerful app…you know: the one to rule them all. All your RPG worlds, of course.
For me as a storyteller, web development itself comes close to magic. But the ability to link the complex backend logic with a functional and well designed frontend definitely requires magical expertise. Today, we want to introduce Lena to you, our elven enchantress. She has many practical craft skills in designing graphics, media and user interfaces. But she also unifies an aesthetic sense and the magic of making YARPS visible.
Hi Lena!
Lena: Hey Michael!
How are you today?
I’m good thanks, I’ve been sick for several days but feeling much better today.
You’re the youngest YARPS team member. How is your impression so far?
The communication within the team is direct and polite, which is crucial in fostering a positive work environment.
Everyone in the team is on the same page and working towards the same goals. When communication is nice and simple, it helps to build an atmosphere of mutual understanding and support.
Overall, my initial impression of the YARPS team is that it is a positive and welcoming group to work with, and I am looking forward to continuing my work.
I’m happy to hear that! Let’s dip in. What is your main role in the project?
I am an User-Experience and Interface Designer. My role as designer is to create an interface that is visually appealing, easy to navigate, and intuitive for the user. Overall my goal is to enhance the user’s experience.
As a designer, I work closely with the development team to ensure that the interface is not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and efficient.
What are you currently working on?
My work involves balancing two aspects of design – creating a strong foundation that will guide our future development efforts and implementing new features.
I am developing the foundational structures and elements that determine the look and feel of the product. This involves creating a consistent visual language and design system that will guide the development of all future features and interactions.
Just today, I’m actively working on implementing the environment creation process.
You’re implementing the visible and usable part of the frontend design. Meaning that whether users enjoy handling YARPS or feel overwhelmed is almost entirely up to you. Do you feel the pressure?
While there is always some pressure to meet the users needs and deliver high-quality work, I see it as an opportunity to showcase my skills and contribute to the success of the project.
At the same time, I also recognize the importance of taking the time to do things right, rather than rushing to meet a deadline at the expense of quality.
Is there a feature or function of YARPS that excites you the most?
I am excited about the aesthetics. By focusing on simplicity and clean design principles, we were able to create a layout that is both elegant and intuitive. We also worked hard to ensure that the layout is consistent throughout the product, providing a cohesive and seamless experience for users.
You obviously love being creative. What else do you do to satisfy this need?
One of my favorite things to do is to build and create things, whether that’s through crafting or woodworking.
In fact, I’m currently in the process of converting an old bus into a tiny livable space. It’s been a challenging but rewarding project that allows me to exercise my creativity and problem-solving skills.
Very nice. I think that makes the third bus in the team that’s converted. Soon we’ll have a small fleet of tiny moveable houses. Speaking of similarities: Have you ever played a role play game yourself?
I haven’t but I would love to try it out.
Then we should definitely soon plan a team session. Last question: What do you do when you find yourself in a creative dead end?
When I find myself in a creative dead end, I often browse the web and see what other people’s solutions are. If this doesn’t help, I take a step back and switch to something else for a little while. By giving myself some space and time away from the problem, I find that I’m often able to come back to it with a fresh perspective and renewed energy.
Thank you Lena!
You’re very welcome.
While Lena returns to her work, I want to take this opportunity remind you that we’ll be at the RatCon 2023. If you plan to go, give us a shoutout! We’d love the chance to meet our supporters in person!
All the best on behalf of the YARPS/Compositas team,
Michael