Arch

Coeliac UK has been assisting people with coeliac disease and other gluten-related illnesses to lead happier, healthier lives for more than 50 years. They achieve this by working to improve the quality of gluten-free food available in more locations, offering their community unbiased, reliable guidance and assistance, and financing important research to not only manage the effects of gluten but also uncover the causes of coeliac disease.

Coeliac UK came to Arch looking to create a unified app experience to replace their existing offering, which at the time consisted of two apps with distinct functionality. Additionally, the development of the new application had to take place under a strict development timeline in order to meet the timeframes set for the retirement of their app offering.

Owing to the existence of the applications prior to speaking with us, Coeliac UK had a strong sense of what they wanted to achieve through the introduction of the new app, and which functionality would be core to fulfilling their goals. 

 

In order to achieve the tight deadline, whilst also delivering an initial product that would allow Coeliac UK to achieve their goals effectively, we began by working through our discovery process, with which we were able to determine the most effective order for the release of features most essential to their user base. This saw us also consulting with Coeliac UK on how best to improve features, as well as mapping out a number of new feature sets. From this point, we were able to determine an extended development programme that included multiple release phases, with the first launching on time for their requirements, and subsequent releases of less essential features into 2023. All of these phases were planned as part of the initial discovery processes so Coeliac UK had a comprehensive understanding of the timelines associated with a full-scope development. 

The app backend connects to a sophisticated network of API’s, facilitating functionality from the previously unified apps, into a singular product. Through connection to FoodMaestro, the app is able to call on and deliver product information on hundreds of thousands of packaged foods, which is accessible via a barcode scanner built into the application. This functionality forms one core offering of the application in its current state, which previously required its own individual app. 

In addition to this, the app utilises an API that applies geolocation data in the pursuit of surfacing relevant information on nearby restaurants that have a strong gluten-free offering, allowing users to make intuitive decisions about where they would like to eat. Layered on top of this functionality is the ability to surface restaurants based on cuisine, food types, and distance from current, or expected location. In addition, a core offering of another app which Coeliac UK used to offer has now been brought under a singular digital product. Once the user has identified at a high level the restaurant they’d like to visit, quantitative and qualitative ratings are provided as part of a restaurant overview page, which highlights key contact information, a ‘best for’ section, gluten ratings, and descriptions of items offered. 

The app also functions as a centralised place for Coeliac UK to engage with their audience, by hosting rich media, links to various services offered by Coeliac UK and the ability for users to create personalised accounts and sign up for premium features.

The So Vegan team creates exciting, fresh and healthy vegan recipes and shares them with the vegan and flexitarian community around the world. They've built a large following on social since they started in 2016, with approximately 1.2 million followers on Facebook, and 350,000 on Instagram. They also boast a great range of recipe books including One Pot Vegan and So Vegan in 5. The SOVEGAN app has been featured on the App Store's New Apps We Love and Life at home: Tasty recipes to try, placing it amongst the most popular food and beverage apps charting this year. 

We worked with So Vegan on a new, interactive home for their recipes and content. The app will feature exclusive recipes and content, providing fans of So Vegan a one-stop-shop for all things yummy! The app we've built for So Vegan encapsulates the fun, and fresh brand they have built up while bringing through a simple, clean approach to searching for and gaining access to quality vegan recipes.

Built in Flutter for the easy management of codebases across Android and iOS, the app hosts an extensive array of content, including videos, images and audio. It also features a sophisticated filtering system that allows users to search by ingredient, recipe length and cooking time, relevant ingredients, and various other tags. Adding to the ease of use by both So Vegan fans and novices to the brand.

The Getahead app was created to promote the understanding and practice of improving mental health alongside sport and exercise. In providing a training ground for everyday users to gain access to mindset skills previously reserved for elite athletes, they’re enabling users to become as mentally fit as they are physically.

Getahead came to Arch looking to build on its digital product offering, which at the time consisted primarily of a web app with journaling functionality at its core. Their goal was to increase their brand accessibility, and as such, were looking at how a mobile app could diversify this, ensuring users could access the Getahead program anytime, anywhere.

Core to the aims and objectives of the project set out in the discovery phase, it was key that the Getahead app gave users access to a full range of mental training techniques, as opposed to the singular offerings commonplace a number of apps within the Google Play and iOS store.

Essential to allowing this extensive range of features to be included, while maintaining ease of use, our design team worked to develop a high level of fluidity within the application’s UX. By doing this, they were able to achieve a sense of tactility within the designs, adding haptics and intuitive gestures to the user experience, increasing accessibility for those using the app on the move and in outdoor environments. 

The application offers users an effective solution to being able to engage with the holistic approach to fitness fostered by Getahed. Providing them a one-stop-shop for a range of mental health-improving practices such as journaling, and self-evaluation surveys with engaging UI and historical views that allow users to compare trends within their well-being states over time.

Features

• Premium & Freemium model
• Push notifications
• Haptic-lead UX for increased tactility
• Industry defining design

SKIN is an online community that connects users with the people and products they love. The iOS and Android app features a personal inventory of products or 'shelf' with which users can interact to showcase their most used skincare products. As well as sophisticated social networking protocols that allow users to interact with other passionate members of the beauty community, follow influencers and share new products with their friends. As seen in The Sunday Times Style and OK Magazine. 

The team at SKIN came to Arch with a great branding and initial design work that they wanted to expand on. Following the discovery process, plans were made to adapt the design work that had already been done to reflect core present and future functionality, while maintaining the essence of the brand that they had become fond of. We explored through discovery the implementation of key features including the ability to scan barcodes to upload product data to the user's shelf, as well as how best to ensure the application stays true to the objective of being a socially interactive platform.

We built and delivered several features to improve the user offering of the application including a price comparison tool, allowing for users access to the best price for the skincare products their after, as well as an opportunity for brands to offer specific deals to SKIN users. We included a dynamic search tool that helps users not only find products but also influencers and friends on the platform.

We also thought it was prudent to provide an easy way for users to catalogue their own products currently in their collection, to do this, we implemented a barcode scanner, linked to a product database for quick access to thousands of skincare products.

The app has featured in a number of major publications including OK Magazine and The Sunday Times Style.

The North East Uni Connect Programme is a partnership between the universities and colleges in the North East who are working together to support young people and their key support networks (parents/carers and teachers/advisers) to explore the range of options throughout their education. Their work aims to remove the academic, financial and cultural barriers to higher education to ensure that all young people, irrespective of circumstance, have the information, skills and support to achieve their ambitions.

FutureMe had an existing Study Buddy application live on the app store, however, its design and framework had become dated, and as such a refresh was required to build on and grow engagement from their main user groups (Level 3 students in the North East). The introduction of the new app has allowed the service to become open to any student. We encouraged a platform built in Flutter, owing to the increased ease of management across both iOS and Android codebases, and reliability on lower specification devices.

We have a longstanding partnership with one of the key universities in the programme, and so were able to grasp the requirements and realities of student-facing applications quickly. The solution we proposed allowed for the easy integration of content into the application with a smooth backend to run alongside.

Within the new Study Buddy application, we've implemented a powerful media manager that helps give students access to high-quality images and audio full of helpful hints and tips.

Content within the application can be made specific to the user, allowing for highly tailored app experiences across the institutions involved. Alongside this, special attention has been made to the provision of content pertaining to academic resilience and successful study habits. 

Information on progression routes and pathways and the benefits of higher education, following the completion of a student course can also be found on the app, furthering its reach as an essential tool. 

Study Buddy Features

• Easy to use CMS
• Built for modular updating and phasing of new features on a Flutter framework
• Calendar functionality
• High-quality media storage and playback
• Onboarding screens
• Revision planner
• Timetable
• Events scheduling
• Article management

Following on from the success of its web counterpart, Super Spellers is now available on iOS and Android.

Super Spellers is an innovative spelling game crafted to enhance core spelling skills in children aged 5-11. This dynamic gaming experience empowers students to boost their spelling prowess, with an array of comic-style characters and enjoyable score-building features that foster engagement and transform learning into an exciting adventure. Get ready to embark on a journey of spelling mastery like never before!

The Super Spellers platform is a result of engaging games designed in accordance with English Appendix 1, incorporating research on gamified learning experiences to optimise knowledge retention. The primary focus of Super Spellers lies in cultivating habitual, subconscious references for phonemic and phonological awareness. Furthermore, it facilitates constructive, gradual development of students' subvocalization skills, all of which are crucial for reinforcing reliable spelling abilities over time. With Super Spellers, spelling proficiency becomes an enjoyable and lasting achievement.

Based on an early 2020 study conducted by the UK Government, it was revealed that 22% of 10 to 11-year-olds fall below expected levels of proficiency in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. This concerning statistic carries implications for their future, as evidenced by a survey in 2017, where UK employers employing over 1.2 million people collectively expressed dissatisfaction with the literacy and English language skills of university and school leavers, reaching 37%.

In response to this critical issue, the team at Super Spellers took proactive measures to make a difference. They embarked on formulating a comprehensive brief for an online game that would effectively boost engagement and foster a keen interest in learning to spell among primary school-age children. The goal is to equip these young learners with the necessary tools to overcome these challenges and achieve proficiency in spelling, setting them on a path towards a more successful future.

Arch worked with Super Spellers to develop an interactive online platform for students and teachers, offering an engaging approach to learning spelling and grammar. The platform's strengths include pre-created lists aligned with UK curriculum guidelines, and streamlining assignments for teachers. It enables personalised learning by allowing teachers to control individual student goals and lists. Additionally, gamification features like points and rewards boost motivation, fostering a rewarding learning journey. Arch's platform aims to revolutionise spelling and grammar education for students and teachers alike.