Post # 2 - Web/Mobile App Critique

WebToons

Overview
The Webtoons App is a digital comic app created to give artists a platform to create new and original comics, art and stories. WebToons is home to thousands of comics and stories made by artists and storytellers around the world. WebToons is a free app and all the stories are free as well. Just because users can read for free does not mean the creators are not making a profit. A creator can submit their comic to Webtoons on their site by using the Canvas menu. If their story generates enough popularity, that story could become a Webtoons Original story, where they will generate profits from the story.

Usability

When a user first opens the WebToons app he or she will see the home menu. From the home menu, the user can choose what comics he or she wants to read. From the continuous WebToons Original to the newest creators in Canvas selection. A good layout feature of WebToons is it gives the user a schedule for when the new chapters will be coming out. 

Design

To help protect the art of the creator's WebToons has made it so screenshots cannot be taken if the user is on their phone. The home page design is quick to use and the layout allows the user to choose the comic that interests them with a simple tap. For those who have subscribed to series, those comics will appear first on the home screen. The home screen also has a banner that slides between showing comic series updates, new series, or special announcements. The design for new creators has a good layout and videos to help those creators, as soon as the link is clicked. The videos are organized and flow evenly from task to task. Below the “Monetization” banner there are videos with interviews from current creators and advice on how to improve artwork or stories.

Functionality

The functionality of WebToons is easy to use on both a smartphone or on the desktop. There are many languages that can be chosen if someone does not speak English. For the comics that are from other parts of the world, those comics are translated before they are published. Then in the menu for the comic, there is a language selection for those that need it. When the user is done reading a chapter he or she can leave a like (heart) or comment about the chapter itself.

Recommendations for Improvements

 One recommendation for improvement is allowing people who lose internet connection (such as on an airplane) the chance to download comics for offline reading. Another recommendation for improvement is to have a brief description of the comics on the home screen. The third recommendation for improvement is giving the readers a better way of knowing when a story is going to be on hiatus for a long period. 

Check out WebToons by clicking the link below!
WebToons Home