Smile Brand

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  Team in action.

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  Team member Jackie Lor.

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  Team member Leilani Barnett.

Inspiration

The inspiration for this app first began on our field trip to the Baltimore Gallery and to TechTown, both in Detroit, Michigan. TechTown is a business incubator that helps other businesses grow, by allowing them to rent workplaces in their building and providing entrepreneurship education. The Baltimore Gallery was in a part of the street that was very dark, and filled with poverty. Then, you would see this colorful building and it could only bring a smile to your face. With a found love for color and art you could only be amazed. As we went in, it brought a warm feel. The amazing paintings were very eye catching. With enthusiasm, the maker Phil “Fresh” Simpson explained the relations and love for his hometown. He is using art and the Smile Brand to spread happiness around the city. The Smile Brand is a clothing line that is meant to bring joy and happiness. As the field trip was fun, it also came with an assignment and a grade. After the assignment was given, there was some other inspiration that came too: the inspiration to code. The inspiration for our adult mentors were to work with the youth. That was the inspiration for all of us.

What it does

The main topic for our solution was to promote the Smile Brand, which soon branched off into other solutions. We wanted the solution to uniquely match the brand. With the app being so little, we added pictures to tell the story. We used amazing colors. One of the other solutions was the user-base. The user-base of this app will be locals and Independent local stores.These solutions were built to expand the brand, which will soon branch into larger companies that will hopefully want to invest into the Smile Brand.

How we built it

We used the MIT app inventor software to create the app. We also used YouTube and college courses videos to teach us how to use the software properly. We started the app in mid January. We worked on it independently throughout the 3 month span of time.

Challenges we ran into

With regard to the solutions we have made, we also had challenges. At the beginning of this assignment, we were unfamiliar with the software. This brought other challenges like being unable to correctly use the text boxes, and make it look neat on the phone when we access the app through the phone. As this app was made by only two people absence was a challenge as well. If one of us missed school or went on a field trip, the other one had to work twice as hard to keep up with the schedule. But, we managed to keep up with the schedule. The biggest challenge we faced was the Baltimore Gallery closing. In that, we made to remake the app. That set us farther back than we hoped.

Accomplishments that we are proud of

The accomplishments that we are proud of is the ability to finish this independently as a team. We are proud to make as much progress as we did and to enter this competition.

What we learned

The lessons we learned during this period was: when we lost a major part of your project or piece, you have to find a solution to keep going, even if it’s sometimes bad to the point you have to redo it. We also learned a better sense of grit as well. We learned more about one of my hometown businesses, and the way it is trying to help the city. We learned to better utilize a software to build or enhance a piece. Lastly, we learned some of the basics of coding. Through the software, we were able to construct something. Analyze what resources you have, then make a plan for how you are going to make it

What's next for Smile Brand

As Phil’s brand grows, we will make screens and other features in the future. Features include : adding a package tracking to keep track of how the package is processing the package through to system; add recommendations to other related apps; add a better way to connect with Phil; and to add more products to the list that he makes.

Built With

• mit-app-inventor