When an app that managed to capture 100,000 users within a week of its launch has a UI that does not shout brilliance, something needs to be done by someone.
Sketching wireframes
The story of how I thought of doing a redesign for Instagram is strange and coincidental. I had fallen in love with the app from day (leave aside the design for a moment). Everything right from using Foursquare API for geo-location to limiting the pixels and square shape of the images, spoke that the product has been well thought of. I had initially planned to create a service for web using their API (whenever it was released). However, the bevelled blue top bar soon became an eye sore. Add to that the use of the Tab bar in a non traditional way by putting a weirdly shaped camera button that breaks the flow aesthetically as well as functionally (which is why we use tabs in UI) and I was soon sketching the ideas of how to improve the existing mobile interface.
The inspiration for the UI was the Polaroid OneStep with Q-Light along with the cork-boards where we pin the Polaroids. The camera button (new shot) has been moved to the top corner which was previously occupied by the Refresh button. The refresh functionality has been added by pulling down the feed as in Twitter, Facebook and Gowalla apps. I have tried to make the interface share the warmth that is associated with Polaroid photos.
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