JaxCore is an app, or rather a collection of apps in the form of desktop “tools” and “widgets” (called modules), built on Rainmeter for Windows. “JaxCore” generally refers to the modules it offers. Users configure and install each modules using the configuration hub. The primary goals of this case study is to discuss the approach to the conceptualization, the design decisions made, the development cycle and the final outcomes achived in successfully delivering JaxCore to its users.

Conceptualization

The product is categorized in a seemingly abundant niche, that is “Windows desktop customization”. To differentiate itself, rough research was conducted, including analyzing market gaps, and evaluating existing product’s experiences to gain insights and identify differentiating opportunities.

It is also important to mention the nature of the product. The project’s initiation is purely by leisure, and the development process is fuelled with passion.

Hence, in accordance to the research outcome as well as the authentic nature of the project, the key goals for the project is to provide its users an unique user experience, offer maximum customizability of the modules, and keep the development experience engaging and sustainable.

Design decisions

The design process involved adopting a prototype-first strategy, which is advantageous for user-centric focus. Wireframes were created to define the layout and interactions for the user experience. To enhance the user experience, the configuration hub is created, providing the users an easy way to personalize the modules it offers.

For the configuration hub and logo, the visual and color design is consistent and distinctive which contributes to brand recognition. The modules adopted the reverse strategy, with each designed with different layouts and visual styles, which caters to different use-cases and preferences of the users.

Outcomes

JaxCore proved to be highly popular particularly in the niche, with over 900,000 downloads on the latest release as well as 167,000 shop page views.

Over its lifetime, JaxCore underwent continuous evolution and improvement, releasing a total of 57 versions. The commitment to providing the best user experience led to the development and deployment of 9 distinct components, each catering to specific user preferences and needs.

---

Footnotes

1. Outcome figures obtained from the GitHub API