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MERCIL

Media & Entertainment

Class booking and one-scan check-in for the BLKGEM academy

A mobile app for BLKGEM, the Art of Entertainment Academy: students book open classes with their tickets and see their timetable, teachers see their schedule, and admins check everyone in by scanning a QR code, on iOS and Android.

2 min read

Client
BLKGEM
Services used
BLKGEM academy booking app

  • 3

    roles in one app: students, teachers and admins

  • 2

    app stores: iOS on the App Store, Android on Google Play

  • 30 days

    of classes open for booking

The client

BLKGEM is the Art of Entertainment Academy, a school for dance and the performing arts. Students join Open classes, which they book one at a time, Master classes, which they enrol in for a whole course, or both.

The client's need

One app for students, teachers and the front desk

BLKGEM wanted an app that serves three groups at once. Students on Open classes need to see what is on and book with the tickets they have; students on Master classes need their timetable; teachers need their own schedule; and the admin team needs to know who has actually arrived for each class.

Each group should see only what applies to it, and checking in at the door should be quick.

How we fitted it

Designed around who uses it, built for both phone platforms

We designed the UI/UX and a design system for the app, in BLKGEM’s own black look, then built it for iOS and Android. One sign-in leads each person to a different app: menus are set by user group, and a student’s menu depends on whether they take Open classes, Master classes or both.

Check-in uses a QR code generated from each user’s ID, which the admin scans at the door. The app connects to the back-office API BLKGEM specified, so classes, tickets and members stay in BLKGEM’s own system. We updated BLKGEM at least once a week until the app went to the App Store and Google Play.

What we built

Booking, timetables and QR check-in in one app

BLKGEM app: students see Today class, Teachers, Booking, My class and Profile; teachers see Today class, My schedule and Profile; admins see Today class and Scan QR code. QR check-in: a student or teacher shows their QR code, an admin scans it, their classes today appear, and the admin checks them in or undoes a wrong check-in
What each role sees, and how QR check-in works

For students

  • Today class: every class on today, with its time and teacher
  • Teachers: each teacher’s profile, teaching style and an introduction video
  • Booking: Open classes up to 30 days ahead, booked with the tickets the student has left
  • My class: the student’s own classes, Open and Master
  • Profile: a QR code to show at the door

For teachers and the admin team

  • My schedule: every class a teacher teaches, today by default and any other day on request
  • Scan QR code: after a scan, the admin sees the person and their classes today, checks them in, or undoes a check-in made to the wrong class
  • Sign-in with a username and password, with a password change at first login
BLKGEM app screens: today’s classes with teacher and time, booking a class with tickets remaining, a student profile with a QR code, and the admin check-in screen after a scan
Today class, booking, the profile QR code and admin check-in

Outcome

Every role served by the same app

  • Students

    Book and check in from their phone

    See what is on, book with their tickets, and show a QR code at the door.

  • Teachers

    Their schedule in their pocket

    Every class they teach, today and on any other day.

  • BLKGEM

    Who came to each class

    Admins check students and teachers in with one scan, and can fix a wrong check-in.

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