Assignment: Perform a full case study, from user interviews to UI design, for a subject I’m passionate about: biking and better transportation. For a link to the working prototype or other questions, please contact me.
So why bikes?
Well, first off, bikes are cool. But they’re also:
Well, first off, bikes are cool. But they’re also:
— good for the environment
— good for you
— and cheap! (compared to car ownership)
— good for you
— and cheap! (compared to car ownership)
So if they’re so great, why aren’t more people riding them?
My hypothesis:
— biking can feel unsafe, which doesn’t lead to the best incentive to go for a ride
— and if there is a way to make bikes safer, people who already are enthusiasts will feel bike even more
— and if there is a way to make bikes safer, people who already are enthusiasts will feel bike even more
User interviews revealed some interesting findings. Bikers, by and large:
— are big planners; biking takes preparation
— prefer to bike unless weather or time prevents them
— are super aware of their surroundings and take notice when something screws with their routes
— prefer to bike unless weather or time prevents them
— are super aware of their surroundings and take notice when something screws with their routes
*Thank you Alex, Evan, Cole, Anna, and Linda.
This led to a change in my hypothesis. It became:
— biking can be made safer with accurate routes that avoid biking-specific safety issues
— hopefully, feeling safer will lead to increased bicycle use
— hopefully, feeling safer will lead to increased bicycle use
Competitive analysis was performed and a persona created based on interviews and findings.
The must-haves were few, but important:
— map — navigation to/from destination
— user can give route feedback (ease of use as well as safety)
— route stats/route diary
— simple health stats
— user can give route feedback (ease of use as well as safety)
— route stats/route diary
— simple health stats
Initial wireframes were changed following usability testing because:
— overall flow made sense but
— my nav bar needed text to help make sense of the icons and
— some of those icons were misleading
— my nav bar needed text to help make sense of the icons and
— some of those icons were misleading
Solution: small tweaks to flow and improvements to icons and content strategy.
Inspired by the hometown heroes at All-City, the app color palette and typography is retro with a fun twist—just like biking.
Colors were chosen to maximize accessibility and legibility, while UI elements promote ease of use and few distractions so users can keep focus where it matters: on the road and enjoying the ride.
The work is never done, and neither is the ride.
Planned improvements include:
— more safety categories to choose from
— incentive for users to share feedback
— road previews with users who enable recording while they ride
— route filters for safety preferences, type of ride (commute, fun), time, and distance
— city officials feedback: email your reps directly if something is seriously unsafe or you have ideas for new bike paths
— incentive for users to share feedback
— road previews with users who enable recording while they ride
— route filters for safety preferences, type of ride (commute, fun), time, and distance
— city officials feedback: email your reps directly if something is seriously unsafe or you have ideas for new bike paths
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