Overview
- Project Type: Mobile App Design
- Objective: To solve the challenge of navigating college campuses with constantly changing conditions (e.g., construction, traffic, and other obstacles).
- Tools Used: Figma (for design), Google Forms (for user feedback and testing)
This project tackles the frustration students face when getting around campuses due to unexpected detours and blockages. Our goal was to create a dynamic routing system that provides real-time updates, helping students navigate efficiently
Role:
As the Lead Designer and Researcher, I was responsible for the end-to-end development of this project, ensuring both the user experience and technical feasibility aligned with the needs of the target audience. My contributions included:
- User Research & Analysis:
- Developed and distributed a Google Form to gather insights from students, staff, and visitors.
- Analyzed survey responses to identify key pain points and user needs.
- UX/UI Design (Figma):
- Created wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes to visualize the user journey.
- Designed a clean, intuitive interface optimized for mobile users.
Tools:
- Figma: Wireframes and Prototyping
- Google Forms: UX Research
- Waze: Competitior Analysis
- Google Maps: Competition Analysis
- Apple Maps: Competition Analysis
Problem
Navigating large campuses can be confusing and time-consuming due to:
- Constant construction updates and unexpected traffic delays
- Poor signage, especially for new students or visitors
- Inconsistent information across apps and websites
Without an efficient solution, students can get lost, miss class, or feel overwhelmed, especially during peak times like the beginning of the semester.
Solution
The design and development of the app focused on addressing the core challenges students, staff, and visitors face when navigating dynamic campus environments. Below are the key solutions implemented to create a more seamless and efficient experience:
- Real-Time Route Updates:
- Integrated a feature to notify users of new construction, road closures, and traffic delays.
- Provided alternative routes to help users adjust their paths on the fly.
- Multi-Mode Navigation Options:
- Offered routes optimized for walking, biking, and driving to cater to different user preferences.
- Integrated the ability to switch modes easily based on current travel conditions.
- Crowdsourced Reporting:
- Enabled users to report sudden obstacles (e.g., blocked paths, event setup areas) directly within the app.
- These user-generated updates ensure the app stays relevant and accurate throughout the day.
- Customizable Shortcuts:
- Allowed users to create personalized shortcuts between frequently visited locations (e.g., dorms to classrooms).
- Users can save favorite routes and receive notifications about disruptions along these paths.
- Visual Map Overlays for Construction Zones:
- Highlighted construction areas and other disruptions on the campus map.
- Used color coding to indicate severity (e.g., red for blocked paths, yellow for delays).
- Emergency Notifications and Alerts:
- Incorporated emergency messaging to quickly inform users about road closures or safety incidents.
- Ensured users receive updates through in-app notifications and push alerts.
These solutions align with the needs identified in the user research, ensuring the app provides dynamic, real-time guidance tailored for college campuses. By focusing on user-centered design and leveraging feedback from testing, the app offers a flexible, efficient, and easy-to-use navigation experience.
UX Research
To ensure the app was user-centered, I conducted extensive UX research to identify pain points, understand user behavior, and validate design decisions. This process included both quantitative and qualitative methods to gain deep insights into how students and staff navigate the campus.
Research Goals:
- Identify current challenges in campus navigation.
- Understand user preferences for real-time updates and navigation modes.
- Validate interest in an app that offers route customization and crowdsourced reports.
- Gather insights to inform the design of a clear and intuitive user interface.
Research Methods:
- Surveys (Google Forms):
- Collected feedback from [insert number] participants, including students, staff, and visitors.
- Key Metrics: Mode of transportation, frustration levels, willingness to use a campus-specific app.
- Results:
Competitive Analysis:
- Compared existing solutions such as Google Maps, Waze, and campus maps apps.
- Identified gaps:
- No app provided campus-specific, real-time updates.
Key Takeaways from UX Research:
- Real-Time Data is Crucial: Users overwhelmingly requested timely updates on construction and delays.
- Customization Adds Value: Users wanted to save routes and get alerts specific to their daily travel routines.
- Crowdsourced Information is Highly Valuable: Students felt empowered knowing they could contribute to making navigation easier for others.
The insights gathered through UX research directly informed the app’s features, user flows, and interface design, ensuring that it meets the needs of users across different contexts.
