NEXT STOP
MOBILE APP
a smart alarm to wake up commuters before their stop.
PROBLEM SPACE
24% of commuters miss their stop while sleeping. They need a better way to ensure they wake up before their next stop.
SOLUTION
An app that allows users to pin their destination on a map and request a "wake up" alarm. Using GPS, their alarm updates in real-time matching traffic patterns so users will never miss their stop.
MY ROLE
UX Design, UI Design, Usability testing, Prototyping, User Research and Project Management.
DURATION
two-week sprint | March 2021
TOOLS
Figma, Miro + Google Drive
understanding commuters.
Through surveying commuters, from different cities. Trends began to appear on how commuters structure their commute to make time for sleeping and how they create failsafe to ensure they do not miss a stop.
shared pain points.
The majority of commuters use a phone alarm where they want to sleep on their commute.
Lack of precision, commuters have to guess how long to set their alarm.
Some commuters experienced a time where they did not wake up on time.
“I set a timer for 25 in case it arrives early by 5 minutes for precaution.”
“It’s because you don’t want to miss your stop, set an alarm on your phone as a backup.”
“I set myself a timer for ten minutes before my estimated arrival.”
Key Findings.
Alarms are how most users ensure they wake up before they reach their stop. How can user’s phone alarms be improved and provide more tools/information to commuters?
what should we build?
Building two user personas and mapping multiple user tasks, I sketched the first iteration of frames. Based on user research results, I was able to identify the app's main feature, an intuitive map that allows commuters to set their destination and an alarm that adjusts itself based on real-time traffic flow. I quickly drafted a variety of layouts and designs.
I then created a hierarchy from my initial sketches, which allowed me to determine which element was most important for the user while simultaneously being the more affordable and lowest effort to create a complete product.
how should we build it?
Working from sketches, I built my initial wireframes to determine the app's navigation. At this step, I worked to balance clarity and composition. I wanted something simplified and straightforward to use.
Moving into mid/low fidelity, I refined the home screen navigation, alarm and map feature. Placing all essential features at the user's fingertips. Creating a more intuitive and straightforward application with limited screens to move through.
product evolution.
Research showed that users want to set the alarm while on their commute quickly. The goal of this app is to move users through as few screens as possible. The home screen is the central hub for navigation needed to go through multiple re-designs to reach a streamlined and straightforward layout. With highly visible calls to action and friendly UX writing, users understand quickly where to start and what we are asking from them.
Home screen evolution from initial wireframe to a final design.
UI design.
Building for contrast, clarity and simplicity.
Color is vitally important to commuters. Buses, trains and subways use color to convey where a commuter is going quickly. Keeping the UI simple with only shades of grey allowed the bus or train route's colors to pop in contrast. Users know what line they are on exactly without the app interfering. Allowing them to easily locate their next stop.
high fidelity version.
what’s next?
Audit current public transit apps. To examine how these major transportation agencies navigate users through their online products and websites.
Move the current product through multiple rounds of usability testing.
Choose one US city to build in maps and features based on their bus and train lines. To then test again with commuters base located in that area.