➡️ Project Background
This project is from one of my course work at Tampere University during my master's degree in Human-Technology Interaction. The idea was to come up with a concept that can help the cause of cities to become more sustainable while involving the residents. Being a resident of Tampere (also my fellow project mates), we decided to take Tampere as our project case study place.
➡️ About the concept
In an era marked by rapid urbanization and increasing concerns about environmental sustainability, the need for innovative solutions to address urban mobility challenges has never been more pressing. This project emerged from the recognition of the pivotal role that technology can play in promoting sustainable transportation practices and enhancing the quality of life in urban environments. We came up with a concept of bike sharing, riding together, achievements like concept to enhance the usage of bicycles that can eventually help in many ways.
➡️ Our Process
1. Research and analysis:
Our first step towards this project started with analyzing different city areas, bike routes, parking spots, repair shops, similar applications in the market. We went to several locations in Tampere, observed people riding and parking their bikes, tried to interview a few people around the area to understand their point of view of riding bicycles.
2. Initial design phase
After the research and analysis phase, all the team members individually started to create separate concepts so that we can come up with many ideas and the main motive was to not limit our mind at this stage. Once we gathered with all the concepts, we brainstorm the ideas and came to a conclusion of coming up an application that provides the resident's of Tampere with various attractive features. Some of the important features that we came up were:
🌟Bicycle sharing
🌟Rewards or achievements
🌟Community of people who ride bicycles
🌟Route's information
🌟Renting a bike
3. Testing the initial designs
We designed the initial wireframes and visited various areas of Tampere and tried to show people. The concept was highly appreciated by the residents and at the same time we were able to get valuable feedback from them. One of the mostly asked question was "Will this application provide the repair shop information" and the of course "How much it will cost, for example one ride?"
So, considering these feedbacks we came up with a couple of more features and added that the user can filter the routes and find relevant places on their way. At the same time, we integration a renting option as well (think of a city bikes that are cheap to use).
4. Improved the design
With all the user feedback, we improved our design from various aspects like features, navigations and the overall user experience
5. Visuals, illustrations and High-fidelity design
In the beginning we didn't put any focus on the colors or visual aspect of it but later on the final stage we gave the concept a colorful life. We added a few relevant illustrations and colors to make the usage more pleasant.
➡️ Note
The detailed data can not be provided from the research phase and some other parts of the project due to privacy concerns. As a student, we only own the prototype that was finalized in this project work.
➡️ Prototype
Below is the prototype which you can test and if you can come here until this point and would like to know more about the project or prototype, feel free to reach out to me and I will be happy to explain more
➡️ Learnings from this project
⚪ Deep understanding of user needs:
Engaging in user interviews and city surveys provided firsthand insights into the needs, behaviors, and pain points of bicyclists in Tampere. This experience honed my ability to empathize with users and understand their motivations, which is foundational to effective UX design.
⚪ Holistic problem solving:
Addressing the challenge of promoting bicycling in urban areas required a multifaceted approach. By conceptualizing a mobile application with various features such as bicycle sharing, route recommendations, and community engagement, I gained experience in solving complex problems through design thinking and creativity.
⚪ Balancing complexity and simplicity:
Designing a mobile application with multiple features necessitated striking a delicate balance between functionality and simplicity. Through this project, I learned to prioritize features, streamline user flows, and maintain clarity in the interface to ensure a seamless user experience without overwhelming users with complexity.
⚪ Incorporating sustainability:
By promoting eco-friendly transportation options and incentivizing sustainable behaviors, I recognized the potential for UX design to drive positive social and environmental change.
⚪ Collaborative teamwork:
By working collaboratively (other members were from design and development background) , I gained insights into different perspectives, refined your design decisions through constructive feedback, and contributed to a more cohesive and impactful solution.
⚪ Real-world application:
Applying UX design principles to a real-world project reinforced the practical relevance of my academic learning and professional skills. This experience strengthened my ability to apply user-centered design methodologies, navigate complex design challenges, and deliver solutions that meet both user needs and business objectives.