Redesigning public transit app ‘Transit’

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Transit is a mobile app providing real-time public transit data. However, less user-friendly design and constrained functionality have lowered the usability. Therefore, in response to this significant demand, this project aims to redesign the function and layout of Transit to enhance user usability and make it more effective.

MY ROLE

As a sole project, I conducted UX research including market analysis and 6 user interviews to figure out user needs and pain points, and decided on an insightful scope of redesigning. Based on the user pain points, redesigned functions and user interface to enhance consistency and user usability with interactive prototypes

Project

App redesign

team

Self-managed project

Timeline

Aug ~ Sep 2022 (4 weeks)

Tool

Figma, Miro, Photoshop

PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS

While using the app, users often do not understand what this step means due to the less user-friendly design. So I redesigned the experience by focusing on helping users with users at the center of the design.
Before
Problem
• Less-Friendly Information makes users confused
• Hard to find and use setting function
• Text information is not enough to understand accurately
After
Solution
• Improved home screen in a more user-friendly way
• Changed the setting position and added mode functions
• Added sufficient text information and highlighted the color

DESIGN PROCESS

My full design process is outlined in the timeline below. I redesigned the application by following four phases — Empathize, Define, Ideate, and Design.
Empathize

Market Analysis &
SWOT Analysis

To get a better understanding of the Transit app, I have searched the market and compared it with similar competitor applications. In addition, according to the reviews from existing users, I did analyze their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
Click on the image to enlarge
Click on the image to enlarge

User Interview &
Empathy map

Now, I know how the current system is designed and what could be improved through competitor analysis. Then, let’s hear what the users say by conducting an interview. Also, I asked to perform some tasks using interfaces to find out inconveniences while using the app.
These are the questions I have used in the user interview to understand the users and their thoughts better while using the app.
After interviewing, I synthesize the answers by doing empathy mapping to understand and prioritize the user’s needs.
Define

Color coding

After researching, I synthesized information by doing color coding. I wrote down everything that each person said during an interview. I categorized data into code to better understand common pain points.
Grouping by codes, I decided to focus on top 3 to scope into redesigning:

Persona

After conducting the research and getting a better idea of the user's needs, I created a persona to represent the average Transit user.
Click on the image to enlarge

USER JOURNEY MAP

User Journey Maps are created according to persona into diverse stages and analyze frustration levels and improvement opportunities.
Click on the image to enlarge

USER STORYBOARD

I created a series of possible scenarios to understand the user's thinking better. I then created a storyboard to map out the intended experience and visualize key pain points.
Ideate

SKETCHING, WIRE FRAMING

With the design principles in mind, I started sketching the iteration for a redesigning Transit app. Drawing rapidly on paper is helpful to get every idea I have in mind laid out on paper.
KEY FEATURES

Home Screen Improvement

Existing users felt hard to understand the nearby transit line, especially at the bottom of the main page. I expressed the app by dividing it into the Nearby function, which informs the nearby transit lines based on the stop, and the Favorites function, which can add favorite locations. The main page was redesigned to support user customizing services and better understanding.

Easy-to-Use Filter and Mode Selection

During the research, I found that many users have difficulty finding and using filter functions. Therefore, I moved the filter position to prominently up and listed transit modes to increase user usability and functionality.

Color Codes

When users search for routes, the most important thing they look at is time. So, I highlighted the color and size to emphasize the time information. Also, I added text information to help users better understand trip details.

What I learned

UX research process is essential
What I learned while working on this project is the importance of research. I researched many user experiences and realized that people’s thoughts differed. I prioritized and scoped what I could redesign the app based on user research. This project helped me learn how to scope and prioritize information.

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Jinhee Jung© 2024 All Rights Reserved