A Glance at the Current Market
These are the only two bus planning apps, apart from Google Maps which is not reliable in Hong Kong. They exhibit poor design beyond words. The interface is cluttered, filled with RGB colours, excessive use of intricate icons, and confusing navigation. Additionally, the apps are inundated with low-quality advertisements and feature horrific font choices, just to name a few of design flaws.
TOOLS
Adobe XD,
Adobe Photoshop, Axure
DURATION
5 Months
MY ROLE
UX Design, UI Design,
User Research
Bus Route Planner App Pitch - Mobile UX Design
As a frequent bus user in Hong Kong, I have noticed a lack of satisfactory bus route planning apps in terms of UX design. Being passionate about UX and problem-solving, I have taken it upon myself to design my own version and plan to pitch it to the Government Transportation Department.
Centralise Key Information
Many transportation apps have a dashboard of functions on the home page. However, as learned from the user interviews, most people only use the app to check bus arrival times. The new home page design features real-time arrival information for frequently used bus routes front and centre, making the most important information easily accessible and improving efficiency.
Nearby Bus Stop Info
Another pain point for users was locating the nearest bus stop and obtaining information on expected bus arrival times. To address this, I added a 'Nearby Bus Stop' feature within the Map tab in the new design. With just one click on the route indicator, the system will automatically display the closest bus stop, along with detailed route information.
Multiple Stops Route Planning
Interviewees also expressed their frustration, particularly those who often travel around the city multiple times for client meetings, with the process of searching for bus routes one destination at a time. Therefore, the new design allows users to add multiple stops before reaching their final destination. The Destination Search feature includes an 'Add Stop' button, providing a more convenient option for users.
Essential Functions Only
Last but not least, I discovered that certain rarely used functions were causing distractions for users. Almost all interviewees requested a clean, more simplified interface. To address this, I chose to remove a few less frequently used functions and prioritise essential information. The most important information is now highlighted, while less frequently used information is tucked away in tabs and the sliding menu.
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Shoot me a message on LinkedIn or Email me at info@hello-chen.com
User Research
I conducted interviews with ten frequent bus riders to gain insight into their dissatisfaction with the existing bus route planning apps. By exploring their needs, emotions, and pain points, I was able to identify specific areas of frustration that needed to be addressed. This information was then used to create a User Journey Map, which informed my design decisions on what features to add and what to cut.
Low-fidelity
Based on the user interview results, I developed four design solutions to address the primary issues expressed by bus commuters. I then created simple, low-fidelity wireframes to test the feasibility. One solution was inspired by a card design in the Adobe XD prototype library, which eventually proved to be the ideal solution for hosting the 'Favourite Bus Routes'.