PROJECT
LoFi, the parking app
MY ROLE
UX Research
UX Design
UI Design
SUMMARY
I lead the UX process of the LoFi parking app project.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Finding a parking space can be frustrating, especially when using an app, on the go and searching
for
relevant information takes too much time.
According to the public on a forum, parking apps don't fulfil their needs and 35% of users drop off
due to frustration and difficulty in terms of using the app.
Project Goals
Focus on the best user experience for users to find and book parking spaces.
Structure the information architecture to guide users through the journey.
Display user reviews and needs to be prominent.
A useful way to display and manage bookings.
Design the user interface for a simplicity and intuitive experience.
APPROACH
To tackle the project, I will begin with UX research to gain insights from parking app users
to identify the current problem and improve the overall user experience.
USER STORY
As a user, I would like…
An easier way to help me find parking spaces on the go…
So that I can have the confidence to book and save
spaces,and be stress-free.
Research Methods
User interviews
User interviews help understand what the user thinks and feels and to empathise with the users. Identifying the pain points and map out the requirements for the features.
Infinity mapping
Gathering the findings from user interviews will build a foundation to categorise the priority of the problems to help me solve the problems.
Prototype testing
Testing prototypes to validate assumptions from research. As well as getting the MVP out there and get feedback to iterate further.
Persona
Fictional characters produced based on the research to represent different user types that might use the product in a similar way.
Competitor analysis
Looking into how other competitors do it and and how I can do it better. Also to find the current problems users have and empathise with them.
Research findings
Not that simple to use
From the user interview lab session, majority of users say they have used parking apps and are not straightforward. For instance, you can't explore cities recommended to you for a faster process. simplicity is key to product design.
Experience from other users are necessary
It can be difficult to locate reviews or they don't exist, it will be reassuring that booking a parking space is reliable.
Managing bookings could be more helpful
A better and more intuitive way to manage bookings to help me see what I have booked, see future bookings and the history.
Another way to display your parking history
A more visual way where I have previously booked so that I remember the best parking spaces I have used previously and can share with friends and family.
Following from the user interview lab session, I was able to create personas and form an action
plan for the ideation workshop as well as prioritisation for the MVP.
The lab session has helped me find answers of what potential customers generally struggle with
and I am able to empathise with them.
THE DEFINED GOAL
LoFi is a parking app that makes your life much simpler. The app finds parking spaces according to
your calendar and suggest the best spaces to park from user reviews and the details you
provide on the on-boarding process.
A visual map to show the parking history and help the user find and share spaces faster.
Empathising with the users through UX research has identified the solutions to the problems.
Atomic consistency
After producing the design system for the LoFi project, I gathered all of the components that I will need for the interface to keep the design consistent and re-usable. Not only this is important to the UX team in the near future but is crucial for the development team to understand and use to build.
ONBOARDING
The onboarding process should be simple, short and interesting process. Customers have said painful long forms causes frustrations and leave without having a go on the product. By creating fewer steps and showing the progress bar, users have an idea how long the onboarding process could take.
Onboarding, explore and saving city cards
From the UX research lab session, the majority of customers mentioned that having to tap the search
bar and type to find cities to save for later can be time-consuming. The idea here is by presenting
cards of popular cities, users are now able to explore cities and save them, recommended to them
according to their location. Sorting from closest and popular locations, and suggested from the
community.
The feature allows the user to be able to swipe left or right for a faster process and a greater
experience.
Home
The feedback from the research lab session regards to discovery on the map were that the information
hierarchy is overloading the screen and customers get frustrated trying to understand where to focus
on. Now a simplified version of the map with clear pinpoints that shows each parking space clearly
for customers to interact with.
The home screen shows the current location and what’s around you. The search engine immediately
provides the user with the opportunity to search for parking spaces in cities, towns, anywhere in
the world at a glance.
By tapping on each price icon (parking spaces), the popup will slide up with a brief description of
each parking space.
PARKING SPACE DESCRIPTION AND REVIEWS
Swipe the description card up will reveal full details of the selected parking space.
Reviews
Creating a review screen to capture it's presence
where users will see at a glance to gain confidence, this was raised several times from the UX
reasearch lab.
Tapping the arrow icon will reveal the full list of reviews to read more.
TRACKING MADE EASIER
Tracking what users have booked or have pre-booked can be challenging to find according to the
customers. They said that there should be a better and more intuitive way to manage bookings to help
see what customers have booked, see future bookings and the history.
Now things are made easier with a few touches. The below screen shows the tabs at the top helps
users to manage their bookings much simpler and more intuitive.
Bookings
To produce a more helpful booking navigation for the customers, is to listen to them. Customers
mentioned it will be very helpful that if they are able to view upcoming bookings as well as
currently active ones.
Listening to the customers, the features are now live. The booking navigation tab handles all the
completed, upcoming and currently active activities. Therefore, users are able to look for any
bookings they have made.
Saved Navigation
As customers said that making the product easier to use and intuitive is key for an enjoyable product. The solution is that users can now manage any of the places they have saved. Tapping on the ‘Add Location’ CTA will reveal the discover card screen where the user is able to swipe left or right to add cities. Or tap the search bar to search manually. Much more cleaner interface to help guide the CTAs.
Profile and interactive map
One of the most mentioned pain points from the user research lab session is that customers want
another way to display their parking history. A more visual way where they have previously
booked so that they remember the best parking spaces they've used previously and can share with
friends and family.
The feature is here. The profile provides personalisation which means the timeline records every
parking space location the user have used around the world. As the user taps on the setting cog
icon, it will take them to a much more simpler, less functionality, minimal design and clear
CTAs. Strong user experience for easy amendments to your account settings.
The user can also tap on the ‘Map’ navigation tab to see the interactive map with the locations
they have used before, pinned on cities and towns. They are able to share with friends.
Key Learnings
The customers
Listening to the customers and potential customers is vital. Learning about their thoughts and
feelings helped me empathise with them and to find solutions to the problems they have. The
majority of the user problems are not uncommon. In fact most parking apps have these features
already, I am not reinventing the wheel here but listening to customers. the user experience is
much greater and will make the features better and easier to use. Therefore, users won't have to
think.
It doesn't stop there, getting the MVP of the product out there to real users will gain valuable
feedback and validating the assumptions as well as answering the problems customers currently
have. Further iterations and making the product delightful is the way forward from here.
