Project: GO DC App
Dedicated app
This app concept is designed to help public transportation users in the Washington, DC metropolitan area get from one point to another in the fastest, most efficient way possible. The target users are both DC residents and visitors to the city. Initial research was conducted by interviewing potential app users who are city dwellers and use public transportation.
Among the challenges - some participants understandably were not as technologically savvy as others, but all had used web-based tools to research train or bus information.
Project inspiration
As a lifelong New Yorker, I am familiar with urban transportation needs. I also interned with the New York City Department of Transportation, so this project to design an app for the D.C. subway system really spoke to me. In doing research it became clear that the bus system was intertwined with the public transportation, so that was included. I believe there is more potential for other methods (such as ride shares) to be explored, but in this project the main focus was on public options.
Main Concepts
Simplicity was the goal of the overall design. That meant putting the key feature - a place to start and end your search - front and center in the app. Since people use different paths to approach things, other options were also needed including a schedule button, map button and place to store favorites right on the main page.
After the initial interviews, personas were created to represent users who need to find transit information on the go, as well as users who were uncomfortable using technology. A competitive audit was also conducted of both direct and indirect competitors.
To view the mock prototype, please click here.
The Final Mockup
Design Process
Step 1: Wireframe Drawing
Step 2: Digital Wireframe
Step 3: Low-fidelity Prototype
For the prototype, users were asked to show the path they would take to travel from one major landmark to another Responses were gathered and changes were implemented where needed to create the mockup .
Hi-fidelity Prototype Connections
Color and Imagery
The color choice for a Washington, DC-based product seemed obvious, so a patriotic red, white and blue color scheme seemed like a good idea. In order to make the design more accessible and to avoid using primary colors, variations on red and blue were used. A simple Go DC logo was added by using "Rock Salt" font in 18 pt.
For more information on this model project, please see the "Case Study" posted above. Click below to view these additional projects:
