Travelease
Empathetic Travel Planning App for People with Disabilities
Table of Contents
Background
During a journey back from college, something incredible happened. We witnessed a powerful moment at a bus stop where a man in a wheelchair was not only assisted onto the bus with a ramp but also had his wheelchair securely placed inside. This experience was a game-changer for me. It made me realize the profound impact of thoughtful design and inclusivity in UX. This simple act of making public transportation accessible sparked my interest in UX design, showing me how design has the potential to create transformative and seamless experiences for everyone.
About the Project
This project aims to create an experiential store blending traditional and digital elements to captivate customers, particularly Millennials, seeking a cultural experience. With limited luxury Indian designer competition in the US, this venture presents a unique opportunity to showcase Sabyasachi’s renowned apparel and jewellery collections, bridging the gap between Indian and American fashion markets.
Problem Brief
To build a travel app that’s like a trusted companion for people with disabilities. We want to make their travel easy and enjoyable. In this research plan, we put people first, so the app isn’t just useful; it’s a real help and makes their trips better.
My Design Process
To build a travel app that’s like a trusted companion for people with disabilities. We want to make their travel easy and enjoyable. In this research plan, we put people first, so the app isn’t just useful; it’s a real help and makes their trips better.
Study of Existing Products
Who are my Users?
User Research
Insights for Action: Simplify navigation and interface. | Leverage technology for real-time data updates. | Add customization features.
Interview Questions
1.Basic Information
Name and Age
What kind of difficulties do you face related to mobility?
3.Travel Frequency and Challenges
Examples of Impairment-Related Challenges Could you share a recent travel experience where you encountered challenges due to your impairment?
5.Assistive Equipment Usage
Do you use any assistive equipment (e.g., wheelchair, walker, hearing aid) while traveling? If so, what features would you need from an app to support your usage?
7.Accessibility Information
Would you find features like the location of accessible restrooms or accessible roads helpful in a travel app?
9.Other Accessibility
Features How would you feel about features like accessible parking and drop-off points in a travel app?
2.Travel Frequency and Challenges
How often do you travel, and what is the reason behind your frequency of travel? Can you describe the difficulties you experience when arranging a trip or traveling?
4.App Feature Preferences
What features would you like to see in an app that would help you travel effortlessly?
How important is real-time accessibility data for transportation (bus, taxi, subway)?
6.Planning and Payment
Do you prefer an app that helps you plan and pay for your travel, or just provides information for booking elsewhere?
8.Emergency Features and Communication
Do you have any requests for special emergency features in the app? What is your preferred communication method (text, audio, video) when asking for help or information?
Survey Questions
1.Demographic Information
Age range (1-5, 5-12, 12-18, 18-28, 28-80) Do you have any disabilities or impairments (e.g., visual, auditory, mobility)?
2.Transportation Usage
How often do you use public transportation? (daily, weekly 2-3 times, 4-8 times a month, etc.)
Have you faced any difficulties using transportation services due to your impairment? (Yes/No)
What types of transportation do you typically use? (Bus, subway, taxi, etc.)
3.Awareness of Accessibility Tools
Are you aware of any transportation apps designed for people with disabilities? (Yes/No) Do you currently use any transportation-related mobile apps? (Yes/No)
4.Accessibility Features in Apps
What accessibility features do you consider essential in a transportation app? (e.g., voice commands, screen reader compatibility, real-time updates)
Voice of Users
User Research
Empathy Map
Goals
I Want accurate details on accessible transportation and amenities
I want to customize app based on transportation preferences.
Achieve a smooth and enjoyable travel experience.
Journey Map
Mid Fidelity Screens
We created Mid-Fidelity wireframes to strike a balance between the simplicity of low-fidelity wireframes and the visual detail of high fidelity wireframes. These are used to convey and test the structure, layout and interaction of the product.
User Testing inputs from Mid Fid Screens
Final Solution
Final screens showcases a user-centric interface featuring a streamlined navigation bar with just three essential options, enhanced with smart search functionality, intuitive downward scrolling patterns, clear location indicators, and customizable filtering options to deliver a seamless exploration experience.
Prototype
The Conclusion
Through comprehensive generative research methods, we uncovered critical user pain points and behavioral patterns that informed our design decisions.
The iterative design process, progressing from low-fidelity to high-fidelity prototypes, proved invaluable in challenging our initial assumptions and mitigating potential design biases. User testing played a pivotal role in validating our solutions and ensuring design decisions were grounded in actual user needs rather than predetermined assumptions.
Our findings particularly emphasized the critical nature of creating a frictionless experience, as users demonstrated low tolerance for complexity in ordering and delivery workflows. This insight reinforces the importance of continuous user validation and iterative refinement to maintain high user satisfaction and retention rates.There is a risk of initial confusion, which may lead to a temporary dip in user satisfaction as they learn the new structure.