Role

UX Researcher, UI Designer

Duration

3 weeks

Goal

Conceptualize an app that allows campervan owners to rent out their unique vehicles to travelers wanting to temporarily live out of a van.

Research Objectives

I needed to discover which features to prioritize in this design sprint. I crafted a user research plan. I wanted to understand what was appealing about vanlife travel. I wanted to discover the potential roadblocks of van-life. I wanted to find out where travelers get inspiration - what kind of experiences they desire.

User Interviews

I interviewed 6 people in person ranging in ages 20 - 28. Before interviews, I created a script that would meet my research objectives. I learned that flexibility is important in user interviews. Created a script was necessary and I referred to it often, however I also tried to follow where each individual user wanted to take the conversation as long as it met research objectives. I used Miro to organize my interview notes into data points.

Findings and Affinity maping

I conducted 6 informal interviews with players at a pickleball tournament. After organizing the user insights with tools like affinity diagrams, and empathy maps I discovered that users value: fast and easy onboarding, quick independent planning process, upfront cost, and van life recommendations from experienced travelers.

Feature prioritization

Creating a feature prioritization helped me brainstorm and prioritize realistic and relevant achievable features that this product could offer potential users.

Creating the user experience

In order to help users complete their goals, I created two user flows. One for onboarding and one for browsing and selecting vans to rent.

User Flows

I created 3 iterations of a basic user flow to map out the user journey. The first iteration was a penciled sketch, and not included below. This was helpful to refer while prototyping because as it was a design sprint - I wanted to avoid getting caught up with unnecessary features and simplify achieving user goals. Iterations of this flow included cutting down on steps like coaching screens that - while possibly helpful - was not a priority or among the necessary designs that was needed to achieve user goals.

Initial iterations

My goal was to create an intuitive design that didn’t need a “learning curve” for onboarding new users as well as navigating the main screens of the app concept. I wanted to incorporate a trustworthy/legitimate feeling to the onboarding process. I referred to my user flow as well as my affinity maps and feature prioritization matrix to make sure I was including all objectives in my design.

First Sketches

I mapped out a simple sketch of the layout of my prototypes. I wanted to have a geometric aspect to my design to give it a feeling of uniqueness and balance. The triangle shape was chosen because it felt like an abstract representation of a road disappearing into the distance as well as referring to the representation of a home.

Low Fidelity Prototypes

Using figma, I was able to transfer my initial designs and play with the font and value balance. I moved onto adding color in later iterations (still low-fidelity). I chose black, white, and maroon color as a nod to the flower the app was named after. I took inspiration from landscape and colors of southern utah. I liked the natural burgundy tones associated with "dirtbag” environments . I kept the shape of a point disappearing into the distant (reminiscent of a road going on forever and disappearing with perspective.) In later iterations, I got rid of the lighter peach color so that it felt more gender-neutral.

High-Fidelity Protoype

In the high fidelity iterations. -I rounded corners of buttons and the triangular shape to soften and modernize the look. I made the buttons interactive. On the home page, I got rid of the background "triangle" but kept the shape in the header for continuity across pages. I leaned toward having the background white -in contrast to the login page and onboarding pages - in order for information to be more easily viewed. In later iterations, I also changed the layout of the van listings to a more simplistic design with the information under the image instead of in a text box on top. I kept this feature in the initial home page because the it didn't take away from highlighting the pannel title. I also added the option to view and reserve calendar dates under availability when viewing a vehicle listing.

Main user task I created prototypes for was onboarding, browsing and connecting with van-owners, I wanted the user to be able to communicate with fellow travelers this from multiple areas in the app.

Reaching case study goals

With this mobile concept, the paint points people expressed during interviews in regards to traveling were able to be addressed and avoided. The app provides a platform for people interested in the van life movement and way of traveling to be apart of the community and gain access to unique and customized vehicles. With traveling, using a. van is a car rental and airbnb mixed into one. Users would have access to means of transportation as well as housing accommodations