RampUp

A class project for INFO 360, Design Methods. This class was designed in teaching students in identifying user needs, learning design concepts, and gaining prototyping skills. This resulted in the creation of RampUp, an application designed to make routes more equitable for users with disabilities alongside in making their routes tailored to the accommodations of our users

Overview

Timeframe

 

Role

12 Weeks

UX Designer, User Research, Prototyping, Wireframing, UI Design, Usability Testing, Information Architecture

Tools

Figma, InVision

Team

Jose Santos, Parker Bannister

 

The Problem

Around 3.3 million wheelchair users in the United States have have trouble searching for reliable and consistent resources of information to help guide them around inconvenient obstacles (hills, steps, non-accessible restrooms, etc.) from point A to point B.

Furthermore, traditional mapping doesn’t include these accommodations, thus making it harder for individuals to safely follow their route. We decided to tackle these issues by offering a solution that would accommodate the our users efficiently and effectively.

 
 

Design Response

RampUp is designed to make routes more equitable for users with disabilities alongside in making their routes tailored to the accommodations of our users

Research

 

Competitive Analysis

In order to better understand the needs of our audience along with their current available options, we looked further into current popular resources on the market and analyzed their strengths and weaknesses.

Furthermore, we comprehensively brainstormed what be believe would offer users more control and reliability along with how we can effectively introduce those concepts in our design.

 

Finding Our Direction

We redrafted our research questions which helped lead us in finding a better understanding of the needs of our audience.

1) How often do hazards of different types (detours, weather, construction) affect map routing?

2) How aware are disabled users when it comes to approaching hazards or unnecessary obstacles on the way to their destination. What about it do they like or not like?

3) What are the attitudes and behaviors toward the availability of accessible obstacles and entrances of our users in a various sub-districts of Seattle?

4) What are the expectations of disabled users in their map routing experience? How well are they met?

 

User Personas

We formulated personas to embody a personification of the needs and goals of our target audience.

Design Prototyping

 

Wireframes

After several sketches and iterations of brainstorming, we came up with a few solutions to address this problem including creating a hybrid wheelchair that implements a built-in GPS system with our software along with automatically transporting the user from point A to point B.

Our second best solution came down to creating a multi-platform application that allows a user to map a customized route depending on your accommodations for the best convenient route possible.

 

User Flow + Lo-Fi Designs

Based on the above feedback and needs, we first designed and laid out our application design with the idea of being an add on feature for google maps.

 

User Testing

We conducted 5 moderated usability tests with participants. We facilitated and observed user flow and In addition, we noticed key takeaways to watch out for in general.

Key Takeaways

  • Implement updated civilian traffic constantly

    • Helps ensure ETA points

  • Introduce simple icons to enhance user comprehensibility

  • Highlight and introduce a variety of warnings

    • Ensures user precaution measures

Hi-Fi Design

 

Style Guide

We designed the app to best fit the comprehension of our users. In other words, we wanted to easily guide the user throughout the app, making them feel confident and reliant on our design. Detailed components that we carefully designed included the dark blue shade that blankets the app creating an intricate contrast giving the user an implied sense of reliability. We wanted the app to look like how we designed our user flow - simple. Furthermore, these colors that are accompanied by sleek font of Open Sans helps create a mood to the user

 

Limitations

We gathered notable limitations to understand what our application can and can’t do

  • Users of our app can be guided outdoors, once they get inside of the building it doesn’t become reliable anymore

  • Not available for everyone with walking disabilities, people with same disabilities

  • The app can’t cover each person’s degree of disability

  • Unforeseeable obstacles on the route can appear on the map undetected

 

Reflection

This was my first project which helped me discover and kindle my passion for UI/UX design as it incorporates bringing ‘something new to life’ and add unique and effective features along with creating a brand new experience for a specific audience which is always exciting. This project helped me dive into the design process and the necessary tools and steps to take in order to create a well-polished and effective design that will help users interact with your product in the best way possible.