Mobile travel app prototype 'Travel Buddy'

Company

Hyper Island is a digital creative business school with a consultancy side specializing in industry training using digital technology. It was founded in 1996 in Sweden and has a presence through offices or campuses in Sweden (Headquarters), Brazil, the UK, the US, and Singapore.

Problem

Our mission from Hyper Island was to create a travel app. During our qualitative user research, we found out that many people feel unsafe taking public transportation by themselves late at night or in the evening.  We, therefore, wanted to create a travel app that aids travelers on public transport to feel more safe by connecting to each other. 

Process

The focus of this project was the design thinking process, including user research, analyzing the data, ideation, wireframes, and prototyping. We started with user research by sending out surveys online including multiple choice and free text to capture both quantitive and qualitative data.

To define the user needs, problems, and challenges we used affinity diagramming, empathy map, user journey map, defined ‘how might we’s , and actionable problem statement: How might we help people connect with trusted passengers to feel safe while using public transport?

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To form a solution in the ideation phase we used brainstorming and the method Crazy 8. Then, we designed task flows, wireflows, and prototypes. We all did our individual designs and then came together to share our insights. 

Insights

This project was a good learning experience on the overall process of design thinking and practice in the initial stages of empathizing, defining, and ideation. I enjoyed the process of empathizing with the users and finding solutions to help them feel safer while using public transport.