spotlight parking app

Springboard Capstone 1 Project

I focused on a problem that many (including myself) have experienced. In fact, it’s the main reason I don’t live in a large city. Why the heck is parking such a pain? How can I make it better?

Project

UX/UI Capstone Project
Fall, 2023

My Role

UX & UI Designer / Test Facilitator

Deliverables

Heuristic Analysis | Empathy Map | Moderated Tests | Wire frames | Prototype

Problem: How can parking be made less stressful for drivers?

‍Solution: A hybrid app to help provide more positive experiences in parking with access to accurate, relevant, and current information.

(See the Prototype in Action! Note, some parking names and details are placeholder/generic and may change from map view to other screens.)

DISCOVERY AND RESEARCH

Primary Research | Hueristics | User Persona

Through secondary research, I was surprised to find the perception “there are not enough parking spaces” was not only off, but the opposite was true.

Parking takes up about one-third of land area in U.S. cities Nationwide (USA), there are an estimated eight parking spaces for every car.
Every city has their own way of accepting payment and tracking parking availability.

Heuristics Research: Learning from Competitors

I looked into the three most popular apps used for finding parking and compared them. I then had an idea of how to approach my app and what to also avoid. (Full Heuristic Analysis, 15 pages)

Learning from Interviews

Through five separate 30-45 min interviews, I gathered as much helpful qualitative data as I could on others’ experiences. Most were conducted virtually. I created a discussion guide to stay consistent with my interviews. I chose my participants based on a screener survey.

Licensed drivers 18 yo+
Relies on city parking regularly
Owns a smartphone

I organized the notes from participants into categories/topics. Each color represents an interviewee. I then arranged each sticky note by proximity to similar comments to find clusters of patterns.

(View full affinity map)

Key Patterns Found Through Mapping:

Parking cost was a regular concern for 4/5 drivers.
4/5 described confusion about the rules of a parking spot.
‍5/5 described a feeling of helplessness related to parking.
‍3/5 said they feel more relaxed with a friend helping in the passenger’s seat.
‍4/5 said they would change or cancel plans to avoid the hassle of parking.

CLEAR GOALS

From interview patterns, I went to Miro again to learn what features my app needed and what tasks users should be able to accomplish with it.

How Might We...

…give drivers a sense of control through fast, accurate, and relevant information as they search for parking?
…assist drivers in quickly choosing a parking location when they are actively driving in the area?
…give drivers control and simplicity in paying for parking?

User Needs

red routes | User stories based on pains & gains

As A Driver...

…I want to search for parking, so that I can choose an available spot.
…I want to pay for parking ahead of time, so that I don’t have to pay later.
…I want to update my parking time, so that I do not get a ticket.
…I want to filter and sort my options, so I can see parking spots relevant to me.

Red Route Shown: Find Parking

(See all red routes)

wireframes

paper sketches to High Fidelity Designs

Map List and Search Screen
‍While maps are most common, a list view will provide information about distance, price, users can quickly compare at a glance.

Searching Filters
‍Filters give users the power to choose based on their preference and only view options that fit their immediate need.

‍Distance Filter and Selected Parking
‍For the selected parking option screen, users will need to know the rules, hours and regulations of their chosen spot. This is where they can also commit to this location.

Refined sketches of screens for guerrilla testing

List and Map views
Filter screen
Parking option screens

Guerrilla Testing

I facilitated a round of guerrilla testing with my refined digital sketches to establish a user-friendly flow and layout. Five individuals tested the red routes of the app, completing the following actions:

Create an account
Search for Parking (using filters as well)
Secure a chosen parking spot
Pay for parking
Extend your parking time

Findings from testing

I learned my language had to be more clear
Some structural elements were clunky (such as the bottom nav bar)
I needed a cleaner presentation of information (especially on the parking option screen)

validation and discovery

usability testing and findings

The last stage was to add motion and interactions. Buttons are clickable, screens could be scrolled, etc. A total of 10 individuals tested the red routes (key journeys) of the app in two rounds (five participants per round).

4/5 participants voiced confusion with action items on the parking pages.
All participants were unsure or confused about the meaning of letters on parking icons.
While two guessed correctly, they still sought on-screen affirmation.
3/5 participants would have liked to see “walking distance from location”
4/5 participants assumed the thinner footer was missing an item because of the space between all other options and the home icon.

(See Prototype in Action)

Round 1 Findings

Issue 1: Users Don’t Have Clarity of Action on Parking Pages

Issue 2: Users Don’t Understand Parking Letters

Issue 3: Users Need Distance Information Sooner

Round 2 Findings

3/5 participants were unclear as to which parking areas were open.
None of the participants searched for or used the new legend tab without some kind of prompting. This solution was not effective.

Issue 1: Users are not clear on which parking areas are open when viewing spaces on the app.

Issue 2: Users still don’t have clarity on parking icon letters.

overall impressions

I am most proud of the fact that each task had features and flow that were just what my users were looking for, especially for those who find current parking apps frustrating.

Give a sense of control through fast, accurate, and relevant information as they search
Assist drivers in quickly choosing a parking location when they are actively driving in the area
Give drivers control and simplicity in paying for parking

3 of 5 users felt the app was “clean,” “uncluttered,” and “all the info you needed” was available.

5 of 5 users valued the app’s features (such as the timer, paying, and search filters).

2 of 5 users voiced a positive reaction specifically to colors used in the app.

Lessons Learned

Research is Vital

Our perceptions of a problem are not always accurate. Research is vital to understanding the true problem to be solved.

Curiosity Leads

Curiosity should lead throughout. Understanding why ‘obvious’ fixes (eg. the legend tab) actually didn’t work led to a much clearer understanding of my users.

Focus on Stages

Be patient, and focus on stages. My tendency at first was to design nearly everything all together, even trying to establish prototyping ahead of time within Figma. Working with a more steady approach proved to be better, taking parts in stages, presenting and gathering feedback, then refining pieces along the way.