ParKing
Problem
In the neighborhoods with event venues or in urban areas, the increased number of vehicles causes parking-related problems, such as finding a parking space, exiting a parking lot, or driving around a parking lot.
Role
Product Designer
Process
User Research, Competitive Analysis, Data Analysis, Brainstorming, Ideation, Scenarios, Personas, Storyboards & Wireframes, Paper Prototype, Digital Prototype
Tools
Sketches, QOC Analysis, Balsamiq, Adobe XD
1. Research
Competitive Analysis
Competitive analysis
Neighborhoods with event venues suffer from the post-event traffic congestion. To understand the market and to identify comparative advantages to the potential competitors in the field of parking solutions, I conducted competitive evaluation on the four of the currently existing systems that deals with the wait times in different situations.
Based on the criteria of cost, availability, simplicity, visual elements, and accuracy of the application, I was able to learn that users value real-time wait time information and prefer the users review of the location.
Personas
Primary persona
I explored the online forums to read the reviews of the major event venues, especially about the parking or traffic issues. Then, I developed a persona as in the following image to capture the primary user profile that will guide the design.
Storyboard
Scenarios
Based on the research above, I drew a storyboard that will identify the user flows and where the solution can be introduced. These stories could be largely categorized into:
Pre-departure or purchasing
On site
Post-event
2. Design
Sketches
Sketches
Based on the storyboard of the user flows, I sketched a mobile application, hanging signs in parking lots, announcements on TVs in the venue, and an online map as the potential solutions.
Wireframes
I imagined the features similar to those of a map application yet with the functionality to see the traffic information inside the parking lot in a 3D-like view for more accurate parking information.
QOC Analysis
A tool that helped me during the feature prioritization process was Design Space Analysis. I adapted QOC (Question-Option-Criteria) Analysis to rationalize my decision for which platform to be used, how to display the information, and what should the real-time traffic information be about.
Prototypes
I used paper for the initial round of prototypes and Adobe XD for digital prototypes. The overall theme for the visual and interaction design was simplicity and credibility.
Testing with paper prototype
Interaction map of ParKing
The main functions are as follows:
Search Parking Lot
Set Parking Timer
Track Parking
3. Share
Usability defect log
I ran the usability tests with my classmates and took notes of the defects and the ideas for improvement. View the demo video below for its final version:
Impact
ParKing mobile app allows the users to monitor the real-time traffic inside the parking lots from the crowd-sourced data so that they can avoid the traffic, better manage time, and have more pleasant experience at the event site. As more tracking and crowdsourcing technologies are becoming available, ParKing will provide more efficient and valuable solutions to the customers for a hassle-free parking experience.
Icons made by Vector Market from www.flaticon.com
