Husky Umbrella Hub
Design Question
“How can we help people on campus protect themselves from rain on campus?”
Context
The University of Washington is frequently challenged by its rainy climate, which affects the daily activities and overall well-being of its students and staff. Recognizing the need for enhanced rain preparedness, the research investigates the impact of rain on campus life and explores potential solutions to improve rain resilience for the university community.
Field Observations
Participants
Profile: No age limit, any gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background. Participants were engaged in various activities during rainy days.
Recruitment and Ethics: Participants were informed about the study's purpose, their right to withdraw, and ethical considerations such as anonymity and confidentiality.
Observational Studies
Locations: Multiple campus spots including Red Square, library entrances, and bus stops.
Approach: Observations focused on how the existing infrastructure aids in rain protection, the impact of rain on campus traffic, and the demographics of primary area users.
Traffic
Rain significantly impacts the flow of people, especially during peak hours, causing congestion at bus stops and sheltered areas like building entrances.
Findings from Observations
Built Environment
Observations around Red Square and key building entrances showed a lack of adequate shelter and water management, leading to puddle formation and slippery surfaces, which pose safety risks.
Demographics
Students and staff are the primary users affected, with particular challenges noted for those who transition between buildings frequently.
Interviews
Goal
To deepen our understanding of the challenges and solutions related to rain protection on campus, following up on issues identified in observational studies such as inadequate bus shelters and potential safety hazards.
Ethics and Permissions
Participants were fully informed about the study's goals, the voluntary nature of their participation, and their rights to confidentiality and to withdraw at any time. Consent was obtained for recording the interviews.
Participants
Interviews were conducted with students, staff, and visitors who have experienced rainy conditions on campus, with a focus on collecting diverse perspectives across different campus roles.
Findings from Interviews
Infrastructure and Safety
Bus Shelters: Many participants noted that while existing shelters provide basic protection, they are often overcrowded and inadequately shielded from rain splashes caused by passing vehicles.
Slippery Surfaces: High-traffic areas like Red Square are particularly problematic due to slippery surfaces, leading to safety concerns during wet weather.
Communication and Resources
Information Dissemination: There is a need for better real-time communication regarding weather changes and available rain protection resources.
Public Umbrella Sharing: Suggestions included implementing a public umbrella sharing system similar to those found in other public spaces, enhancing convenience for unprepared individuals.
Navigation and Personal Strategies
Route Choices: During rain, participants often alter their routes based on shelter availability and their personal knowledge of the least exposed paths.
Rain Gear Use: Commonly used rain gear includes umbrellas and waterproof jackets. Participants expressed a desire for more effective and accessible rain gear options on campus.
Surveys
Overview
The survey aimed to gather broad-based input from the University of Washington community on their experiences with and suggestions for improving rain protection and safety on campus. The study followed up on previous research by further investigating the effectiveness of existing infrastructure, personal rain protection strategies, and communication regarding weather conditions.
Participants
Survey responses were collected from a diverse group of students, faculty, and staff, ensuring a comprehensive view of the campus community's experiences.
Tools Used
Google Forms was utilized for its accessibility and integration capabilities, ensuring efficient data collection and analysis.
Findings from Surveys
01
Weather Forecast and Personal Preparedness
A significant majority of respondents indicated that weather forecasts influence their decisions to carry rain gear, suggesting a high reliance on weather apps and other digital tools for weather updates.
02
Interest in Public Umbrella-Sharing Program
There is strong interest among survey participants in a public umbrella-sharing program, indicating a potential area for campus-wide service enhancement.
03
Navigational Challenges and Safety Concerns
Respondents frequently encounter slippery surfaces, particularly in areas like Red Square. Safety concerns due to these conditions were a recurring theme.
Recommendations
Implement digital weather information displays across campus to provide real-time updates and encourage better personal preparedness.
Pilot an umbrella-sharing program at strategic locations to evaluate its usage and effectiveness.
Prioritize resurfacing work in high-traffic areas and introduce warning signs to enhance safety during rainy conditions.
Having identified key areas for improvement through extensive research, including field studies, interviews, and surveys, the project now transitions into the design phase, where these insights catalyze the creation of practical solutions. The decision to design an app for the umbrella-sharing program emerged as a direct response to the strong interest shown in enhancing rain protection resources on campus.
Information Architecture
With the final design solution decided, I created an information architecture to ideate and define the overall structure for the app's interface. This information architecture lays out the navigation and user flows essential for the digital aspects of our product.
Low-Fidelity
Informed by the information architecture developed earlier, we crafted a low-fidelity prototype to simulate the digital interactions of the Umbrella Sharing App. The prototype's navigation and user flows were carefully aligned with the established IA, ensuring consistency and usability from the outset.
Design Considerations
User Dashboard: Users start at a sign in screen, transitioning smoothly to a user dashboard upon successful login, which immediately presents options for managing umbrella rentals.
Task Flows: The app includes task flows for borrowing and returning umbrellas, designed to be intuitive and quick, utilizing QR code scanning for efficiency.
Usability Features: I incorporated features such as a map view for locating umbrella kiosks and a detailed account management section, enhancing user interaction and satisfaction.
Usability Testing #1
To validate the design and gather initial user reactions, I conducted the first usability testing with one participant who was representative of the target audience—undergraduate students familiar with campus life and technology.
Participant Feedback
Navigation and Layout:
Some users found the navigation to be unclear, particularly when trying to locate specific functions like the umbrella return. They suggested looking at other sharing economy apps like Uber and Lyft to learn from their layout and simplicity.
Visual Design:
Feedback highlighted the need for a more vibrant color palette. The use of University of Washington’s official colors was suggested to make the app more appealing and aligned with the university's identity.
Interaction Design:
Participants recommended redesigning the layout to improve readability and interaction, making key features like the 'find umbrella' button more prominent.
Mid-Fidelity
The Information Architecture was further refined during this stage. The Mid-fi integrates the user feedback received during the initial usability testing. This prototype includes more detailed visual elements and simpler interaction paths to better emulate the real application.
Design Enhancements in the Mid-Fidelity Prototype
Map View Integration: The prototype continues to feature a map view on the home page, designed to help users locate umbrella stations.
Enhance Visual Appeal: Adopt the university's color scheme across all app elements to ensure visual coherence and appeal.
Streamlined Navigation: The updated Information Architecture has been implemented to simplify the app’s navigation, making essential functions more accessible through a cleaner and more intuitive interface.
Usability Testing #2
During the second round of usability testing, I focused on the effectiveness of the mid-fidelity prototype’s design enhancements. Participants provided feedback that will be crucial for the development of the high-fidelity prototype.
Feedback Highlights
Map View White Space
Feedback pointed out unclear white space in the map view. The high-fidelity version will address this by adding a list view of locations for umbrella stations to make better use of the space.
Expectation of Dynamic Elements
Participants expected an animation during the QR scanning process. This will be implemented in the high-fidelity prototype to make the interaction more engaging and intuitive.
Interface Simplification
Inspired by feedback and comparisons to other sharing economy apps, further simplifications will be made in the high-fidelity prototype to enhance usability and aesthetic appeal.
High-Fidelity
Key Enhancements in the High-Fidelity Prototype:
Visual and Interaction Enhancements: Incorporation of animations for QR code scanning provides a dynamic user experience, making the process of borrowing and returning umbrellas visually intuitive and engaging.
Improved Navigation and Usability: The prototype features refined iconography for better recognition, such as clear indications of umbrella stations on the map and the number of available umbrellas. This helps users quickly understand the status of umbrella availability.
Effective Use of White Space: The home page now effectively utilizes previously unclear white space by displaying a list of umbrella stations sorted from nearest to farthest, complete with details like distance and relevant building proximity.
Feedback from Design Review
During the design review, the professor provided constructive feedback that will guide future development
Clarity on Return Screen
Enhance clarity on the return screen to make the process more intuitive and prevent user confusion.
Introduction of Accountability Metrics
Developing an accountability system, such as trust points or Husky Card points, to incentivize proper use and timely return of umbrellas, addressing sustainability and scalability concerns.
Navigation Enhancements
Suggested improvements include adding breadcrumbs or navigation icons to facilitate easy switching between functionalities like the home page, borrowing, and returning umbrellas.