About Sharie Project
This project originated from an interactive design program challenge at the University of Melbourne. The challenge was to design a digital product that could effectively address a current crisis. After three months of dedicated work, our product 'Sharie' received high praise and recognition from the program organizers and members of the city council.
My role: 1. UX Research (managed stakeholders and interviewed city council etc.) 2. Functions innovation (I bring the socialization into share drive) 3. Main functions user interface design and design system builder. 4. Testing (including Jakob Nielsen and A/B testings).
Duration: 3 months
Team: 5 persons
Background
Raised by our group members
“Drive to city campus is terrible”
Interviews
From city of Melbourne coucil:
Our team scheduled a meeting with the Melbourne City Council to address our parking-related inquiries. To our surprise, they provided some insightful answers. They revealed that the city of Melbourne has plans to reduce the number of parking spaces in the future instead of increasing them. Their goal is to encourage people to rely more on public transportation options such as trams and trains when visiting the city.
Driving is often a necessity for students and workers who need to quickly or privately accomplish tasks or live in areas with limited access to public transportation. In fact, over two-thirds of Australian drivers use their vehicles for their daily commute.
Our extensive research included interviews with students and workers whose institutions are located in Melbourne city, as well as consultations with the city council regarding the current parking situation and future parking trends.
Before conducting our research and interviews, our initial assumption was to focus on addressing the parking dilemma and develop a parking directions application. However, after interviewing the city council, we discovered that this approach would not be effective and align with the city's future plans.
From workers and students lived in suburb but they need to came to city frequently:
Our team conducted interviews with university students from the University of Melbourne, including both international and domestic students. We specifically focused on those who owned cars and frequently drove to the city for various reasons.
During these interviews, we sought to understand their perspectives and pain points throughout their driving experiences. The majority of participants expressed concern over the high fees associated with driving to the campus alone. Additionally, many of them highlighted the challenges of dealing with heavy traffic and the difficulty of finding parking spaces near their institutions.
Pain points and Challenge
For Driver
There is not enough parking positions in city, sometimes difficult to find one.
The traffic is really bad and they will spend a lot of time on commute.
Parking fee is too high for one person.
For Passenger
Individuals residing in areas with limited access to convenient public transportation often experience lengthy commuting times when traveling to the city.
Opting for Uber as a daily commuting solution can result in significant expenses.
For City council
Large numbers of self-drive to city increase the pollution and traffic congestion.
Some individuals hold prejudices against public transportation, perceiving it as crowded, unreliable in terms of timeliness, and a potential breeding ground for viruses.
Design the solution
To tackle the challenges and address the pain points, we embarked on designing a ride-sharing application that facilitates drivers picking up passengers from the same institution, traveling in the same direction, and heading to the same destination within the city.
Our team aimed to create a digital platform that seamlessly integrates ride-sharing and socialization, taking into account the evolving post-COVID landscape.
Once we all agreed on the name "Sharie," we enthusiastically dove into our work.
Gather ideas
Functions and interactions
In sign up page, “SSO” button required user to log in securely using their institution's authentication system
One of the challenges we faced in this project was finding a way to seamlessly integrate socialization into the shared ride experience. We wanted to create an environment where passengers could not only share a ride but also engage in social interactions along the way.
To prioritize safety, 'Sharie' focused on specific institutions like university and work industries instead of targeting the general population. Users needed authorization from their respective institutions to access our platform for rides and socialization. This approach ensured a controlled and secure environment for our users.
Homepage interaction
Panel from previous version
The homepage encompasses our core design principles, starting with the panel design. Initially, we selected several icons that symbolize socializing, driving, the homepage, ride history, and the user profile. Through rigorous A/B testing and usability testing, we discovered that the cloud icon and socializing icon were not intuitive enough. To ensure simplicity and efficiency, we made the decision to replace these icons and remove unnecessary records, resulting in a more streamlined and user-friendly panel.
The homepage consists of three key components: the trip conditions section, the edible widget, and the map. All of these elements are directly related to facilitating ride-sharing experiences. During the design process, our team carefully considered our main focus: whether to prioritize share rides or socialization. After conducting extensive research and user interviews, we determined that share rides should be the primary focus, as it holds the most value for our users within the application.
The edible widgets on the homepage provide users with a convenient way to access various functions. We have carefully selected four key widgets: "Ride", "Frequent Places", "Channel", and "Records & Store". These buttons have been chosen based on our analysis of user behavior, as they are the most commonly clicked options on the homepage.
Starting trip
Where to where
Group chat
Choose trip team
Leave team confirmation
Apply for a seat and join in
Team information
In the passenger's mode, users can enter their desired pick-up and drop-off locations and select a trip team. Within each team, users can view detailed information about the team members, including their profiles. If users are interested in joining a specific team, they can apply for available seats and wait for the driver's approval.
Throughout the entire trip, if users encounter any situations that they perceive as unsafe, they have the option to utilize the report feature or contact the police for assistance.
User interaction
Wassup function
Chat list
Friend request
The "Wassup" function is a unique feature we've designed. After passengers confirm that they have boarded the car, they can either tap each other's phones or click a confirm button to notify the system that everyone is safely on board. The "Wassup" interface will then display the number of passengers who have joined the trip, ensuring a smooth, efficient and interactive ride experience.
After a trip, all participants have the option to send friend requests to each other. Upon accepting the requests, users can initiate private chats and engage in one-on-one conversations. The team page also includes a chat feature where users can engage in private conversations and participate in team discussions. This allows for both individual and team-based communication within the platform.
About other implementations
Records and Store
Passengers will assist the driver in covering the one-time parking fee, which will be calculated by our system based on each passenger's ride distance. This fee will be significantly cheaper than taking Uber, while also alleviating the financial burden on the driver. The payment method can be linked to the user's payment settings, allowing them to pay collectively or individually. Additionally, the records and stores functions enhance the connectivity of our social community.
Payment
Evaluation evidence
Evaluation evidence
We conducted interviews with relevant stakeholders to gather feedback on the usability of our application and performed user interface tests. Throughout the design process, we consistently employed A/B testing to compare different solutions and select the most effective ones.
Feedback
Design style
Energetic and user-friendly
Functionalities
Colour palette
Consistency
Based on interviews conducted with individuals ranging from 18 to 40 years old, we found that the majority, over 80%, expressed a strong liking for 'Sharie' and found it to be extremely user-friendly. Both car owners and non-car owners appreciated the application's ease of use and were particularly drawn to its visually appealing interfaces.
During the interviews, we identified some flaws, particularly related to the 'Wassup' function. Several users found this feature confusing during our testing sessions. They were unsure of its purpose, and one interviewee even commented that the 'Wassup' instruction page resembled an advertisement rather than a functional component.
To address this feedback, we plan to make improvements by simplifying the interface and making the 'Wassup' button more prominent. Our aim is to ensure that users understand the significance of this button as a confirmation action, emphasizing its importance rather than perceiving it as mere entertainment.
Further work to do
'Sharie' offers two modes: passenger mode and driver mode. To become a certified driver, users are required to provide necessary documentation and make safety commitments. Ensuring the safety of everyone in the trip is our top priority.
In the upcoming progress, we will introduce the driver mode in the edible widget. This mode will include driver testing and mandatory lessons that cover not only safety protocols but also interactions with passengers. By completing these requirements, drivers will gain the necessary knowledge and skills to provide a safe and enjoyable trip experience for all.
Reflection
This project has been instrumental in honing our research and interface design skills. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to interview the city council and receive crucial information to guide our design direction. Throughout the design process, I continuously analyzed existing applications in the market to identify what sets 'Sharie' apart and ensures its accessibility in Melbourne city. This experience has greatly enhanced my critical thinking abilities and will undoubtedly benefit me in future projects.