Project: Capstone Project

Timeframe: 20 weeks, Spring-Summer 2025

Software Used: Figma, Miro

Project Type: UX Research, UI Design, Mobile Application Design

The Problem

Although there are existing apps that support public transit users, many fall short in terms of usability, accessibility, and task efficiency. Our goal is to improve the experience of public transit riders by designing (or redesigning) a mobile application that better meets user needs.

Design Focus

We are focusing on mobile applications as our primary medium, due to their relevance and frequent usage in real-time transit scenarios. While the specific city and transit system will be finalized after our initial research, the goal is to create a solution applicable to real-world systems and user needs.

Our Approach

We followed a user-centered design process across two quarters:

Phase 1: Research & Strategy

  • Competitive Analysis: Reviewed apps like MTA, Citymapper, Transit, and others.

  • User Interviews: Identified pain points around onboarding, navigation, and real-time info.

  • Affinity Mapping: Synthesized findings to focus on key usability issues.



Phase 2: Design & Testing

  • Lo-Fi Sketches → Figma Prototypes

  • Round 1 Usability Testing: Tested early flows for trip planning and onboarding

  • Hi-Fi Mockups & Interactive Prototype

  • Round 2 Testing + Accessibility & Heuristic Evaluations

  • Final Iterations based on feedback

Key Features Designed

  • Simplified onboarding with clear next steps

  • Smart trip planner with filters and real-time transit modes

  • Clear navigation with progress indicators

  • Delay alerts with contextual rerouting suggestions

  • Personalized home screen based on user locations and preferences


Usability Testing Insights

After converting our designs to high fidelity, we conducted some usability tests with 6 users.

Overall Experience Rating: 3.81 / 5
We identified both strengths and opportunities across key areas:

What Worked

  • Clean, modern UI

  • Easy-to-navigate structure

  • Onboarding that built trust

  • Useful search and route filters

What Needed Work

  • First-time users were unsure what to do next

  • Route maps and current location weren’t clear

  • Delay handling felt cluttered or unhelpful

  • Some visual inconsistencies reduced user confidence



Improvements Made

  • Added onboarding prompts like “Plan your first trip”

  • Visual indicators for bus/train/walk segments

  • Real-time trip progress + location awareness

  • Friendly AI assistant concept ("Connor") for delay guidance

  • Streamlined home screen with live updates beyond favorites



Impact

By redesigning this app, we created a solution that improves:

  • Navigation clarity for all user types

  • Trust and reliability during transit delays

  • Accessibility and personalization across the experience

Our work demonstrated how thoughtful design can help public transportation systems better serve the people who rely on them daily.