WeShare
PROCESS HIGHLIGHTS
Design challenge and responsibilities overview
Challenge
Develop a user-centered product that improve students' wellbeing
Opportunity
Create a safe, affordable ride-sharing application tailored for student transportation needs.
Timeline
Aug - Oct
Disciplines
User Interface Design
Case Study
Product Design
Responsibilities
Design Thinking
Wireframing
Prototyping
Tools
Figma
The Process
1
Discover
The Problem
User Research
2
Ideation
Developing Solutions
User Flow
Low Fidelity
3
Final Design
Making it Great
Visual Development
Final Prototype
4
Reflection
Next Step
Discover
The Problem
A lack of reliable and affordable transportation options, especially during peak hours, combined with high carpooling fees, leaves students with and without personal vehicles struggling.
When students commute between campus and their apartments, they often face challenges with transportation. The school bus system can be unreliable, leading to delays and making students late for classes. Meanwhile, students who own cars frequently find carpooling fees prohibitively expensive, discouraging them from offering rides or sharing their vehicles. This leaves students without a dependable, go-to method for car and ride-sharing.
Discover
User Research
Methods: User Interview
To gather in-depth insights into user experiences, pain points, and preferences for the campus-based ride-share service, I conducted interviews with potential drivers and riders from the University of Michigan.
Eva Elle
Master Student
“The apartment shuttle is unreliable, and sometimes it’s so packed that I have to wait for the next one, which makes me late.”
Guy Mccoy
Senior Student
“The apartment shuttle is unreliable, and sometimes it’s so packed that I have to wait for the next one, which makes me late.”
Kayla Ray
Sophomore Student
“I can’t afford to use Uber every day, so I walk even when it’s inconvenient.”
Ideation
Developing Solutions
A familiar User Flow for Students
The initial design of WeShare was inspired by familiar rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft. University of Michigan students are already comfortable with these interfaces, so I leveraged this familiarity to create an intuitive experience that saves time and ensures easy navigation.
Low-Fidelity Driver Side
I focused solely on students who have a car and want to offer rides. My goal was to streamline the experience for drivers, ensuring they have a user-friendly interface tailored to their needs for offering and managing rides efficiently within WeShare
Final Design
Making it Great
Elevating the Experience
After laying the groundwork with the first few versions above, I moved on to uncover ways to improve it further.
GOAL 01 Embed Secruity
Identity Verification
Before offering rides, student must complete a license verification process to ensure they meet all legal and safety standards.
All users must undergo student verification to confirm their affiliation with their institutions, fostering a secure and exclusive campus community.
GOAL 02 Personalization
Customizable Features
Introduced ride customization options that allow drivers to set specific preferences, such as requesting no smoking, to improve user comfort and ensure a better ride experience for all.
GOAL 03 Cultivate Community
Connection Requests
Final Design
Style Guide
Visual Identity Development
I centered the branding around campus connectivity, ultimately deciding on the maize and blue palette and the SF typography after several rounds of experimentation.
Final Design
Final Prototype
Reflection
Next Step
This project has been a journey of discovery and growth, teaching me the true power of user-centered design and its impact on building trust and community.
IF I had more time, I would definitely…
Adding the Rider Side: While focusing on drivers was essential for the first phase, the next step would be crafting a seamless experience for riders. I’d aim to create an intuitive interface where verified students could book rides just as easily and confidently, ensuring the same level of safety and comfort that drivers experience.
Payment Flexibility and Driver Appreciation: Expanding payment options to include different methods and introducing features like tipping would add more flexibility and recognition for drivers.
