An Approach to the Challenge of Finding Parking Space at Mall
ParkEZ is an app to respond a design challenge.
Overview
This case study is originally from a design challenge when I'm applying a job. About creating a digital solution to an issue of searching and locating parking spaces available around in real-time.
Platform
Mobile - iOs.
Role
UI/UX Designer - User research, visual design & prototyping.
Project Duration
1 week.
Background
Understanding the Problem & Analyzing What to Do
I read the brief several times and try to analyze what is/are the pain point(s) that users encountered. I also carefully read the deliverables, so what I design can match the expectation of the recruiter.
Brief
Locating or finding an available parking space in a specific location area is quite difficult. It would be nice if we could search and locate parking spaces around us in real-time. Therefore we need to give a clear information or helping tools to locate a parking space nearby and reserved the parking spot. Help us to create a digital solution to solve this challenge.
Deliverables
Design for one platform (iOS/Android/Desktop).
Wireframes, Hi-fidelity design, prototypes, or mockups.
Design raw file in Figma.
Present your design rationally in slides, including concept, problem solving, and design.
You can find above of what is the problem stated inside the brief, but what are users core problem actually?
define
Do Research & Analyze the Results
This stage where I do the research straight to real users. Although I couldn’t able to conduct proper research because of the time limitation, there are 3 pain points that mostly users dealt with.
Image: Research snippets
User Persona
From the five respondents, obtained a user persona. User personas are very helpful to explore more, what problems that users have experienced. And also from the user persona, we can see options to help solve the problem.
Image: User persona
An active car driver
Living in urban areas in Indonesia
Male & Female
18-40 years
Problems
Limited space
If the location has limited space available for parking, it can be challenging to find a spot. This is especially true in densely populated urban areas.
High demand
When there is a high demand for parking in a specific area, it can be challenging to find an available spot. This is often happen when weekend comes, public holiday, lunch time, break-fasting hour.
Lack of Information
If drivers do not have access to information about available parking spaces in a specific area, it can be challenging to find a spot. This can include information about real-time updates on available spaces.
We will be focusing on problem no. 3 (Lack of Information) because I think, that is what I can solve. And specifically talking about the difficulty to looking a parking space for a car.
Proposed Solution
How might we help users to get information about available parking spaces so they might easily getting a parking space?
Design an app
Considering who are the users by their age (which still can operate smart phone and familiar with apps), and where they live (in urban areas, where possibility to have a smart phone is big), also their problem, I will designing a mobile app
Going further with payment feature
I think an in-app payment feature will also help, because users likely to forget bring little amount of cash, or don’t have any, or also forgot to bring their tap & go cards
App Requirements
Real-time parking update
This feature is necessary because of the pain-point experienced by users regarding real-time information about available parking spaces which is not available.
Reserve feature
This also required to ease users after entering the parking area. So that users can easily get parking space without bothering to ‘race’ with other users.
Vehicle registration
Vehicle registration is required when users want to book a parking space with their personal vehicle number that has been registered with the existing parking system.
IDEATION
Crafting Possible Solution
Starting from the 'how-might-we' question above, here are my steps before the final solution.
User Flow
This flow designed to help users easily reserve their desired parking space, navigating to get there, without drive slowly seeking available space
Image: User flow
Rapid Sketches
After getting the idea of the app, now it’s time for pen, pencil and paper, sketching rough, throwing ideas with Crazy-8 method
Image: Sketches / Crazy 8
Wireframe
After getting the idea of the app, now it’s time for pen, pencil and paper, sketching rough, throwing ideas with Crazy-8 method
Image: Wireframe
Image: Wireframe
Design
Visualizing the Solutions
From the rapid solution I translate it into fascinating interfaces.
Mock Up
This flow designed to help users easily reserve their desired parking space, navigating to get there, without drive slowly seeking available space
Image: Onboarding
Image: Sign Up
Image: Car Identification
Image: Booking Parking Spot
Image: Digital Payment
prototype
Making Design 'Alive'
Here comes the fun step! After making mock-up solutions, it’s time to make things feel alive and running. Using Figma to prototyping you also can try the solution. Click on the link below to direct you to the prototype!
Closing
Conclusion
I know this case study is not perfect, but I do learned a lot on how should find out the real pain points of users, the boundaries or limitations on the spot and other challenging aspects, before I design something. Nothing but only to solve users issues is what I have to aim.