T.O. Green
T.O. Green is an innovative platform designed to transform the park-going experience from a cumbersome task into a delightful adventure.
Overview
Role
Product Thinker, Interaction Designer, User Research
Collaboration
Designers, Researchers
Team
School product
Background
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This project focuses on the accessibility, diversity, and unique attributes of parks and green spaces in the Toronto/Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Our aim is to address challenges faced by individuals in finding park information, accessibility, navigation, and planning visits. The core objective is to understand how these spaces enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors and to integrate this understanding into the development of a digital solution.
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Goal
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By creating an all-inclusive digital app designed to improve the user experience in accessing, organizing, and navigating urban parks and green areas.
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My Role
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On the project, my role involved conducting user research to identify our target audience's needs, and creating user journey maps and wireframes for the app's layout. Additionally, I was responsible for planning and executing usability studies to validate our design. This involved developing testing protocols, creating tasks to measure user interaction, and recruiting participants.
Design Process
Target User
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Toronto and GTA residents
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Adults visited parks in the last 3 months
Research Methods
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Competitive Analysis, Existing system
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Quantitative research (survey)
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Qualitative research (in-person interviews)
Initial Thinking
Research Insights
Key Findings:
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Diverse attractions and activities in Toronto's parks.
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Importance of green spaces for urban residents.
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Issues with green space accessibility for those in urban areas and with mobility challenges.
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Inconsistent availability of park amenities and information.
Primary Research
22/40 participants ranked their satisfaction in current experience in finding park information a 3/5.
The results motivated us to:
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Amenity improvement
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Easy-to-navigate Transportation
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Visual Data/Insights
User Persona
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User Journey
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Challenge
Problem Statement
How might we help our users like Patrick to:
1. Have a positive experience in his discovery of park information
2. Make his planning and navigation more seamless
Design Considerations
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A way to easily locate park amenities so that he can have a smooth experience without unnecessary effort during his visit.
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A way to access updated and trustworthy information about park conditions and facilities so that he can plan and navigate his visits.
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A way to quickly compare and assess park amenities so that he can choose the best park that fits his interests before visiting.
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A way to access a comprehensive guide to park activities and facilities so that he can actively participate in hobbies and park events.
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To feel less stress when searching for park information before he visits so that he can make well-informed decisions about the park he visits.
Design Iterations
Prioritization Grid
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We classified all big ideas and then voted based on the impact and feasibility of each category. The final result is shown in this grid. We have 5 home runs, 13 big bets, zero quick wins and 11 marginal grains.
Our home run idea is a park trip planner, a platform specifically designed to cater to users' unique interests, providing tailored recommendations for their journeys. It comes equipped with an intuitive map and search function for seamless navigation. Additionally, it will feature a detailed filter, enabling users like Patrick to easily find and choose parks that match their individual preferences.
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Low-Fi Wireframes
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Branding & Style Guide
Considering refining the app's design and making it more user-friendly while saving time and money by identifying design issues early in the process, we decided to make a prototype with interface design. It will help stakeholders understand the app's flow and how it will look and function.
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High-end Prototypes
Click to View the clickable Prototype --clickable
Our app provides multiple ways to test. Users can quickly go over the trip flow, and users can choose a suitable way to start quickly depending on the scenarios.
Design Solution
High-fidelity Design
01. Notification
In this user flow, the journey starts on the Home Screen with a pop-up notification. Users can either select appealing notifications or dismiss them. Choosing "See Details" takes them to "Notification Details," where they can access expanded information on a chosen notification. Other menu options.
02. Effective--Find a Park Flow
​In this user flow, the journey starts with searching for a park using the search bar and applying filters, confirming their choices with the “apply” button.
They then select a park by clicking its photo to see more details, where they can mark the park for later review, book reservations, share, find directions, and receive recommendations for similar parks.
03. In-Park Navigation
Starting at the "My Trip" Welcome Screen, users select "Park Map" to access the map interface. They then choose an amenity, leading them to its detailed information page. From there, the "Live View" option provides a real-time navigation experience.
User Testing
Objectives
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Primary Goal:
Assess the app's effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in helping users find customized park information and locate amenities.
Secondary Goals:
Understand how well the app reduces the need for pre-visiting parks for planning.
Determine the app's usability in real-time navigation within parks.
User Interview & Usability Testing
User Testing Insights
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Following three rounds of usability tests involving a diverse group of users, including regular park-goers, those proficient in technology, and individuals unfamiliar with similar apps, we found that:
Usability Evaluation
​After testing the prototype with real users, I built a usability evaluation board divided into four quadrants labelled "Things that worked," "Things to change," "Questions," and "New Ideas." Each quadrant contains notes summarizing user feedback and suggestions.
The overall purpose of this board is to collect data on the usability of the app, pinpoint areas for improvement, raise pertinent questions for future development, and brainstorm new features to enhance the user experience.
Final Design
Reflection
Takeaways
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I believe we've done commendable work. The app's design is user-centric, with intuitive navigation and a clean, accessible interface, which were our primary goals. The iterative design process was informed by real user feedback, ensuring relevance and ease of use. The visual design is engaging, promoting a positive user experience.
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However, there's always room for improvement. Given more time, I would want to conduct more extensive user testing with a diverse user group to uncover additional insights. Integrating more personalized features based on user data could also enhance the app's functionality. Lastly, optimizing the app for different devices would ensure a consistent experience across all platforms.
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