SpecialPlaces
SpecialPlaces is an app and responsive website that seeks to provide people with limited motor functions an avenue to get information about the accessibility of a place before they go there physically.
PROJECT TYPE
Personal Project
DURATION
September - October 2022
MY ROLE
UX researcher and designer
RESPONSIBILITIES
Conducting research and interviews, paper and digital wireframing, low and high-fidelity prototyping, conducting usability studies, accounting for accessibility, and iterating on designs.
The Problem
People with limited motor functions have difficulty in finding accessible places before they go out. Most times, they have to do an initial scout of a venue before they go there, to check if it has basic amenities like wheelchair ramp etc that support their mobility.
The Goal
Design an app and responsive website that removes that inconvenience and provides a means to get information about the accessibility of a place before users go there.
Research
Before interviewing users, I did some secondary research on the problem, and that helped to expose the depth of the issue that needed solving. With that background information, I interviewed real users, created empathy maps and discovered more pain points that needed to be addressed. Next I developed User Personas
User Personas
Problem Statement:
Luke is an IT support staff whose girlfriend uses a wheelchair, who needs to take her out to fun and accessible places because he wants to grow their relationship and be happier.
Problem Statement:
Agnes is an Artist with limited motor functions who needs to find accessible venues ahead of time because She needs to complete work related tasks easily.
Competitive Audit
Conducting an audit of the existing products of direct and indirect competitors revealed opportunities and gaps that needed to be addressed. Surprisingly, on an indirect competitor like Google Maps, Wheelchair accessibility on venues is hidden 3clicks in.
Ideation
I quickly ideated possible solutions using the Crazy Eights technique. My focus was to provide users with a quick and easy way to find accessible places, with as minimal clicks as possible.
Information Architecture
Paper Wireframes
Digital Wireframes
Click here to View Low Fidelity Prototype
User Testing of Lo-Fi Prototypes
I connected the wireframes into a low fidelity prototype and conducted an unmoderated usability study with 5 participants. With the results of the usability study, I did affinity mapping, identified patterns and generated prioritized insights that guided creation of mockups.
Based on the prioritized insights from the usability study, I changed the copy on the search tabs and added more accessibility functions: the microphone icon on the text boxes allows users to speak instead of type; the navbar buttons were also labelled for ease of use with screen readers
Mockups
Click here to view High Fidelity Prototype
Responsive Designs
View High Fidelity Prototype for website screen on Tablets
View High Fidelity Prototype for website screen on Desktop
Impact
As part of the usability studies, I visited a centre that specialized on trainings for people with disabilities. The aim was to test the app with real users who needed the product. The feedback was very positive and they were excited that such an app was finally going to be made to address their needs. It was quite a fulfilling process.
What I learned
I learnt that the UX designer is first a problem solver before being a designer. The design should solve a problem with real users, not just look aesthetically pleasing. I also learnt that a designer shouldn’t design for themselves, but for the users: accessibility should always be a paramount consideration.
Next Steps
1. Conduct another round of usability tests with users at the Project Enable Africa to find out if the final app meets users needs
2. Add more features like “Donate” and “Educate” to create resources that will encourage venues to make their places accessible to all users
3. Iterate on designs to improve accessibility and ease of use
Thank you!