Vehigo

Designing a carpooling app catered towards the road trip lover

ROLE

Product Designer

DURATION

4 weeks

SKILLS

Product thinking

User research

Interaction design

Visual design

The problem

While ridesharing and carpooling apps exist, there's a gap in the market for those who want to travel longer distances.

Here's the story...

Have you ever been in the situation where you needed a ride to a place an hour or more away, but you don't have anyone to drive you? Paying for an Uber or Zipcar would be a bit too expensive.
Roadtrippers don't have a viable solution to their need. With ridesharing and gas prices on the rise, roadtrippers are left with very little affordable travel options. This is where a long-distance carpooling app can fill the void. A dedicated app could offer cost-sharing benefits for trips.

Discovery

The objective was to gain insights into why they road trip, how they plan their trips, and the benefits of roadtripping.

I conducted user interviews with four frequent roadtrippers.

"Gotta have good vibes. If you are in a car with someone, you are committed to being with them for a long period of time. There is no way to escape a conversation. There is no way to escape those people."

– Gabby
Socializing
Company can make or break a trip. While travel companions can add value to a trip, they can also cause stress and tension.
Flexibility
Convenience and the lack of rigidity are valued in road trips. Travelers have more control of when and where they go.

How might we

connect travelers who share similar interests to create a social and fun road trip experience

Ideation

Based on the initial research as well as the user interview, here are the goals I am helping users achieve:

From the driver's POV

I drew inspiration from pre-existing user experiences: dating and navigation applications. These user flows help drivers, who are looking to share their car, save on travel costs and enrich their road trip experience. A key feature of the driver's side is the ability to pick and choose who they get to ride with. They have full control of approving and denying which users they'll allow in their car.

From the passenger's POV

I utilized dating app-esque profiles to allow users to better know who they're driving with. This feature fosters familiarity and community amongst users. Users are more comfortable with getting in a car of someone they relatively know rather than a complete stranger.

Improving the experience

I conducted two rounds of usability tests with four participants in each round. First, to assess the user experience and identify any potential issues or challenges for each user flows. Second, to validate the changes I made and uncover any remaining usability issues in the product.

Improving the user flow

A more thorough trip planning process

Passenger approval tracking

New screens

Final designs

Onboarding Process

A thorough process so that users can connect with each other based on similarities and interests

Posting a Trip

Drivers can post their upcoming trip, offer up their seat, and connect with other riders.

Searching and Requesting a seat

Riders can view posted trips near them, connect with drivers, and request a seat in their car.

Prototype

Reflection

The concept of MVP was a key takeaway, emphasizing the importance of delivering a product with essential features that effectively address user needs. This project has been a fulfilling journey of growth and learning, enabling me to enhance my expertise in creating user-centered and impactful digital experiences.

Next steps

  • I'd like to continue developing the app and create new features with screens to go along.
  • Every product out there is continually evolving. Future usability tests would show the improvement my product has made.
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