ExploreAR
ExploreAR
UX Design
Research
UI Design
Storytelling
UX Design
Research
UI Design
Storytelling
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
Transforming mundane daily routines into exciting adventures
Transforming mundane daily routines into exciting adventures
ExploreAR is a conceptual mobile application designed help users explore their immediate surroundings on foot.
Helps users discover new & exciting facts in their neighborhood.
Integrate augmented reality (AR) into users' daily lives, transforming mundane routines into exciting adventures.
ExploreAR is a conceptual mobile application designed help users explore their immediate surroundings on foot.
Helps users discover new & exciting facts in their neighborhood.
Integrate augmented reality (AR) into users' daily lives, transforming mundane routines into exciting adventures.
THE CHALLENGE
THE CHALLENGE
Although many areas offer rich opportunities for exploration, people often remain unaware of the hidden gems in their immediate surroundings.
Although many areas offer rich opportunities for exploration, people often remain unaware of the hidden gems in their immediate surroundings.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
PROBLEM STATEMENT
How might we encourage exploration by helping individuals discover and engage with the unique aspects of their neighborhoods?
How might we encourage exploration by helping individuals discover and engage with the unique aspects of their neighborhoods?
RESEARCH & DISCOVERY
RESEARCH & DISCOVERY
Understanding user behaviors and patterns in exploring immediate surroundings
Understanding user behaviors and patterns in exploring immediate surroundings
Target audience: 👨🎓 Students, 👩💻 Working Professionals.
Conducted Contextual Inquiries with 8 participants between the ages 20-32 years.
Test environment: Busy streets of Rochester.
Target audience: 👨🎓 Students, 👩💻 Working Professionals.
Conducted Contextual Inquiries with 8 participants between the ages 20-32 years.
Test environment: Busy streets of Rochester.
60% of users reported a lack of exploration due to uncertainty about where to go.
60% of users reported a lack of exploration due to uncertainty about where to go.
25% of users experienced decision fatigue from the overwhelming number of options on Google.
25% of users experienced decision fatigue from the overwhelming number of options on Google.
87% of users cited financial constraints as the primary barrier to exploring new places.
87% of users cited financial constraints as the primary barrier to exploring new places.
Understanding how culture influences user behavior
Understanding how culture influences user behavior
Using the insights gathered through the contextual inquiry, I drew out a Cultural Model to understand how culture influences user behavior. In this case, since the users primarily interacted with inanimate objects and not humans, I created a cultural model of those interactions and the effect they had on the user's behavior.
Using the insights gathered through the contextual inquiry, I drew out a Cultural Model to understand how culture influences user behavior. In this case, since the users primarily interacted with inanimate objects and not humans, I created a cultural model of those interactions and the effect they had on the user's behavior.
BARRIERS & CHALLENGES IN EXPLORATION
BARRIERS & CHALLENGES IN EXPLORATION
01.
01.
User Engagement & Activation
User Engagement & Activation
Users struggle with initiating exploration, particularly when stuck in passive behaviors like doom scrolling or when they have spare time in new or familiar environments.
Users struggle with initiating exploration, particularly when stuck in passive behaviors like doom scrolling or when they have spare time in new or familiar environments.
02.
02.
Decision Fatigue & Choice Overload
Decision Fatigue & Choice Overload
Users experience decision fatigue and frustration due to the overwhelming number of activity options, leading to FOMO and difficulty in making confident choices.
Users experience decision fatigue and frustration due to the overwhelming number of activity options, leading to FOMO and difficulty in making confident choices.
03.
03.
Lack of Motivation for Physical Activity
Lack of Motivation for Physical Activity
Users often lack motivation to walk, focusing more on reaching a destination rather than enjoying the journey, resulting in reduced engagement in daily physical activity.
Users often lack motivation to walk, focusing more on reaching a destination rather than enjoying the journey, resulting in reduced engagement in daily physical activity.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
PROPOSED SOLUTION
01.
01.
Personalized Exploration
Personalized Exploration
Incorporate a feature that syncs with users' calendars to recommend activities based on their available time, ensuring suggestions fit seamlessly into their busy schedules.
Incorporate a feature that syncs with users' calendars to recommend activities based on their available time, ensuring suggestions fit seamlessly into their busy schedules.
02.
02.
Limited Options
Limited Options
An app that has limited options to choose from, to prevent decision fatigue.
An app that has limited options to choose from, to prevent decision fatigue.
03.
03.
Cost-Effective Options
Cost-Effective Options
Include a section dedicated to budget-friendly activities and events, tailored specifically for students, to help overcome financial constraints and encourage regular exploration.
Include a section dedicated to budget-friendly activities and events, tailored specifically for students, to help overcome financial constraints and encourage regular exploration.
VISUAL DESIGN
VISUAL DESIGN
Iterations & Explorations
Iterations & Explorations
This stage focused on creating designs that are not only visually appealing but also responsive and centered around user needs.
This stage focused on creating designs that are not only visually appealing but also responsive and centered around user needs.
Idea 1
Idea 1
Initially, I aimed to eliminate decision fatigue by designing an MVP that immediately provided users with a route based on their available time. However, this approach hid all interactions, including the final destination, which posed significant security and privacy concerns. Recognizing that users prefer to know where they are headed, I re-evaluated the app's design. My goal was to maintain the simplicity of minimal choices while ensuring users feel informed and secure about their journey. This led to a thoughtful reimagining of the app, balancing ease of use with transparency and safety.
Initially, I aimed to eliminate decision fatigue by designing an MVP that immediately provided users with a route based on their available time. However, this approach hid all interactions, including the final destination, which posed significant security and privacy concerns. Recognizing that users prefer to know where they are headed, I re-evaluated the app's design. My goal was to maintain the simplicity of minimal choices while ensuring users feel informed and secure about their journey. This led to a thoughtful reimagining of the app, balancing ease of use with transparency and safety.
Final Idea
Final Idea
After refining idea 1, I finalized this reimagined app with minimal interactions and full transparency.
After refining idea 1, I finalized this reimagined app with minimal interactions and full transparency.
VISUAL DESIGN
VISUAL DESIGN
Style Guide
Style Guide
This stage focused on creating designs that are not only visually appealing but also responsive and centered around user needs.
This stage focused on creating designs that are not only visually appealing but also responsive and centered around user needs.
VISUAL DESIGN
VISUAL DESIGN
High-Fidelity Designs
High-Fidelity Designs
This stage focused on creating designs that are not only visually appealing but also responsive and centered around user needs.
This stage focused on creating designs that are not only visually appealing but also responsive and centered around user needs.
Start exploring
Start exploring
The map is the central element, providing users with a visual representation of their exploration journey.
The map is the central element, providing users with a visual representation of their exploration journey.
Find nearby routes
Find nearby routes
Thanks for stopping by!
Get in touch with me on LinkedIn or email me at vn9336@g.rit.edu
Thanks for stopping by!
Get in touch with me on LinkedIn or email me at vn9336@g.rit.edu
Thanks for stopping by!
Get in touch with me on LinkedIn or email me at vn9336@g.rit.edu