Orbt is a travel planning app that uses AI to create personalized itineraries tailored to users' interests and preferences.
Orbt
Independence Project
Candice Wang
Responsibilities
User Interface Design, Usability Testing, Wireframe
Timeline
14 weeks
Software
Mural, Figma
Context
This project is a school project of Sheridan College's Digital Product Design program. The aim is to conduct usability testing and improve the app's design based on the insights gathered from user feedback.
Orbt has a lack of comprehensive customization and personalization in the itinerary planning process. Users expect the generated itinerary that align closely with their interests, and the current system falls short in achieving this objective.
Problems Identified
The goal is to enhance personalization and establish the generated Itinerary as a valuable and captivating feature within the platform. The redesign will focus on incorporating a more extensive range of interest categories.
Solutions
In the UX auditing process, I conducted interviews with three potential users to gain diverse insights. The goal is to understand the existing app, its strengths, weaknesses, and user interactions.
UX Auditing
Before refining the app, I first developed user personas, gained an understanding of user behaviours, and created empathy maps to better understand the needs of Orbt's targeted users.
User-Centric Profiles
Starting from sketches and low-fidelity wireframes, progressing to high-fidelity wireframes. Following positive feedback from audit participants on the current interface design, the visual hierarchy of Orbt has been maintained.
Ideate & Design
I focus on the app's fundamental feature, itinerary generation, to pinpoint and revamp crucial elements. This is guided by user feedback and profiles, complemented by secondary research, ensuring that all design decisions are rooted in addressing user needs.
Research & Redesign
Enhance the app's aesthetics for a visually appealing redesign, while maintaining a strong focus on accessibility.
Visual Design
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The importance of task selection and formulating insightful follow-up questions
Looking back on my experience through the app auditing process, I've come to understand that the depth of the task selection and follow-up questions directly influences the richness of the collected data, a crucial aspect for uncovering app issues and comprehending user pain points.
Communicating, considering, and justifying decisions
Communicating the steps and rationale behind each decision is as vital as the final design itself. Design isn't about imposing personal preferences but is a considerate process supported by research. I’ve learned to use research as a foundation to justify design choices, and ensure that every decision is grounded in user needs, which contributes to a more effective and user-centric design.
Accessibility, accessibility, accessibility!
While creating a visually appealing app is a must, we can't overlook colour accessibility. Recognizing the importance of considering diverse user needs helps ensure that designs are universally accessible and user-friendly. Next time I would definitely start with having a simple and accessible design before focusing on the overall feeling!
