Full-stack designer— discovery, user research, design, animation
Personal Project
Spring 2019, 4 Weeks
To understand the problems encountered by disabled people, I used on-site observation to investigate the interactions and environment in the NYC subways. Through developing an experience map of the subway, I discovered three main problems.
After understanding the users’ problems, I developed an initial user flow, shown below. However, the user research with disabled people showed me the problems of my early sketch, so I turned my focus on the features that help disabled people to fully utilize the existing subway’s assistive devices. Here are the problems with the initial sketch:
After getting an understanding of the problems, I developed a more developed prototypes and user flow.
Rating of the accessibility of the subway routes
Subwability visualizes the route which is with ramps or elevators, helping users to navigate inside the station. Moreover, the app recommends the best spot for waiting on the platform and the number of train cars.
A progress indicator shows an estimated waiting time and reasons for delays, which can give a sense of control of time to disabled people and lower their impatience.