Smart Loading Zones aim to create more efficient and safe curb usage by automating payments and analyzing real-time usage.

TIMELINE

Fall 2023 4 Months

ROLE

Lead Researcher Lead Designer Project Manager

LOCATION

Pittsburgh, PA

TOOLS

Figma Figjam Miro

TEAM

Kelly Zhang

OVERVIEW

USER-CENTERED RESEARCH + EVALUATION

To summarize my project experience…

  • Developed and executed a mixed-methods approach to gather information from system participants through observation, interviews, and collected quantitative data.

  • Analyzed the gathered data to uncover participant behaviors, motivations, and unmet needs, then synthesized insights to envision a new system.

  • Created conceptual designs and prototypes, and utilized evaluative research methods to assess these systems.

  • Effectively communicated research findings and insights to stakeholders at various levels, from executives to development team members.

Feel free to reach out to learn more about my experience! I would love to chat about my insights and knowledge gained from this summer internship.

01

BACKGROUND RESEARCH + DATA ANALYSIS

We decided to rely on data from third-party sources to inform our knowledge and understanding of the problem space, Automotus’ Smart Loading Zones in Pittsburgh.

02

HEURISTIC EVALUATION

To further understand the problem space, we completed a heuristic evaluation of the Automotus CurbPass App using Neilsen's Ten Usability Heuristics.

03

NARROWING SCOPE + SETTING RESEARCH GOALS

We decided to conduct the Abstract Laddering and Walking the Wall methods to hone in on key concepts and generate ideas within the space of the project, and focused mainly on business owners and their customers impacted by the Smart Loading Zones. This allowed us to finalize our “How Might We…”, which was “How might we aid store owners facilitate and encourage customers parking in the SLZ spaces?”

04

INTERVIEWS + INTERPRETATION SESSIONS

We interviewed local business owners who were impacted by the SLZ with the Directed Storytelling and Speed Dating Questioning methods, then conducted Interpretation Sessions to find insights.

05

ANALYZING + SYNTHESIZING DATA

We created affinity diagrams and clusters to communicate and understand the user's experience as an overall journey, and found high-level insights about users’ needs.

From that, we moved on to a Crazy 8’s Session, and generated/ storyboarded multiple solutions for their respective scenarios, assessing risk levels of each solution. This allowed us to prioritize specific user needs.

06

LO-FI PROTOTYPE + SPEED DATING

Upon choosing a concept to focus on, we created a lo-fi prototype based on one of our storyboards. We conducted speed dating sessions to validate user needs and values, and to identify conceptual risk factors. We wanted to test this potential concept quickly, and ensure that we are designing the right thing before beginning higher fidelity design of a solution.

06

USABILITY TESTING + FINDINGS

We synthesized our data to identify positives and negatives about our design, focusing on frequency, impact, and persistence.

We further created a plan for prototype testing, focusing on specific questions for a Think-Aloud Interview, what goals we wanted users to accomplish, specific tasks for each user to perform, and our expected usability performance.

We continued this process until we had finalized our prototype.

07

RESULT

Our solution is an app that introduces a points-based system where users accumulate points with each Smart Loading Zone park, leading to rewards such as free parking passes. The aim is to encourage wider acceptance and utilization of Pittsburgh's Smart Loading Zones.