PivotPark

The Challenge
Anyone who's circled city blocks searching for parking knows the frustration. It's not just an inconvenience; it's wasted time, unnecessary stress, and a major contributor to traffic congestion.

Understanding the
User

Meet Alex

Alex, a 28-year-old IT consultant working a 9-to-5 job in the city, experiences the daily struggle of urban parking firsthand, causing delays and straining his budget.

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From Search to Spot

Mapping the Ideal Parking Experience

With Alex in mind, I outlined a typical user journey for our parking app, from the initial search for a spot to the post-parking experience.

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This journey map highlighted critical moments where we could alleviate frustration and add value.

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Usability Tests

Evaluating Mid-Level Prototypes

I conducted usability tests with five diverse participants. The overall feedback was positive, with users praising the intuitive booking process and interactive map. Suggestions for improvement included refining search criteria and enhancing the payment process.

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These insights have guided further refinements to make PivotPark an even more user-friendly parking solution.

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Screenshot of usability test on Usertesting.com

Key Learnings

Based on the key learnings gathered from the usability tests, I iterated on the design and made several significant improvements:

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Key Learning #1

When users have tight schedules, they need to know which spots are open at their desired time.

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Solution: Tailored Search Criteria

Users can customize their search based on travel-related preferences, ensuring they find parking spaces that align with their specific needs.

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Key Learning #2

Users want a clear understanding of parking costs both upfront and throughout the booking process.

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Solution: Pricing Transparency

I prioritized pricing transparency by displaying per-hour parking rates directly on each spot's map pin, seamlessly integrating this information into the visual search interface.

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Key Learning #3:

"I want to book in advance, but the app only seems to show me parking availability for right now." - Quote from participant.

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Solution: QR Code Integration

Upon booking, users receive a unique QR code, enabling them to secure their spot, pre-pay, and enjoy hassle-free garage entry with a simple scan.

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Final Designs

The usability testing provided valuable feedback, revealing areas for design improvement. I incorporated these insights into my iterations, resulting in a high-fidelity prototype that better addresses user needs.

Style Guide

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Onboarding

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Find Parking on the Map

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Booking Confirmation screens

Prototype

Reflections

Despite being conceptual rather than a functional application, the journey of creating this has been deeply enlightening. This journey, from utilizing research methodologies to deriving conclusions and refining my design based on those, has been truly remarkable!

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