Simplifying Travel for Mumbai Commuters
Simplifying Travel for
Mumbai Commuters
Simplifying Travel for
Mumbai Commuters
M-Indicator is a mobile application focused on transportation, offering detailed information about public transit in Mumbai and Pune.
The case study delves into solving the issues Mumbai users face while using the LOCAL section of the application.
M-Indicator is a mobile application focused on transportation, offering detailed information about public transit in Mumbai and Pune.
The case study delves into solving the issues Mumbai users face while using the LOCAL section of the application.
Place based design
Visual Cohesion
Simplified Navigation
What’s the issue?
What’s the issue?
Cluttered interface hampers navigation in crowded, fast-paced settings. Design also lacks considerations for use in tight-spaces.
Poorly prioritized information slows quick decision-making.
Reliance on internet connectivity fails in low-network areas.
Cluttered interface hampers navigation in crowded, fast-paced settings. Design also lacks considerations for use in tight-spaces.
Poorly prioritized information slows quick decision-making.
Reliance on internet connectivity fails in low-network areas.
Cluttered interface hampers navigation in crowded, fast-paced settings. Design also lacks considerations for use in tight-spaces.
Poorly prioritized information slows quick decision-making.
Reliance on internet connectivity fails in low-network areas.
Goals of the project
Goals of the project
This re-imagination attempts to take into consideration the context based problems that the user faces such as crowd, space for physical movement, weather and internet connectivity. The goal is to understand these problems better and change the UI to give possible solutions.
This re-imagination attempts to take into consideration the context based problems that the user faces such as crowd, space for physical movement, weather and internet connectivity. The goal is to understand these problems better and change the UI to give possible solutions.
This re-imagination attempts to take into consideration the context based problems that the user faces such as crowd, space for physical movement, weather and internet connectivity. The goal is to understand these problems better and change the UI to give possible solutions.
My Role
My Role
This being a solo project, my role was well; everything :)
I conducted basic background research, user interviews, analysis. Iterated soo many iterations and built the UI from scratch.
This being a solo project, my role was well;
everything :)
I conducted basic background research, user interviews, analysis. Iterated soo many iterations and built the UI from scratch.
This being a solo project, my role was well;
everything :)
I conducted basic background research, user interviews, analysis. Iterated soo many iterations and built the UI from scratch.
The Solution
The Solution
The redesign tackled specific aspects of the application such as colour, signifiers, content and layouting. It improved on the pre-existing design and made the experience better for the users in the use-context of geographical and physical settings.
The redesign tackled specific aspects of the application such as colour, signifiers, content and layouting. It improved on the pre-existing design and made the experience better for the users in the use-context of geographical and physical settings.
Train Details
View Destinations on Map as well as a List. Allows the user to understand the city as well as the railways.
Train Details
View Destinations on Map as well as a List. Allows the user to understand the city as well as the railways.
Searching for Trains
Users have easy access to switch lines, get access to the map (both stations and railway).
Searching for Trains
Users have easy access to switch lines, get access to the map (both stations and railway).
Train Schedule
Gives an exhaustive list of all trains from source to destination with identifiable filters for lesser cognitive load.
Train Schedule
Gives an exhaustive list of all trains from source to destination with identifiable filters for lesser cognitive load.
Fare Checker
Enables passengers to check exact fare rates for their travel routes, providing only the information they need—no more, no less.
Fare Checker
Enables passengers to check exact fare rates for their travel routes, providing only the information they need—no more, no less.
What provoked the probe?
What provoked the probe?
A recent local journey after quite some time made me confront the challenges of navigating the app. I was traveling back home in a jam-packed train during peak evening hours, stuck in the middle of the compartment and unable to move. Worried I might miss my station, I needed to check alternative routes back home. In this sweaty, crowded environment, I somehow managed to pull out my phone to open M-Indicator. But—oh no! No connectivity? Couldn’t find the relevant information? Panic set in, and I resorted to begging people to let me through so I could alight at my station.
This experience made me mentally note the issues, which were further solidified by the following three key points in this inquiry.
A recent local journey after quite some time made me confront the challenges of navigating the app. I was traveling back home in a jam-packed train during peak evening hours, stuck in the middle of the compartment and unable to move. Worried I might miss my station, I needed to check alternative routes back home. In this sweaty, crowded environment, I somehow managed to pull out my phone to open M-Indicator. But—oh no! No connectivity? Couldn’t find the relevant information? Panic set in, and I resorted to begging people to let me through so I could alight at my station.
This experience made me mentally note the issues, which were further solidified by the following three key points in this inquiry.
Heuristic Evaluation
Heuristic Evaluation
The heuristic evaluation conducted for the key flows of the Local train section pin-pointed a few heuristic issues in the UI of the app.
The heuristic evaluation conducted for the key flows of the Local train section pin-pointed a few heuristic issues in the UI of the app.
Competitor Analysis
The competitor analysis while done to understand what are other ways to resolve the pain points of the application. Looking at a variety of apps gave me multiple perspectives into solving a single issue.
The competitor analysis while done to understand what are other ways to resolve the pain points of the application. Looking at a variety of apps gave me multiple perspectives into solving a single issue.
User Interviews
User Interviews
User categories interviewed
User categories interviewed
User categories interviewed
Primary User Base Targetted
Primary User Base Targetted
Primary User Base Targeted
The User Persona outlined gave me a precise direction for the problems that I should be solving. While the solutions try to cover a breadth of audience, they stem from an intention of solving the persona’s problems.
The User Persona outlined gave me a precise direction for the problems that I should be solving. While the solutions try to cover a breadth of audience, they stem from an intention of solving the persona’s problems.
Insights from User Interviews
Insights from User Interviews
Insights from User Interviews
Users prefer sticking to what they know.
User trust is the biggest reason behind user retention. They preferred sticking to what they knew rather than exploring something more.
Users prefer sticking to what they know.
User trust is the biggest reason behind user retention. They preferred sticking to what they knew rather than exploring something more.
Unverified information being shown
as a fact.
The amount of user freedom in the app is way more than the users expect.
Unverified information being shown
as a fact.
The amount of user freedom in the app is way more than the users expect.
Users rely on Muscle Memory
Any features that they use are engraved in their brains and they generally do not venture outside their decided flow.
Users rely on Muscle Memory
Any features that they use are engraved in their brains and they generally do not venture outside their decided flow.
Low Internet Connectivity deprives them of information on any possible issues.
Majority users face low internet connectivity while travelling by trains. This impacts their access to features like train chat where they can effectively communicate with fellow passengers.
Low Internet Connectivity deprives them of information on any possible issues.
Majority users face low internet connectivity while travelling by trains. This impacts their access to features like train chat where they can effectively communicate with fellow passengers.
Colour codes in the current UI are misleading.
Red used for denoting “fast trains” is not placed close to the fast trains symbol. This causes a lack of association between the two factors and leads the user to think that the train might be cancelled.
Colour codes in the current UI are misleading.
Red used for denoting “fast trains” is not placed close to the fast trains symbol. This causes a lack of association between the two factors and leads the user to think that the train might be cancelled.
Features that help the users should be easily accessible to the users.
Apart from internet connectivity, navigation and Information Architecture of the application can be thought over to ensure this happens.
Features that help the users should be easily accessible to the users.
Apart from internet connectivity, navigation and Information Architecture of the application can be thought over to ensure this happens.
Insights to Ideation
Insights to Ideation
Information Architecture
Information Architecture
Making the Information Architecture allowed me to construct the navigation within the app better. It established clear pathways and better connections and overlaps.
Making the Information Architecture allowed me to construct the navigation within the app better. It established clear pathways and better connections and overlaps.
User Flows
User Flows
The established user flows further helped me in finalizing the navigation of the application. It also helped in clarifying the number of screens needed in that particular journey and the content of those screens as well.
The established user flows further helped me in finalizing the navigation of the application. It also helped in clarifying the number of screens needed in that particular journey and the content of those screens as well.
Low-fidelity Iterations
Low-fidelity Iterations
Final Outcome
Final Outcome
01 Homepage
01 Homepage
01 Homepage
Original Screen
Original Screen
Original Screen
Re-imagined screen
Re-imagined screen
Re-imagined screen
02 Train Details
02 Train Details
02 Train Details
Original Screen
Original Screen
Original Screen
Re-imagined screen
Re-imagined screen
Re-imagined screen
Homepage
Homepage
Train Details
[expanded over map]
Train Details
[expanded over map]
Reporting a cancelled Train
Reporting a cancelled Train
Reporting a cancelled Train
Reporting a cancelled Train
Train Chat
[Central Line]
Train Chat
[Central Line]
Train Chat
[Western Line]
Train Chat
[Western Line]
Train Chat
[Central Line] Typing
Train Chat
[Central Line] Typing
Issues Page
View all/ line specific issues
Issues Page
View all/ line specific issues
Issues Page
View specific line issues
Issues Page
View specific line issues
Train Schedule
Train Schedule
Fare Checker
Fare Checker
Fare Checker
Fares dependent on options chosen.
Fare Checker
Fares dependent on options chosen.
Final Prototype
Design System
Design System
