Quick guide
According to official statistics from Youbike, the total usage in Taipei City for 2023 has surpassed 46 million, marking a 35% increase compared to 2022. This shows that the number of rides is rapidly rising post-pandemic. The stations established in the Taipei area are extensive and densely located, making it highly convenient for short-distance commuting. However, due to the differences between Youbike 1.0 and 2.0 versions, as well as issues with the app, there are still many problems that need to be addressed to improve the overall Youbike user experience.
For this design challenge, I set aside a week. Initially, I gathered feedback on Youbike from online resources and conversations with friends and family. After defining the issues, I identified areas for optimisation. I then conducted competitive research to analyse feasible solutions, created wireframes to conceptualise interaction and flow, and ultimately designed a high-fidelity prototype.
Through Google Store, Apple Store, and community forums, many reviews point out similar issues, including "different vehicle models cannot be returned," "the number of available bikes does not match the app display," and "bikes are unavailable at popular stations." After interviewing friends and family who use Youbike, I found that they have indeed encountered similar problems.
I also conducted a preliminary design strengths and weaknesses analysis of the existing Youbike app and identified several usability issues, including "the main CTA is not clear" and "the types of bikes at stations are unclear." I refined my initial research findings into three specific pain points and developed design optimisation solutions addressing these issues.
To brainstorm viable solutions, I focused on analysing similar domestic and international competitors. I gathered and organised effective features from these competitors, which helped me identify concrete areas for optimisation.
Here are the solutions I have identified from competing products. By formulating clear solutions, I can effectively help in the development of future design drafts and interaction flows.
To optimise both "convenience" and "usability," I have summarised several design principles from competing products and solutions: simplicity, intuitiveness, and usefulness. These principles guide me during the design process, reminding me to stay focused on critical details at all times.
After defining the solutions and design principles, I had a clear direction that helped me brainstorm how to design the interface and interactions. I started by sketching wireframes, marking the essential features and interactions during the process.
Using these wireframes, I proceeded to create more high-fidelity design prototypes, experimenting with different design versions.
Throughout the iterations, I considered that users might use the app with one hand (while riding or walking) and that most users are right-handed. I chose a version that best fits these usage scenarios while aligning with the principles of "simplicity," "intuitiveness," and "usefulness" as my final design.
Here, I will explain the issues I found in the old design and analyse how the optimised design can improve the user experience. Through a comparison of the before and after versions, the differences and improvements will become more apparent.
