In this group project for my UI/UX class, we design the interface for Vertoe’s mobile app from the ground-up through an iterative process that progresses from low-fidelity sketches to a high-fidelity interactive prototype. Vertoe is an emerging startup that offers on-demand short-term storage for personal belongings in cities by utilizing extra space in local establishments, thus solving the problem of what you do with your things when you don’t want to lug them around but also don’t have a place to safely keep them.
Sketches
The following sets of sketches capture our initial thoughts and approaches to creating an app for Vertoe’s on-demand short-term storage platform. Each set emphasizes a different aspect of the application, from user profiles to navigational menus to reservation flow.
Sketch 1: Emphasizes user and location profiles; uses scrolling grid to display locations
Sketch 2: Focus on flow of making a reservation and heat-map for suggesting locations
Sketch 3: Understanding navigational menu and an expandable list for locations
Sketch 4: Focuses on map view and status screen
High-Fidelity Prototype
In creating this hi-fi prototype we took components from each of our original sketches.
We adapted the location description page from Sketch 1, as allowing users to see pictures and read reviews for locations promotes a sense of security and trustworthiness.
The final reservation flow we used was from Sketch 2, as we felt that being able to add a description and images of belongings was an important security feature.
Sketch 3 gave us our side menu design which makes navigation accessible throughout the app.
We chose to use a map to display locations, as shown in Sketch 4, as opposed to a list or grid view because users are most likely to be using the app on the go, and it is visually easier to evaluate the convenience of distance and location on a map view.
We also refined our design based on feedback from an in-class peer critique session.
Take-Away
As a team project, I learned how important brainstorming and collaboration is to creating the best experience. I also learned how crucial critiques and feedback are to understanding how others interact with your own work. Finally, I have gained a much deeper appreciation for all of the time that goes into iterating over the small details in applications and programs I use everyday.
Collaborators: Cat Ngoc Nguyen, Cíntia Araujo, and Reet Agrawal