THE BRIEF
Hyperloop challenge aims to improve the user experience of Elon Musk’s proposed Hyperloop transportation system. The goal is to generate value for the end user and help inspire design direction and improve the satisfaction from the user’ point of view.
PART I RESEARCH
Teamwork with Peixin Fu, Linn Huang, Heemin Jee and Veena Ramachandran
In the first part of the project, we did a series of researches ranging from journey map, interviews and prompts, observation, pattern analysis and summarized three key findings.
USER JOURNEY
At this stage, we identified opportunities and frame research topics by creating an experience map. With the experience map, we were able to visualize the emotion changes of the user along the journey. Since Hyperloop is such a revolutionary new technology that most of people are not familiar with, we figured there could be great potential opportunities to improve people’s perception of safety.
USER STUDY
OBJECTIVE
To determine the positive/negative factors that will influence passenger’s’ perception of Safety in Hyperloop experience.
METHODS
Surveys, Interview, Stimulus prompts, and Observations
USERS
Our potential users are the first-time users who are skeptical or not comfortable about new technology.
PROCESS
We conducted 11 interviews and each of them lasted about 30 minutes
KEY QUESTIONS
1. What are the passengers scared off when they take Hyperloop?
2. What are the reasons for their fear?
3. How to improve the passengers’ perception of safety in Hyperloop?
SYNTHESIZE INFORMATION
DATA ≠ INFORMATION
After transcribing all the interviews, we started to analyze and synthesize. We used post-it note to reorganize the data in order to find the pattern and structure for the information. In the end, we summarized three key findings, which are assurance, awareness of surroundings and empathy.
KEY FINDINGS
The key findings are summarized and visualized as in the poster below.
Part II PROTOTYPE
Teamwork with Emil Alex, Sanchit Gupta and Linn Huang
A fast and reliable way to test assumptions is to develop rapid prototypes. In the second part, we were asked to translate the insights into actionable format.
PAIN POINT
Based on our key findings, we identified four touchpoints:
1 Access to situational information
2 Access to real-time assistances
3 Promotional publication/tool
4 Precautions for emergencies
After comparison and discussion, we decided to propose a digital ticket that gives users anticipatory information along their entire journey with Hyperloop seamlessly.
USER FLOW
WIREFRAMES
PROTOTYPING AND USER TESTING
By prototyping and user testing, we gained insightful feedback that helped us to improve the product from the following perspectives:
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layout
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clarity
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features to add
INTERFACE
FINAL PITCH
Our design concept is summarized in a 10 slides PechaKucha style presentation.
In this project, design research is used to ground our ideas and test our assumption. With design research, we were able to empathize with others and translate thoughts into action.
Storyboard
