Storyboards: 3 Designs of Apps that Make Commuting Easy

The second assignment in the Coursera course “Human-Centered Design: An Introduction” is storyboards.

I had taken my design ideas from the challenges that Gabby, a daily commuter whom I interviewed, experiences regularly.

Interview: A Commuter’s Daily Transport Experience

After reviewing my interview with Gabby, I settled on 3 design ideas of apps that would help Gabby, and other passengers like her, in her commute.

Design 1

Problem: Keeping track of transport timetables and schedules, missing transport, and getting announcements of delays only at the stations.

Design: The first app provides public transport timetable and schedule functionality. It gives recommendations based on specified start location, destination, and date/time departure/arrival. Furthermore, it supports setting recurring commute reminders, setting favorites, and automatic advisory/announcements from the public transport operator.

Storyboards:

Design 1 Storyboard 1: Using an app for transport scheduling with reminders

Design 1 Storyboard 2: Using an app for setting favorites of usual travel routes and for getting real-time travel advisories

Design 2

Problem: Keeping track of balance and the status of Myki card and missing to tap-on/tap-off.

Design: The second design is for an app that allows passengers to manage their Myki, which is the travel card used in Melbourne that is tapped on a Myki reader machine before and after boarding a bus/tram/train. The app features Myki balance inquiry, manual and auto top-up, historical activity including tap-on and tap-off status, and actual tap-on and tap-off (if that was missed before/after boarding).

Storyboards:

Design 2 Storyboard 1: Using an app for checking the balance and topping up a Myki travel card

Design 2 Storyboard 2: Using an app for tap-on/tap-off of Myki

Design 3

Problem: Crowded public transport.

Design: The third app is a social commute networking app that allows users to vote/rate, review, and share their experiences on specific bus/train/tram stops at certain periods of time. The voting/rating will include, for example, how crowded the train is at a certain train stop on a certain time. The votes/rates/reviews will be visible to other users of the app and can then help them in their travel decisions (e.g. if the train is expected to be crowded, they could opt for an alternative transport). Experiences can also be shared in other social media through the app itself. Furthermore, the app will have security features such as real-time location sharing to other people such as friends and family.

Storyboards:

Design 3 Storyboard 1: Using a networking travel diary app for checking and giving ratings of transport stations and times

Design 3 Storyboard 2: Using a networking travel diary for writing reviews of transport experience and sharing real-time location of travel

I’m no drawing expert; thus I focus more on content! Should you have more questions on the storyboards, please feel free to comment. :)