Whee- Greek shores accessible to everyone
Making an impact with a wheelchair-friendly travel app
Kalimera, readers! Today’s case study is inspired by Greece- the land of breathtaking blue waters, sandy beaches, warm hospitality, and mouthwatering food. What touched my heart was Greece’s effort to take it a step further and provide nearly 300 wheel-accessible beaches in the summer of 2023. These beaches offer disabled travelers the chance to fully enjoy the water and sun with all the necessary amenities.
I want to introduce “Whee” to you. An app designed to unlock Greece’s shores for wheelchair users and disabled travelers. My goal is to offer valuable insights into accessible beaches, locations, and amenities and empower disabled travelers to explore the beauty of this land.
“Across the world, people with disabilities have poorer health outcomes, lower education achievements, less economic participation, and higher rates of poverty than people without disabilities. This is partly because people with disabilities experience barriers in accessing services that many of us have long taken for granted, including health, education, employment, and transport as well as information.”
World Health Organization
Research
First, before even starting to design or even think about the look and use of the app, I had to verify the news about Greece providing nearly 300 wheel-accessible beaches in 2023, confirming its authenticity from different sources ( https://www.cntraveller.com/article/greece-is-making-more-beaches-wheelchair-accessible ).
Next, I wanted to learn more about the lives of disabled travelers to understand their needs and expectations better. Observing and talking with people, and browsing the web, I found many vlogs, and blogs that gave me valuable insights into the challenges they face during travel and their desire for inclusive experiences.
I also learned that by following Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) I can ensure accessibility for all users.
Then I explored the World Health Organization (WHO) data, and companies supporting disabled individuals, expanding my knowledge and getting better ideas about my approach (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241564182).
Problem
I knew that there was a problem regarding this topic, but it took some time to define it and use it to create a solution precisely. I noticed that there is an existing challenge to access accurate data and up-to-date information, not only for disabled travelers, or even tourism, but this problem has a great scope. While various companies and apps were attempting to support disabled communities ( Access Earth, Axs Map, Beach Ability, Seatrac, Wheelmap, Wheelmate) most of them, their data, information, design, and usability were outdated, difficult to use, and often provided incorrect data, leaving disabled travelers frustrated and discouraged (Hats off to Seatrac for their diligent efforts in making beaches accessible and promoting easier lifestyle for disabled travelers). Imagine wanting to travel but not having information about where you could go, what you could do. Or seeing a place that catches your attention, organizing yourself, preparing finances and time, getting excited, and arriving at a destination that doesn’t exist. This is how disabled travelers probably feel when they lack reliable information when traveling. It is frustrating, exhausting, and extremely challenging to explore and go on adventures with the freedom that all other people easily have.
This problem motivated me to connect on an emotional level with the case study, but also see what logical, rational, and intelligent solution we, as a society, can create to offer a seamless experience of enjoying summer holidays without setbacks to disabled travelers. That’s how Whee was created.
Solution
One of the solutions to the challenges disabled travelers are facing is the “Whee” app — a user-friendly tool designed specifically for wheelchair users and disabled individuals. This app solves the problem of accessing accurate information about accessible beaches.
With “Whee,” disabled travelers can easily find wheelchair-accessible beaches. The app provides real-time details about beach locations, amenities, and accessibility features, making it simple to plan beach trips confidently.
“Whee” follows accessibility guidelines, ensuring it is easy to use for all users. Unlike outdated resources, this app is modern and it offers reliable information in a user-friendly way. I like to think of it as a “travel buddy” because you want it and need it near you when exploring and going on adventures.
User Persona
When developing the User Persona, I wanted to consider a diverse range of experiences among disabled travelers. I didn’t want to create only one ideal user, because just as people without difficulties, we all have various needs and preferences. I wanted to include several personalities that will represent people with different interests, but the same needs.
I introduced three personas: Michael, an adventurous traveler from Australia, passionate about staying active and capturing beautiful photos;
Elena Alexopoulos, a local who embraces her Greek culture, writes about it, and shares her influence;
and Emma Johnson, a caring mother of a disabled 5-year-old, seeking the best experiences for her son and family.
By including these personas, I saw different perspectives and considered the desires and challenges of different disabled travelers. Each persona brings a unique set of interests, goals, and motivations, influencing their expectations from the app.
With Michael’s enthusiasm and active energy, Elena’s love for embracing her culture, and Emma’s dedication to her family, the app creates an inclusive and user-friendly platform.
UX Map
The UX map served as a blueprint, guiding the design and functionality. It allowed me to focus on the foundation, what the app will have, how it will be used, how it flows, and what it needs. Each section and functionality in the map served a specific purpose. For example:
Onboarding: The registration process allows users to join the app easily, creating personalized profiles for a tailored experience.
Home Screen: The interactive map, chips, and filtering options enable users to explore various accessible beaches quickly and easily, without additional clicking.
Beach Details: Users can access precise information about each beach, including accessibility features and amenities, and gather the information they need for organizing their trip
User Profile: Allows users to easily access their profile, see the history of likes and comments they left, and leave feedback for the app but also have access to the app’s support section, FAQ, and help.
App Feedback: The feedback system encourages user input, enabling continuous improvement and addressing any issues promptly.
This process helps to create an enjoyable platform, thinking about different aspects of the app and its usability.
Moodboard
Moodboard is one of the most powerful tools for me when I am creating a design. It contains inspiration, different screens, colors, and elements from successful designs, aimed at guiding the app’s aesthetics and user experience.
The carefully selected screens from various apps provide valuable insights into what works well and what may help in building the functionality of the app.
I also focused on companies that prioritize accessibility and whose niche is disabled individuals, to ensure I get as much help and insight into this area as possible.
Through moodboard, I was able to think about color choices and overall aesthetics before designing, that way I avoided the risk of making huge mistakes and having to correct everything when it was a bit too late.
Also, creating a moodboard helped me to maintain a cohesive and consistent visual identity throughout the design process.
Sketching process
Nothing is better than using old-fashioned ways to create — using pencil and paper. This helps me think and create quickly and see my design immediately. I can shift from different possibilities in a second and choose the best option without any digital constraints.
Lo-Fi wireframe
After sketching and brainstorming ideas with pencil and paper, I was ready to bring my vision into the digital world by creating lo-fi wireframes. These wireframes help me organize and structure the app’s layout. They allow me to focus on the main features and ensure everything is in the right place, right size, and easy to use and click. It helps me to see if users can navigate through the app or if they have difficulties.
Style guide
Creating a style guide ensured consistency, efficiency, and brand identity. It helped me a lot while working to use the same colors, fonts, and sizes throughout the whole design, which reflect in a positive user experience at the end. It is also very important when working with other people, it ensures easier communication, cohesiveness, and good collaboration.
I carefully chose colors and typography to ensure it is easy to see and use, but it also had to look nice. I followed the 60–30–10 principle, I chose a color scheme to represent summer, adventures, and fun, but also cleanliness and easiness. The white background provides a fresh look, black and grey are used for text and strokes for readability, and blue is used as an accent color to accentuate CTA buttons and brings colors to the design. By combining the right colors, typography, sizes, and logo, the style guide ensured that everything in the app looked harmonious and visually attractive.
Final Design
In this section, you can take a closer look at Whee’s features and the experience it offers to disabled travelers from onboarding screens to finding beaches, managing favorites, exploring profiles, and more. Let’s go!
Onboarding
In the final design, I focused on creating a simple sign-up and login process. All input fields are strategically placed within the zone accessible by the user’s thumb, making it effortless to interact, without unnecessary stretching or switching palm positions. I also provided convenient options like signing up with Google, Facebook, or Apple, enabling users to create an account with just one click, saving time and hassle. I avoided adding additional text and relied on widely recognized logos and their popularity among users.
I designed the call-to-action (CTA) button to be inactive until the user inputs their data, turning blue only when they can log in, ensuring clarity and a smooth user experience.
Find beaches
After creating an account, logging in, or continuing as a guest, users are immediately ready to explore the beaches. The map takes up most of the space on the screen, providing clarity and all essential information, such as wheelchair accessibility and beach status (active or inactive). By tapping on a beach, users can access more detailed information about the location and its amenities. The app also includes a convenient search bar, enabling users to easily find beaches in different areas or specific locations, and filters to refine results based on preferred amenities or locations. For a faster search, there’s a quick search option to discover nearby and top-rated beaches, avoiding unnecessary steps and clicks.
Favorites
Users have the option to save beaches they like, making it convenient to access them anytime through the navigation bar. This feature allows users to create a list of beaches they would enjoy, along with their locations and amenities, helping them to plan their trip more efficiently. By having reliable data and a list of favorite beaches, users can confidently explore accessible beach options and make the most of their travel experience.
Profile
In the “Profile” section, I made sure that users can easily find their history of likes and comments. I also placed important app functions, such as contacting support, reporting problems, and finding frequently asked questions, in easy-to-find locations. This approach ensures that users can access information and support effortlessly, enabling the team to gather reliable data and promptly address any potential issues.
Final Design
Conclusion
Creating this case study was very fulfilling for me. I gained more knowledge, respect, and a new perspective on life and work too. I believe apps like “Whee” are making a very important step forward in enhancing accessibility and inclusivity in beach tourism for disabled individuals. However, the potential of this app reaches far beyond the shores. It has the power to be expanded to all aspects of life. It could be a game-changer, offering disabled individuals the same freedom and opportunities as non-disabled individuals. My hope for the future is that I will see more apps that empower and support disabled communities and we will build a more inclusive world.
Until next time. :)
Contact
Feel free to contact me on any of these:
Email: uiuxpetra@gmail.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/uiuxpetra/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uiuxpetra/
