Planning Is a Pain
Majority of us have probably encounter this problem before. You are very excited to go on a camping trip but planning what to bring and where to explore can be such a pain and killjoy. So, why not create an app that can solve the problem?
Project Overview
With a team of 4 including myself, we were tasked with researching a selected domain to understand users’ needs and goals for potential application opportunities. Seeing that Canada is home to some truly stunning sceneries, more people are gaining interest in camping within the past decade. However, there is currently no application that can provide detailed information about camping all in one app. More often than not, campers need to open up several tabs and apps to look for and coordinate the information that they need. Thus, we saw an opportunity to create an application that serves as an all-inclusive platform for both beginners and experienced campers.
My Role
The Problem
Some of the biggest concerns for campers are the preparations required before camping as well as solving technical issues whilst camping. These may include topics along the lines of “how to set up tents properly” and “what to do when I encounter a bear”. Although there are many existing applications for camping, most of these focus on certain campgrounds in one region. As a result, campers are more often than not left to find solutions on several browsers and apps when the apps available don’t cater to their region or needs.
Research
We began researching for insight on this issue by researching the challenges these existing applications pose. We then took these insights and created our own application interface that could better guide campers on their trips.
Insight: Information does not have a clear hierarchy
With the current travel applications designed camping, we noticed they lack hierarchy in information, and the applications do not interact with users enough to keep them motivated and continue using the app. While most campers camp in groups, most of the application consists of banal and tedious interface that does not allow collaboration on apps for trip planning. Additionally, a lot of these apps are not accessible without internet data. This is crucial as internet is often poor or unavailable during camping.
Key Insights From Comparing Similar Apps
Through downloading and testing several applications designed for camping such as ParkAdvisor, Parks Canada and iOverland, etc. We have concluded there was a lack of the following in the market:inclusive/Accessibility of information:
- Trip planning
- Inaccessible without internet
- No instant updates
- Search functions
- Cannot save favourites
- No filter
These discoveries helped us define our hypotheses of the features that would be important to our app.
Surveys
All the respondents for the users’ survey include both beginner campers and experienced campers. Ranging between the ages 18–25+.
Kelvin
Our first interviewee was a 24-year-old male who frequently camps with his friends during the summer. He is enthusiastic about camping but finds the process of planning with friends a headache as he would need to create a google doc., excel sheet and group-chat to share with his fellow friends. He would always end up opening too many tabs and getting lost/overloaded with information.
Jenny
A 19-year-old junior at University of British Columbia, she has met a bunch of friends who have inspired her to go out to explore the nature more. She finds importance in well preparation before embarking on a camping trip. Since she is a novice at camping, she needs all the information she can get familiar with camping and develop an interest with outdoor adventures.
Jack
While he has been on several camping trips with his buddies, he is still not 100% sure he absolutely understands the skills and preparation required for camping. He would also like to learn more about the facilities at the campsite and explore more mountains.
To summarize, users’ pain points are as following:
User Goals
We have concluded the following common goals you want to achieve through our app:
- All-inclusive information for users to learn about camping is just one-click away
- Explore different campsites with activities and facilitates filter
- Shareable camping checklist and articles with friends
Adeline’s Problem
Adeline has a newfound interest at camping and exploring the nature. She is interested in knowing how to prep for camping and learn several essential skills for the trip. She wants to be able to saves her articles without having to open several tabs and getting lost in information.
Mitchell’s Problem
Mitchell has had experience in camping, he knows what to do at a campsite, but he finds planning can between excessive among friends. He would like to be able to personalize his information and share with his friends easily without opening chat and a shareable document. Since he has experience with camping already, he wants to choose campsites based on facilities and activities campsites offer.
Project Goal
During our research, we realized we could minimize the navigational burden by creating an application that addresses all the most commonly asked for information and issues, equipped with shareable lists, filters and condensed camping guide. While designing the features, we kept in mind of the inconvenient and unhandy design of the existing application. Our app intends to provide extensive information while keeping our users motivated and excited for camping.
Proposals
Camping has been growing in popularity, however none of the current applications provide trip planning and skill learning all in one application, hence we came up with the idea where users can search up campsites and learn about camping at the same time. In addition, according to (Gursoy, Chen & Y.Lu, 2012), only 2% of the population in the United States camp alone. For that reason, users could use our application to create and customize checklists and share information among contacts who are also taking part in the camping trip rather than relying on endless struggle of group texts.
With goCamp, both beginners and experienced campers can learn about all the information they need to prepare for their trips. Campers can also view the saved articles offline in the wild. The articles provided by our app will assist in addressing the frequently asked issues and information.
Sketches
In the image above, we jotted down a series of questions a user might ask based on a presumed scenario with a beginner camper.
Jack first enters his basic information to signup, determining his interest and expertise level with camping. Jack wants to go to Joffre lake for an overnight camp, but he has no idea what he can do there, so he clicks on the “Places” icon on homepage and look up Joffre Lake for info. On the Joffre Lake page, it shows the types of activities one can do along with the general information about the mountain (height and difficulty level).
Now that he knows what kind of activities are available at Joffre Lake, he will now need to figure out what to pack. He goes back to the home page and press on “Camping 101” icon to view what articles would help him prepare.
He checks the checklist that is provided by the app and the app gives Jack three different stages. In the “Pre-Camp Stage”, he first decides to check on how to build a tent. After clicking on the tent building lesson, a step-by-step instructions accompanied by images and gifs will show up, with descriptions under each image to make the process easy to follow. At the end of the tent building section, a friendly tip will show up reminding Jack that he may need to bring sleeping bags and pads and mattress. Jack then proceeds to the next section titled “During the Camp” where learn about what food is appropriate to eat and how to prepare them. With that in mind, Jack then moves on into the “Wrap-up Stage” where it provides Jack with information on how to recycle your garbage and suggestion on how to clean the campsite. After leaning through this app, Jack has a general idea on what to expect and what to do. He exits the app.
Microinteraction
The login page is the first page users normally interacts with in our application. Thus, it is important to grasp their attention and delights them from then on. In order to create interesting interactions with users, microinteractions are needed. I believe the minimalist slide up and down interaction to reveal interfaces is example of the little thing that turn a good digital product into a great one. With micro-animations, it’s possible to explain a lot without using a single word.
Designing
Low/Mid-Fi Wireframes
Landing Page → User Profile
Above is an example of low-fi mockups of landing to user profile created on Figma. We understand the importance of making the login and signup process easy and seamless, so it doesn’t discourage users from using the application. Learning from our own experiences, we have incorporated login and signup on the same page and with legible headings so users do not get confused by which step they should take. The interaction is to slide up the “card” for signup and slide down for login.
In user profile, there is several folders for users to view. First, there is saved location where they can find the locations they have favorited. Second, they have saved skills, which includes the recipes and skills they have favorited. Users also have the freedom to add new folder in their profile to personalize their needs. For example, they could create a personalized to-do list for each camping trip they go on. In the to-do list, there is a share button that allows users to share the list with their friends through multiple social media platforms.
Feature 1: Places
The user’s homepage automatically features the “Places” feature. In this feature, we have a collection of campsites into different categories such as “Best in Vancouver”, “Nearby”, and “Popular”. We have listened to the feedback our interviewees had given us and incorporated Filter in the app to make user’s search journey easier. Users can filter result based on activities and facilities they are looking for and the filter can generate a personalized result depending on their needs.
Each campsite location contains detailed information about activities, facilities, booking site, current weather, hours of operations and parking instructions. With all this inclusive information, users can depend on goCamp to fulfill their tasks. Users can easily share the information with friends through the “share” button on multiple social media platforms.
Feature 2: Camping 101 (all-in-one guide)
For the second feature, Camping 101, we have separated information into sections like “Before Camping”, “During Camping” and “After Camping”. Each contains information that could help them prepare for different needs. It comes in handy when users do not have internet to search up for answers, the app. contains all-inclusion information about camping.
In “Before Camping”, it includes to-do list and information such as what kinds of tents to buy and what to bring to camping. In “During Camping”, there is concise information on what to expect during a camping trip. There is a camping guide filled with tips on problems campers might run into, for example, “how to start fire”, “how to set up tents”, and safety tips, etc. We have also incorporated Filter in camping 101, users can select keywords to personalize the search result.
Feature 3: Cooking
In Camping 101, there is a third feature that allows users to explore different cooking recipes that are easy to cook at campsites. From my past camping experiences, I wish I had known more recipes that is suitable to cook at campsites so I wouldn’t be eating bread and egg salad all the time. The cooking recipes includes sections of breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks recipes. Within each recipe, a list of ingredients and appliances are provided so users know what to pack and can add that to their to-do lists.
Low/Mid-Fi Prototypes User Testing
After completing the wireframes, we have put together a simple prototype for users to test out the interaction and structure of the application.
User Testing
We understand the usability testing could help us identify problems and reveal how satisfied users are with our application. Therefore, we have interviewed our targeted audience: both beginners and experienced campers. In the first stage of usability testing, the users are asked to explore the application on their own, to get themselves familiar with the main functions first. Subsequently, the interviews are then broken down into the following questions and tasks.
Users felt that some of the buttons are not apparent as a clickable button.
High-Fi Prototypes
In the landing page of goCamp, there will be micro-animation in the first screen to ease user into the application. The application supports Facebook and Google to login, so it is convenient for users to have password reuse.
Camping 101: During Camping
Camping 101 is mainly designed for beginner campers who have little to no experience in camping. It is an extensive guide that ranges from three stages: Before Camping, During Camping, and After Camping. All three stages feature articles that could come of aid when users need tips on a camping trip, such as “build your stove,” “after bite care,” and “DIY tricks to survival,” etc.
Camping 101: Recipes
Speaking from personal experience, I have always wanted to explore different cooking recipes during my camping trips. I was sick of eating toasts and fried eggs on every trip and I thought maybe others feel the same as me. Therefore, the recipes section was created for trying new recipes at campsites.
goCamp Features Overview
Logo Branding
The logo for goCamp was designed using the main color palette consisting of different ranges of greens. The green palette represents the nature, and a sense of modernity that invites users to continue using the application. It also signifies the sense of relaxation and carefree planning!
Promotional Video
Future Considerations
After reviewing the feedback from the user tests, some of the current interactions needs to be enhanced on the application.
- Where users can directly engage with our application
- An innovative way to introduce poisonous plants to users
- Any information or data can be passed to users in real-time.
- Gives a better sense of vision and pull out the objects and hazards
I also intend to update the interface by introducing a new feature, Augmented Reality Camera where users can use the feature to identify the types and characteristics of different plants. Users can get to know more about plants in outdoor and whether it is poisonous or not.
Above are some screens showing how the additional feature. For example, AR Camera could help identify plants using Augmented Reality technology. When campers are out and about in the wild, they could possibly run into plants- whether interesting or dangerous- that they want to learn about. Users can use the AR Camera to scan plants and they camera will generate results related to the plant identified. Then, users can view the detailed description of the plant and then even share the information on social media with friends and family.
Conclusion
I enjoyed this project as this was my first user interface/experience project where I got to learn and use new tools and the process of creating a solution for our targeted audience. Throughout this project, I have learned to focus on user needs and it is essential to think from the user’s point of view. The digital interface is a channel to connect with the target audience and it should represent and offer a memorable and intuitive experience that will both encourage a user to choose the service I offer. With the help of UI aesthetics, it increases a user’s engagement with the application.
Moving forward, I would like to see goCamp develop into an app that could be widely used by others. Additionally, I would like to implement video tutorials and an AR camera as extra features. In my opinion, text-based content simply cannot convey a message as effectively as videos. Videos bring another dimension to user experience.
