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Figma · User-testing · Maze · React Native · Cloud Firestore · Google Maps API
Viaja is a mobile application I designed for my dissertation project as a MSc student at the University of Strathclyde. Meaning 'go' or 'travel' in Spanish, Viaja was designed to support safer travel for women traveling solo.
As a frequent solo traveler myself, I wanted to create a solution that was simple, easy-to-use, and functional--allowing users to 'check in' their locations with family members and friends.
User research was conducted through informal interviews and surveys to create two main user personas based on common pain points and goals. Because Viaja was not solely designed for travelers, but also their close friends and family, two archetypes were created: The Frequent Flyer and the Worried Parent.
A user flow diagram was created to display onboarding new users and 'checking in' -- the main functionality of the application. Because of this, I determined that 'checking in' should be available on the home screen, rather than having the location feed displayed.
User flow deliverables served as blueprints to create low fidelity prototypes using Figma. The design was then tested with Maze to highlight navigation problems and inefficiency. Notably, test results indicated that users found it difficult to search for friends and add/remove friends. Design changes were implemented iteratively to reflect user feedback throughout the project.
Development was split into sprints to convert the application requirements & user feedback into code. Additional requirements were also applied throughout the development stage. For instance, a custom map style was created on the Google Cloud console to highlight public transportation, hospitals, and attractions near the users’ active location.
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