NYC Department of Design and Construction
To develop a mobile app that informs locals about construction projects and provides detour route plans.
My Contributions
4 months, 2023.01
NYC Department of Design and Construction
Miro /Figma /llustrator /Photoshop
Xinru, Zein, Sebastain
About
The Department of Design and Construction (DDC) is undertaking construction projects that can cause disruptions and inconvenience to residents and businesses. Many of them are unaware of the projects’ wider context and local understanding can fall short over why these disruptions occur. To address this issue, I collaborated with a team of three UX Designers at Pratt Institute's Center for Digital Experiences to develop a mobile application aimed at improving communication with affected communities about these construction projects.
Goals
Learning about people's commute routes:
includes understanding common routes, transportation options, travel times, and potential pain points or challenges.
Learning about upcoming construction projects:
involves timeline, location, and intended outcome. Stakeholders can better prepare for the impact of the construction.
Identifying usability issues:
designers and stakeholders can gain insights into how to improve the user experience, reduce errors and confusion, and ultimately increase user satisfaction and engagement.
Research
DDC work with students in our "Practical Ethnography for User Experience" class in Fall 2022 to understand the needs and desires of NYC citizens in the context of DDC roadway projects when it comes to information about sub-surface issues and projects. Students would use multiple methods to investigate the challenge and deliver a summary of insights and design recommendations.
DDC would work with us to design a prototype, using the insights generated from the Fall 2022 project. (DCP’s new map of all Commitment Plan projects has this data and can be linked. When the new and improved city-wide Capital Project Dashboard with all capital projects is available that data can be linked.)
Key Insights
Strategy
Study the 5 Ws
Who.
Residents
Business
Commuters
How.
Inforgraphics:
Use visual communication to simplify technical jargon.
Interactive maps:
Display construction locations and schedules, allowing users to input their routes to highlight disruptions and suggest alternatives.
QR Code on sites:
Physical QR codes at construction sites link to the app’s interactive map.
Persona
User Journey
Site Map
Design
User Flow
Wireframe
Iteration
Style Guide
Preserving the DDC brand's signature orange and blue hues, which are characteristic of construction colors, boosts recognition and adapts color intensity for accessibility.
A sans-serif typeface ensures content legibility and preciseness.
Flow 1 :Help commuter anticipate potential delays
Commuter: "I want to know where all construction projects are happening along my commute, so that I can anticipate the delays."
An interactive map showcasing construction sites and traffic delays, offering users the option to explore detailed project information and timelines
Convenient detour information for commuters
Flow 2 : Help business owner notified customers beforehand
Business owner: "I want to know the construction sites schedule and times, so that I can guarantee my store has no barriers upon entrance, and send notification to my customers beforehand."
Access the business owner portal to send notifications to customers
Informing users least news about construction sites near their business.
Flow 3: Help residents know community construction projects
Residents: "I would like to know where my tax money is going, so I can ensure it is being put to benefit my community."
Scan the QR code for an in-depth project infographic.
Explore projects by choosing borough and status for detailed project infographics.
Access the Capital Project Dashboard linked to the infographic.
Community board information is automatically included based on project location data, encouraging user engagement.
Interactive Prototyping
Reflection
We presented the analysis and prototype to the client. Invisibility is now transformed into visibility through our design, as we've successfully built a communication bridge between the community and DDC. The city-wide Capital Project Dashboard has been connected, providing stakeholders with access to accurate project details. Our client is highly satisfied with our design achievements.
