ALLTRAILS FEATURE ADDITION
01
overview & objective
The objective of this project was to conduct user studies involving both existing users and non-users of the AllTrails app, with the aim of identifying a valuable new feature. Based on the insights gathered from the study, I proposed the addition of a "fire map" – an interactive map that highlights nearby fires and their impact on various trails, providing users with essential information about trail safety.
BACKGROUND
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Three-week, school project from September 2023
MY ROLES
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Designed high-fidelity mockups and prototypes
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Copywriting
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Interaction Research
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Visual Design Research
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Wireframing
SOFTWARE
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Figma
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Protopie
Disclaimer: AllTrails was not a real, paying client. This project was pursued only as a school study.
02
What is AllTrails?
AllTrails is a fitness and travel mobile app, allowing users to view a range of physical fitness activities ranging from leisurely to demanding, and quick jaunts to extended adventures. Additionally, users can discover, explore, and connect with their fellow outdoor community.
03
User & App Research
WEEK 1
In the first week of investigation, research was conducted on the existing AllTrails app to explore user interactions methods already used within the app to understand constraints for the new feature. Additionally, user research was conducted to explore current popular features, and common usage patterns across both new and long-term users.
THE RESEARCH PROCESS
1. Selecting users to study: unathletic? athletic? already a user of AllTrails? a new user to AllTrails?
2. Note their favourite features, why that is, what sparks inspiration, and what causes frustrations.
3. Research the app and note down interactions, colour pallets, aesthetics, and features for design insights.
04
User personas & Feature ideations
WEEK 2
During the second week of the project, I constructed a user persona based on insights derived from the interviews. I chose to expand upon the pre-existing map feature, given that it was the aspect most favored by the majority of users. I conceptualized and fully wireframed two potential features for implementation:
FEATURE 1: A FIRE MAP
This feature would be directly implemented into the existing map menu, preserving the familiar trail interaction experience, but instead display information about fire damages and trail conditions when viewing the trails, including markers indicating nearby recent fires.
FEATURE 2: PROFILE PAGE
This feature empowers users to create pre-defined filter profiles for the map menu. By establishing different profiles tailored to specific scenarios, it streamlines the process of discovering trails, ensuring quicker access to relevant information.
05
Developing the Fire Map
WEEK 3
In the third week, I decided the fire map was the most beneficial feature for 3 reasons:
1
SETTING ALLTRAILS APART
User interviews revealed that AllTrails' distinctive focus on current trail conditions, including details like UV index and weather effects on hikes, intrigued users. The addition of a fire map enhances the overall hiking experience, ensuring safety and predictability.
2
MOST POPULAR FEATURE
The filterable map is already one of the most commonly used features on the existing app. Adding this feature will be quickly noticed by current users and improve their emotional experience.
3
PLANET ADAPTATIONS
In the past decade, fire risks and impacts have increased. In the US, fire death rates per million people rose by 18%. In Canada, wildfire intensity increased by 20% in the last 80 years.
According to: Natural-Resources Canada & US fire administration
Following the wireframing phase, I proceeded to create high-fidelity mock-ups using Figma. I then transferred the design to Protopie to render it fully interactive, effectively showcasing the user flow and steps with a high level of visual impact. These interactive mock-ups were employed in additional user interviews to assess the feature's functionality, ensuring that users encountered no confusion while interacting with it.
06
Feature Walkthrough
landing page
When opening the app, the original animation will cue and the user will click on the map button to access the existing interactive trail map menu.
fire toggle option
The added feature is the fire toggle, located in the right sidebar. When clicked, users can access information about current/recent fires and their impact on the trails. Unaffected trails reman green.
Trail selection
Clicking on an affected trail will redirect the user to an information page displaying details such as trail damage assessment, current air quality, trail length, and elevation gain.
Fire safety
When a user clicks on a nearby fire pin, they will be directed to an information page providing details on the current fire conditions, containment efforts, and the acreage affected by the fire.
Additionally, users can access information about trails impacted by the fire from this page.
06
Takeaways & reflection
The final outcome of the project significantly enhanced my proficiency in creating high-fidelity interactive mock-ups, particularly as it marked my debut experience with Protopie. This proficiency is particularly valuable because it allows smoother user experience research and affords greater flexibility in identifying potential issues. Unlike the more directed approach required for wireframes or limited interactive prototypes, the use of interactive mock-ups allows for a more organic discovery process.
Reflecting on the project, if I were to revisit it, I would place greater emphasis on enriching the trail and fire information pages with more detailed and essential data. In its current state, the information provided was based on a surface-level examination of fire control. I would have enjoyed the opportunity to delve deeper into this domain and incorporate more comprehensive information into the feature, enabling users to make even more informed decisions when selecting a trail.