Smart Explorer
Smart Explorer
Smart Explorer
Smart Explorer
An mobile app that helps hikers discover new trails and plan their hikes. Unlike other hiking apps, it prioritizes the hikers safety at every step
An mobile app that helps hikers discover new trails and plan their hikes. Unlike other hiking apps, it prioritizes the hikers safety at every step
An mobile app that helps hikers discover new trails and plan their hikes. Unlike other hiking apps, it prioritizes the hikers safety at every step
An mobile app that helps hikers discover new trails and plan their hikes. Unlike other hiking apps, it prioritizes the hikers safety at every step
During the pandemic, more people turned to hiking—often without proper preparation or safety knowledge. As someone new to backcountry hiking, I initiated SmartExplorer to learn about hiking safety and help others stay informed. This app was built with expert input from the North Shore Rescue Team and focuses on helping hikers make safer, smarter decisions before, during, and after their trips. It won the Best Student Project at the Vancouver UX Awards 2021.
During the pandemic, more people turned to hiking—often without proper preparation or safety knowledge. As someone new to backcountry hiking, I initiated SmartExplorer to learn about hiking safety and help others stay informed. This app was built with expert input from the North Shore Rescue Team and focuses on helping hikers make safer, smarter decisions before, during, and after their trips. It won the Best Student Project at the Vancouver UX Awards 2021.
During the pandemic, more people turned to hiking—often without proper preparation or safety knowledge. As someone new to backcountry hiking, I initiated SmartExplorer to learn about hiking safety and help others stay informed. This app was built with expert input from the North Shore Rescue Team and focuses on helping hikers make safer, smarter decisions before, during, and after their trips. It won the Best Student Project at the Vancouver UX Awards 2021.
During the pandemic, more people turned to hiking—often without proper preparation or safety knowledge. As someone new to backcountry hiking, I initiated SmartExplorer to learn about hiking safety and help others stay informed. This app was built with expert input from the North Shore Rescue Team and focuses on helping hikers make safer, smarter decisions before, during, and after their trips. It won the Best Student Project at the Vancouver UX Awards 2021.
Role
Role
Product designer
Product designer
Timeline
Timeline
Jan '22 - Apr '22
Jan '22 - Apr '22
Problem
Problem
How might we provide avid adventurers resources for trip planning, safety precautions tips, and find new trails for their next adventures?
Outcome
Outcome
We created a hiking companion app that helps users discover suitable trails, build and share trip plans, and receive safety prompts—ultimately empowering new hikers and reducing Search & Rescue calls.
We created a hiking companion app that helps users discover suitable trails, build and share trip plans, and receive safety prompts—ultimately empowering new hikers and reducing Search & Rescue calls.
Final designs
Final designs
Final designs
Final designs
and solutions
and solutions
and solutions
and solutions
Over 4 months, I developed a multimodal experience for museums, including desktop, mobile, AR, and VR applications, along with a supporting design system. This project aims to make museum experiences more immersive and interactive.
Over 4 months, I developed a multimodal experience for museums, including desktop, mobile, AR, and VR applications, along with a supporting design system. This project aims to make museum experiences more immersive and interactive.
Over 4 months, I developed a multimodal experience for museums, including desktop, mobile, AR, and VR applications, along with a supporting design system. This project aims to make museum experiences more immersive and interactive.
Over 4 months, I developed a multimodal experience for museums, including desktop, mobile, AR, and VR applications, along with a supporting design system. This project aims to make museum experiences more immersive and interactive.
Onboarding Process
Onboarding Process
People often neglect the importance of onboarding process, which helps give users a sense of what they'll need to do in order to get what they need from an app or product. We worked together on the copywriting of this, aiming to make it concise and informative.
Conditional Interactions
Conditional Interactions
With UXPin, I had an opportunity to work on conditional interactions, especially in our log in screens. By mastering conditional interactions, these platforms (UX Pin, ProtoPie) helps further UI screens options that our designers often forget to do before we send out to the development team.
With UXPin, I had an opportunity to work on conditional interactions, especially in our log in screens. By mastering conditional interactions, these platforms (UX Pin, ProtoPie) helps further UI screens options that our designers often forget to do before we send out to the development team.
Discover
Discover
When thinking about novice hikers, we encouraged detailed and informative hike information that novice hikers need when they hike: sunset & sunrise time, difficulty levels, current conditions, and an interactive packing list.
Initially, hikers often have to search different sites just to know the hike. We want this Discover page to be the only source where people can find about their hikes.
Plan
Plan
The planning stage of the application allows you to understand the hike from a high level, such as place and time, right down to small details like what to pack. There is a social aspect included where your hiking partners can be invited so that everyone can collaborate to be equally prepared.
The planning stage of the application allows you to understand the hike from a high level, such as place and time, right down to small details like what to pack. There is a social aspect included where your hiking partners can be invited so that everyone can collaborate to be equally prepared.
User research
User research
findings & results
findings & results
To get a baseline understanding of the public space, I conducted 2 semi-structured interviews. Additionally, 59 individuals completed a survey. Here are the findings.
To get a baseline understanding of the public space, I conducted 2 semi-structured interviews. Additionally, 59 individuals completed a survey. Here are the findings.
97%
97%
Of respondents do not engage with online museum content
Of respondents do not engage with online museum content
Many participants said they didn't know this type of content existed. One person said, "It's not interesting unless it's in person. I can look at pictures and read anywhere. It's just static information."
Many participants said they didn't know this type of content existed. One person said, "It's not interesting unless it's in person. I can look at pictures and read anywhere. It's just static information."
79%
79%
Of respondents wish museums were more engaging
Of respondents wish museums were more engaging
Participants agreed that museums aren't interactive and have too much text. One person mentioned they dislike the "sense of sacredness requiring silence and reverence."
Participants agreed that museums aren't interactive and have too much text. One person mentioned they dislike the "sense of sacredness requiring silence and reverence."
66%
66%
Of respondents prefer visiting museums with other people
Of respondents prefer visiting museums with other people
This is mainly because others can act as impromptu tour guides. Participant one says, "It's good to go with a diverse group because some people know things others don't, so we all share our own stories."
This is mainly because others can act as impromptu tour guides. Participant one says, "It's good to go with a diverse group because some people know things others don't, so we all share our own stories."
Low-fi sketches
Low-fi sketches
Low-fi sketches
Low-fi sketches
and ideas
and ideas
and ideas
and ideas
I ideated over potential solutions and user flows. I used sketches to solidify thoughts and draw out how I wanted interactions to work.
I ideated over potential solutions and user flows. I used sketches to solidify thoughts and draw out how I wanted interactions to work.
I ideated over potential solutions and user flows. I used sketches to solidify thoughts and draw out how I wanted interactions to work.
I ideated over potential solutions and user flows. I used sketches to solidify thoughts and draw out how I wanted interactions to work.
Usability testing
Usability testing
Usability testing
Usability testing
findings & iterations
findings & iterations
findings & iterations
findings & iterations
I conducted a small usability test with 4 individuals. I was looking to test clarity, completion and comprehension of the different features.
I conducted a small usability test with 4 individuals. I was looking to test clarity, completion and comprehension of the different features.
I conducted a small usability test with 4 individuals. I was looking to test clarity, completion and comprehension of the different features.
I conducted a small usability test with 4 individuals. I was looking to test clarity, completion and comprehension of the different features.
Before
Before
The 'view' button on collections was unclear. Some testers thought it was a view count and not a button at all.
The 'view' button on collections was unclear. Some testers thought it was a view count and not a button at all.
After
After
To address this, I updated the copy from simply “View” to “View Collection.”
To address this, I updated the copy from simply “View” to “View Collection.”
Before
Before
The term "timeline" was confusing to some users. They thought the button would show them a history of items they have looked at.
The term "timeline" was confusing to some users. They thought the button would show them a history of items they have looked at.
After
After
To address this, I updated the text from "timeline" to “Artifact History.”
To address this, I updated the text from "timeline" to “Artifact History.”
Before
Before
Users requested a way to add tags to collections since searching for them would be too vague otherwise.
Users requested a way to add tags to collections since searching for them would be too vague otherwise.
After
After
To address this, I added a textfield to allow users to add keywords. For brevity’s sake, keywords will be accepted using comma separations.
To address this, I added a textfield to allow users to add keywords. For brevity’s sake, keywords will be accepted using comma separations.
Building a
Building a
Building a
Building a
brand identity
brand identity
brand identity
brand identity
To support the design, I created a brand guideline kit. It includes tone of voice, logos, colors, fonts, icons, images, and product vision.
To support the design, I created a brand guideline kit. It includes tone of voice, logos, colors, fonts, icons, images, and product vision.
To support the design, I created a brand guideline kit. It includes tone of voice, logos, colors, fonts, icons, images, and product vision.
To support the design, I created a brand guideline kit. It includes tone of voice, logos, colors, fonts, icons, images, and product vision.
A new logo
A new logo
A new logo
A new logo
system
system
system
system
To give the design a sense of regality, tradition, and a touch of modernity, I created a new logo. I made full, partial, and logo mark versions for scalability.
To give the design a sense of regality, tradition, and a touch of modernity, I created a new logo. I made full, partial, and logo mark versions for scalability.
To give the design a sense of regality, tradition, and a touch of modernity, I created a new logo. I made full, partial, and logo mark versions for scalability.
To give the design a sense of regality, tradition, and a touch of modernity, I created a new logo. I made full, partial, and logo mark versions for scalability.
A robust
A robust
A robust
A robust
Design system
Design system
Design system
Design system
I created a comprehensive design system that goes beyond what is used in the final design. I built this following WCAG AA accessibility guidelines
I created a comprehensive design system that goes beyond what is used in the final design. I built this following WCAG AA accessibility guidelines
I created a comprehensive design system that goes beyond what is used in the final design. I built this following WCAG AA accessibility guidelines
I created a comprehensive design system that goes beyond what is used in the final design. I built this following WCAG AA accessibility guidelines
Final VR museum
Final VR museum
Final VR museum
Final VR museum
experience
experience
experience
experience
Putting everything together, I created a VR museum scavenger hunt experience that truly immerses the user and gives them the ability to actually hold and touch museum artifacts.
Putting everything together, I created a VR museum scavenger hunt experience that truly immerses the user and gives them the ability to actually hold and touch museum artifacts.
Putting everything together, I created a VR museum scavenger hunt experience that truly immerses the user and gives them the ability to actually hold and touch museum artifacts.
Putting everything together, I created a VR museum scavenger hunt experience that truly immerses the user and gives them the ability to actually hold and touch museum artifacts.
