End-to-end UX design execution, streamlining smart navigation app for a restroom locator startup located in India.
Peece Tech
3 months
Solo
UX Lead
The idea of this app started with the universal problem-finding a clean, accessible restroom while out and about. Public restroom accessibility is often unreliable, leading to frustration, health concerns, and safety issues, particularly for women.
With limited resources guiding people to accessible and clean restrooms, I was tasked to design a solution that ensures efficient restroom discovery while offering features that build a health-conscious platform.
⚑ CHALLENGE
Bridging user needs and business objectives to create the most effective solution for a user-driven restroom locator.
PROJECT TIMELINE (PEECE)
I conducted a survey of 25 individuals with diverse backgrounds to understand their experiences, frustrations, and unmet needs when it came to finding a restroom.
Asking users about their personal experiences and stories uncovered a more in-depth understanding of their problems.
Pinpointed Issues
Unclear quality ratings - Users struggle to determine which nearby bathrooms are clean/safe due to inconsistent or missing reviews and ratings.
Limited accessibility info - Many restrooms lack details on accessibility and cost, making it difficult for users to find free or disability-friendly options.
Navigation challenges - Users find it difficult to locate restrooms due to unclear directions and lack of helpful notes on entrances or landmarks.
Wasted time on detours - Users struggle to find restrooms that fit their route, often taking unnecessary detours that add time to their trip.
Dissecting the research I was able to design features that directly solve user problems.
I needed to design an app for restroom navigation while integrating supportive features for users. To establish a solid foundation, I structured the app’s content and framework before wireframing.
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE, USER FLOWS, & PERSONAS
While designing wireframes, I continued to refine user flows, scenarios, and the information architecture for better usability. Ongoing notes and meetings with the team was crucial throughout development.
MEETING NOTES & FIGMA COMMENTS
After integrating the feedback into the design, I created higher-fidelity prototypes for handoff.
Content layout - we needed more information displayed within various widgets.
Friction points - certain screens had complex steps leading to confusion.
UI Fixes - visuals weren't cohesive and certain elements needed adjusting.
Missing features - key screens and widgets were missing from user flows.
Taking the feedback and making changes.
Clarity - Ensure that the features and screens we are designing are clear to the user and provides a seamless experience.
User focused - Ensure that as we develop our designs we address user problems and focus on how our designs translate within user flows.
Key Success Factor
Effective collaboration, continuous testing, and user-focused development, we successfully addressed user challenges with our designs. Maintaining open and constant communication was essential to our team's success.
As more designs got approved by the founder, I made sure to provide detailed annotations to help the developers navigate my design thinking.
CONTENTS OF DESIGN FILE
Introducing the functionality to allow users to input ratings and reviews addresses the limitations in normal navigation apps. Enabling users to submit their own personal ratings & reviews of any restroom provides additional information for other users within the app.
This effectively mitigates the challenges of knowing restroom accessibility, cleanliness, or even how to get there properly. Public ratings & reviews not only improves information sharing, but it also provides a way to give back to the community and ultimately enhances user satisfaction and engagement within Peece Tech.
Overcoming limited restroom info - users contribute real-time ratings and reviews, filling gaps left by standard navigation apps.
Facilitating Informed Decision-Making - crowd-sourced insights help users find restrooms based on hygiene, accessibility, or convenience.
Enhancing engagement and trust - transparency and user feedback drive reliability, encouraging participation and boosts trust.
The filtered search feature allows users to refine their restroom search based on accessibility, cleanliness, availability, amenities, etc, overcoming the limitations of standard navigation apps. By enabling personalized and efficient discovery, this feature saves time, enhances confidence, and addresses users' personal needs within Peece Tech.
Personalized search experience - users can quickly find restrooms that match their specific needs, such as accessibility, cleanliness, or amenities.
Time-Saving convenience - eliminates the hassle of browsing irrelevant options, ensuring users locate the best restroom efficiently.
The community forums feature provides a space for users to share experiences, ask questions, and exchange insights outside of just restroom related topics. By offering a place for discussions and collaboration this feature enhances engagement and a sense of well-being within Peece Tech.
Encouraging community support - users can connect, share experiences, and collaborate, creating a sense of belonging beyond restroom-related topics.
Boosts user retention - engaging discussions and ongoing interactions encourage users to return, keeping them actively involved in the Peece Tech community.
This internship challenged me to push my thinking and develop new collaboration skills in ways I never have before. Because Peece Tech is a smaller team, managing my workload whilst effectively communicating to the founders taught me SO much about product strategy, cross-collaborative work, and industry workflow.
"I had the pleasure of working with Dylan as the sole UX designer for Peece Tech. What stood out about Dylan from the start was his motivation-he was driven by a passion for great design, not just a pay check. As the founder of Peece, I worked closely with him during our daily scrum meetings, and his dedication was evident in every discussion. Dylan is extremely reliable and took feedback effortlessly and always delivered."
Samridhi Bhardwaj,
Takeaways & Highlights
Product Strategy
Navigating the challenges of a fast-paced startup environment pushed me to think critically, prioritize effectively, and develop solutions with a very strategic mindset. Through ongoing discussions, I deepened my understanding of the industry workflow and business goals.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Working closely with the founders and a small team enhanced my ability to communicate design decisions clearly, align with business goals, and adapt to an evolving product strategy.
Startup workflow & Adaptability
Managing my workload independently while iterating based on real-time feedback taught me how to work efficiently, stay flexible, and deliver designs ahead of schedule. Balancing this contract work with school and other internships were challenging, but has given me hands-on experience in intense workflows.