Streamlining Cyclists' Experiences with Intuitive UX, Enabling Collaboration, Shared Rides, and Social Interaction
Duration
4 Months
Team
Group of 3 Product Designers
Responsibilities
User Research
UX/UI Design
Designing a user flow (joining/creating an event)
Introduction
Cycling enthusiasts often struggle to explore new experiences and meet others due to busy schedules. This challenge became even more apparent after participating in bike-packing events in Italy, where fellow cyclists echoed similar concerns.
Lynk is an online platform designed to simplify connecting with other riders, making it easy to plan and organise group rides. The platform encourages active social interaction among cyclists of all skill levels, ensuring an engaging and enjoyable riding experience for everyone.
Goals
01
Facilitate effective collaboration and participation among cyclists
02
Create an inclusive platform for cyclists of all skill level to socialise and collaborate
Target Users
01
Cyclists looking for new experiences and connect with other riders
02
Cyclists seeking competitive rides, aiming to find partners for testing and pushing their limits
User Research
Dealing with Personal Bias
As a cyclist, I recognized that my personal bias could potentially influence my understanding of users' needs and pain points. Throughout the user discovery process, I made a conscious effort to remain neutral and objective in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the users' experiences.
Interview highlights
Secretly Competitive 🌟
Cyclists are secretly competitive and usually do not appreciate riding with slow riders who disrupt their pace
Explorers
🔎
They are explorers and adventurers always looking for new roads and trails
Love their Community 👥
They love sharing their rides and experiences and love bragging about their achievements
User Personas
Key Insights
What do users really want?
Community
Engagement
// Both Marie and Max value connecting with other cyclists and engaging in community features
// They benefit from chat features, forums, and social media integration
Event
Participation
// Both are interested in participating in well-organised cycling events.
// They appreciate recommendations for events that match their interests and skill levels.
Design Process
I was tasked with designing the user flow for joining/creating a new event.
User Flow
The green path represents the "happy path," which denotes a seamless and positive interaction for the user. My primary objective was to keep users on the happy path, ensuring a smooth and satisfying experience throughout.
Wireframes
Events Home Page
1
User difficulty level and credits
2
Featured/Popular rides section showing the top trending ride events
3
Events based on specific categories like recommended events, events for the users' difficulty level
Search
1
Search bar with filters and sorting options to easily find new and compatible events
Detail Page for an Event
1
Images/Videos of the ride
2
Key highlights of the ride like distance, elevation, estimated time needed
3
Host details as well as the members joining the event
Creating a New Event
1
Section to add ride title and ride image.
2
Section to add starting and ending points of the ride
3
Section for adding restrictions and conditions as well as a description for the ride
Major Issue and Pivot Strategy
During initial user testing, a major issue was detected and I suggested a pivot idea that ensured the completion of our project in the given time frame
Users found the process of creating detailed event pages and hosting rides too cumbersome and time-consuming, causing a lack of interest.
Pivot Idea
Going back to ideation, I asked myself what are the most common user communication habits, whether its for planning trips or other occasions
The answer - Chat Messaging
Wireframes (Updated)
Create a New Event (Updated)
1
Add a group name and a group icon
2
Add basic ride information like time and date of the ride and define a general area you wish to ride
3
Invite your friends
Create a New Event (Updated)
1
Click to collaborate and edit the ride details along with all the participants. Any change to the ride is reflected here
2
Changes by any participant is reflected in the chat along with other conversations. Once the host accepts the change, it reflects in the dashboard above
Edit a ride detail
Edit ride details like time, date, start point, route
Final Design
Lynk - Meet New Cyclists and Ride Together
Lynk is a social app that allows users to create ride chat groups, enabling a seamless experience for planning group rides.
Riders can collaborate and decide on the ride details within the chat groups
Riders are categorised by difficulty levels based on their experience and skills, ensuring a tailored experience for everyone.
Events Home
Joining a Ride Group
With a single tap, join a ride group and start the conversation with the other riders
Sending an Edit Request
Riders can request edits in the ride plan and collectively discuss in the group.
The dashboard updates once the host accepts the request.
Creating a New Ride
Riders can request edits in the ride plan and collectively discuss in the group.
The dashboard updates once the host accepts the request.