ePARK redesign.
Bootcamp project to redesign a popular app
We are now reaching 50% completion of the bootcamp and I can clearly feel the progress. My confidence levels are increasing and my technical competencies are getting sharper everyday!
This time the project proposal was to simply redesign a popular mobile app, addressing its information architecture and visuals. Ideally, without interfering with the content.
Given the short time frame to work on it, I’ve decided to choose an app that I use frequently. ePARK by EMEL, is a street car parking service operating in Lisbon that I have actually already worked on briefly when doing the pre-work assignments, prior to the bootcamp.
Background
ePARK has been in use for a while and suffered multiple updates recently. It’s by far the most used parking app in Portugal with significant success given the easy usability and key functionalities that make the user download the app rather than use the park meters.
Since the goal of this UX case study was to redesign the app, while trying to enhance the overall user experience, I have quickly tried to deconstruct a few screens looking for inconsistencies.
While some of the flaws are fairly easy to find (and subject to interpretation), some others were better traced when actually cloning the app itself.
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I have highlighted the following inconsistencies that in my view could potentially be changed:
- Different corner radius in buttons with the same importance
- Overcrowded side menu
- Plus/minus buttons don’t match in size. Even when having the same importance.
- Portuguese language used at times (parking schedule)
- Poor usage of column grids
- Little to none interaction in location page
- Min/hour charge info is not straightforward
Visual competitor analysis & Moodboard
In an effort to gain insights into industry trends, identify areas for differentiation, and ensure that my design stands out, I have performed a visual competitor analysis of what I have considered to be key elements for this redesign project.
Inspiration is now starting to follow and hoping to convey the overall aesthetic, mood, and tone of this project, I have created a moodboard to serve as a reference and inspiration for the design process.
With a significant predominance of different tones of green and a dark shade of cyan, I have decided to maintain the same color principles of the original app and brand itself. Such principles advocate for positivity, harmony and safety. Ultimately leading users to feel safe and comfortable.
Components & icons
I have then started to draft the first components and added iconography to complete a library of resources to be used.
MVP & next steps
As previously mentioned, the nature of this project was purely to redesign an app without influencing its original content, and we were given a significantly reduced amount of time to work on it.
Therefore, and also due to some hiccups along the way (on a personal level), I have only managed to go with the minimum requirements. Which was to redesign 3 different screens.
I acknowledge that there’s a lot of improvement to be done. As mentioned, time was fundamentally crucial to determine the outcome of this project. Knowing in advance how long I had to redesign ePARK, I could and should have managed my time a lot better.
For example, the time spent in the cloning process would be way better applied in testing the product.
Nevertheless, I think I have delivered a good MVP to get validation from my peers and I hope you also like it! Have a look here.
As for what the future reserves, I am looking to refine the final product and add more screens and interactions. As such, I will keep updating this article and it happens.
Thank you all
