UI / UX Design
Google Map Parking
Redesigned Google Maps, with a new parking feature.
Year :
2023
Role :
UX Designer
Tool :
Figma
Project Duration :
3 months
Impact :
This self-initiated project redesigned Google Maps to enable users to discover and save free street parking in busy areas, saving time, frustration, and money.
OVERVIEW :
Background: Most people have experienced bad parking experiences, from not being able to park and locate a free and available parking spot on the street, and possibly being given fine tickets and getting cars towed. Complex street rules and crookedness hinder people’s mood, experiences, and being on time with their schedules.
Challenge: In order to collect reliable parking data and feedback to benefit users’ daily parking issues, it is challenging to create a system that can motivate users to review and give real-time updates, especially for free street parking. Besides, some previous Google Maps functions are quite unclear to users, so it is important to redesign and update the UX.
User problems :
Most drivers in big cities have experienced the problems described above, but they still don’t have a good solution to them. Bad parking experiences might destroy people’s entire mood, even delay their own schedules, and cost them money. Based on drivers’ major experiences, I am designing this Google Maps plug-in to help better solve those problems and enhance one-station driving and parking experiences.
Current solutions :
To understand the current existing parking apps’ pros and cons, I studied three of the most popular apps for paid and free parking solutions and analyzed how they might improve and what my design can implement.
Users prefer free over paid short-term parking
Real-time street availability is often inaccurate
Few users would contribute
Inconvenient to switch to another app when having a map on for navigation
User journey map :
To better understand the pain points of users, I did observations of three NYC drivers who have three different motivations, and recorded their parking experiences while trying to find a parking spot on the streets.
AFFINITY MAP :
Based on different people’s experiences, I identified pain points from users, and I arranged and categorized their needs into charts below.
After studying the above user needs and their priorities, I decided to add a new parking feature on Google Maps with five main features and related sub-features to help users find parking spots and enhance their overall parking experiences. These features are:
✔GIS information ✔Availibility ✔Update ✔Multimode parking ✔Reminder
UI KIT :
Updated Google Maps UI design system featuring Roboto typography, refined color palette, new parking-focused icons, and enhanced information cards for improved user experience.
Information Architecture :
Information architecture for Google Maps parking feature showing main navigation tabs, user flow from parking features to detailed spot management, and real-time availability tracking.
Wireframe :
Low-fidelity wireframes showing three key user task flows: finding free parking spots, accessing GIS parking maps with availability data, and saving parking locations to custom lists.
Final Design :
Find a free street parking
Activate GIS parking map
Save and view a parking spot
Save and view a parking spot
Summary :
This project highlighted the challenges of user data collection and privacy concerns. It made me reconsider which Google functions users need versus those that go unused. I questioned the design intentions behind certain features and how designers could create smoother experiences with less user input and more meaningful benefits.
When redesigning the Google Maps UI, I focused on modern aesthetics and clearer input instructions. As a user myself, I was able to address my frustrations with the app and add features I wished Google Maps had, creating a more intuitive experience.
UI / UX Design
Google Map Parking
Redesigned Google Maps, with a new parking feature.
Year :
2023
Role :
UX Designer
Tool :
Figma
Project Duration :
3 months
Impact :
This self-initiated project redesigned Google Maps to enable users to discover and save free street parking in busy areas, saving time, frustration, and money.
OVERVIEW :
Background: Most people have experienced bad parking experiences, from not being able to park and locate a free and available parking spot on the street, and possibly being given fine tickets and getting cars towed. Complex street rules and crookedness hinder people’s mood, experiences, and being on time with their schedules.
Challenge: In order to collect reliable parking data and feedback to benefit users’ daily parking issues, it is challenging to create a system that can motivate users to review and give real-time updates, especially for free street parking. Besides, some previous Google Maps functions are quite unclear to users, so it is important to redesign and update the UX.
User problems :
Most drivers in big cities have experienced the problems described above, but they still don’t have a good solution to them. Bad parking experiences might destroy people’s entire mood, even delay their own schedules, and cost them money. Based on drivers’ major experiences, I am designing this Google Maps plug-in to help better solve those problems and enhance one-station driving and parking experiences.
Current solutions :
To understand the current existing parking apps’ pros and cons, I studied three of the most popular apps for paid and free parking solutions and analyzed how they might improve and what my design can implement.
Users prefer free over paid short-term parking
Real-time street availability is often inaccurate
Few users would contribute
Inconvenient to switch to another app when having a map on for navigation
User journey map :
To better understand the pain points of users, I did observations of three NYC drivers who have three different motivations, and recorded their parking experiences while trying to find a parking spot on the streets.
AFFINITY MAP :
Based on different people’s experiences, I identified pain points from users, and I arranged and categorized their needs into charts below.
After studying the above user needs and their priorities, I decided to add a new parking feature on Google Maps with five main features and related sub-features to help users find parking spots and enhance their overall parking experiences. These features are:
✔GIS information ✔Availibility ✔Update ✔Multimode parking ✔Reminder
UI KIT :
Updated Google Maps UI design system featuring Roboto typography, refined color palette, new parking-focused icons, and enhanced information cards for improved user experience.
Information Architecture :
Information architecture for Google Maps parking feature showing main navigation tabs, user flow from parking features to detailed spot management, and real-time availability tracking.
Wireframe :
Low-fidelity wireframes showing three key user task flows: finding free parking spots, accessing GIS parking maps with availability data, and saving parking locations to custom lists.
Final Design :
Find a free street parking
Activate GIS parking map
Save and view a parking spot
Save and view a parking spot
Summary :
This project highlighted the challenges of user data collection and privacy concerns. It made me reconsider which Google functions users need versus those that go unused. I questioned the design intentions behind certain features and how designers could create smoother experiences with less user input and more meaningful benefits.
When redesigning the Google Maps UI, I focused on modern aesthetics and clearer input instructions. As a user myself, I was able to address my frustrations with the app and add features I wished Google Maps had, creating a more intuitive experience.
UI / UX Design
Google Map Parking
Redesigned Google Maps, with a new parking feature.
Year :
2023
Role :
UX Designer
Tool :
Figma
Project Duration :
3 months
Impact :
This self-initiated project redesigned Google Maps to enable users to discover and save free street parking in busy areas, saving time, frustration, and money.
OVERVIEW :
Background: Most people have experienced bad parking experiences, from not being able to park and locate a free and available parking spot on the street, and possibly being given fine tickets and getting cars towed. Complex street rules and crookedness hinder people’s mood, experiences, and being on time with their schedules.
Challenge: In order to collect reliable parking data and feedback to benefit users’ daily parking issues, it is challenging to create a system that can motivate users to review and give real-time updates, especially for free street parking. Besides, some previous Google Maps functions are quite unclear to users, so it is important to redesign and update the UX.
User problems :
Most drivers in big cities have experienced the problems described above, but they still don’t have a good solution to them. Bad parking experiences might destroy people’s entire mood, even delay their own schedules, and cost them money. Based on drivers’ major experiences, I am designing this Google Maps plug-in to help better solve those problems and enhance one-station driving and parking experiences.
Current solutions :
To understand the current existing parking apps’ pros and cons, I studied three of the most popular apps for paid and free parking solutions and analyzed how they might improve and what my design can implement.
Users prefer free over paid short-term parking
Real-time street availability is often inaccurate
Few users would contribute
Inconvenient to switch to another app when having a map on for navigation
User journey map :
To better understand the pain points of users, I did observations of three NYC drivers who have three different motivations, and recorded their parking experiences while trying to find a parking spot on the streets.
AFFINITY MAP :
Based on different people’s experiences, I identified pain points from users, and I arranged and categorized their needs into charts below.
After studying the above user needs and their priorities, I decided to add a new parking feature on Google Maps with five main features and related sub-features to help users find parking spots and enhance their overall parking experiences. These features are:
✔GIS information ✔Availibility ✔Update ✔Multimode parking ✔Reminder
UI KIT :
Updated Google Maps UI design system featuring Roboto typography, refined color palette, new parking-focused icons, and enhanced information cards for improved user experience.
Information Architecture :
Information architecture for Google Maps parking feature showing main navigation tabs, user flow from parking features to detailed spot management, and real-time availability tracking.
Wireframe :
Low-fidelity wireframes showing three key user task flows: finding free parking spots, accessing GIS parking maps with availability data, and saving parking locations to custom lists.
Final Design :
Find a free street parking
Activate GIS parking map
Save and view a parking spot
Save and view a parking spot
Summary :
This project highlighted the challenges of user data collection and privacy concerns. It made me reconsider which Google functions users need versus those that go unused. I questioned the design intentions behind certain features and how designers could create smoother experiences with less user input and more meaningful benefits.
When redesigning the Google Maps UI, I focused on modern aesthetics and clearer input instructions. As a user myself, I was able to address my frustrations with the app and add features I wished Google Maps had, creating a more intuitive experience.