Project
001
Eco-Motion
Empowering every stop with Safety, Community, and Connectivity.
An interactive hub designed to enhance the bus stop experience by improving safety, providing real-time updates on bus schedules and alternate transportation options, and fostering community through engaging activities for commuters while they wait.
Details
002
Role
UX Designer and Researcher
Timeline
03 Months
Collaborators
Ishita Kohli, Aashika Ashok, Cassie Quach, Christie Lee
Tools
Figma
Rhino 3D
Fologram
Overview
003
Problem
How might we create a product that prioritizes safety and community while making eco-friendly transportation (bus, bike, scooter, walk) more appealing to Seattle commuters?
Outcome
During a 10-week design sprint, we explored, iterated on and discovered a solution to this question. We designed an information kiosk that enhanced safety at bus stops, kept users informed about bus statuses and alternative transport options, and fostered a sense of community by offering engaging activities for commuters while they waited.
Solution
004
Final Design & Solution
The final design featured a digital kiosk with integrated physical elements, complemented by an interactive digital interface. Together, the physical kiosk and digital system offered features that enhanced the flexibility and reliability of commuting, improved user engagement, fostered a stronger sense of community among bus riders, and prioritized safety for users while they waited.
Features of Kiosk
A
Durability: Stainless steel body with PVD coating
B
Versatile Information Delivery: Mix of traditional and digital info features to cater to a diverse user group
C
Safety & Security: LED Light, CCTV camera and SOS buttons for enhanced safety
D
Accessibility & Inclusivity: Braille instructions and Tactile paving tiles to support very young, elderly, or differently abled users.
Features of Digital Interface
Feature 001
Reliability and Flexibility
The homescreen displayed the statuses of buses through live tracking, with the ability to change languages. Users can also check alternate modes of transport to find a faster route with other means of eco-friendly transportation. A QR code was made available to send both the new directions and Lime app to the user’s phone for convenience.
Feature 002
User Engagement
The community section allows users to explore local businesses near the bus stop. The information would be crowd-sourced and serve as an additional activity for users to input their own recommendations for others to view at the kiosk.
Feature 003
Safety and Security
A dedicated safety section allowed the user to request assistance at the bus stop by either requesting a security guard to come or through an on-call system. In addition to this, there is also an added SOS button that users can use in the case of an emergency. Finally, there are security cameras within the kiosk to ensure 24/7 surveillance.
Feature 004
Accessibility and Inclusivity
The primary interaction buttons on the kiosk interface were positioned at the bottom of the screen for easy accessibility, while secondary options were placed at the top. Additionally, a dedicated control panel—including a speaker, directional arrows, an enter button, volume controls, and braille instructions—was located at the base of the kiosk to ensure convenient access for very young, elderly, and differently abled users.
Setting Expectation
005
What is this project and what to expect
My goal with this project was to explore the intersection of transportation, sustainability, and technology by designing a tech-driven intervention that could genuinely benefit everyday commuters. I aimed to strengthen my skills in user research, visual and interaction design, and prototyping—while learning how to create meaningful, human-centered solutions within this complex context.
01
Academic
Project
This was a fast-paced 10-week academic project centered on addressing a real-world issue related to climate change through a meaningful design intervention. Though some phases were rushed, the experience was both insightful and rewarding.
02
Trying New Things & Refining Skills
Refined my ability to conduct rapid primary and secondary research, run quick design sprints, and iterate efficiently. I also explored 3D and 2D prototype refinement using Augmented Reality to visualize and test interactions.
03
Working with a diverse group
Collaborated with a diverse team of peers from various academic and professional backgrounds, adapting to different working styles and schedules throughout the process.
Overview
006
Design Question
How might we create a product that prioritizes safety and community while making eco-friendly transportation (bus, bike, scooter, walk) more appealing to Seattle commuters?
Why the Topic
007
Designing at the Intersection of Mobility and Climate Action
Growing up in dense urban environments, I’ve seen firsthand how public transit can either empower or limit people’s mobility, access, and quality of life. I believe design has the potential to bridge that gap, making transportation not only more efficient but also more inclusive and sustainable.
This space also excites me because it allows me to use my skills in UX research and design to address large-scale challenges like climate change, urban congestion, and accessibility all while creating experiences that genuinely improve people’s daily lives.
US Environmental Protection Agency
2022
Transportation: The main contributor to Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The transportation sector is the largest source of direct greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the increased adoption of green energy, over 90% of fuel used for transportation is still petroleum-based.
UCLA Blogs: Transportation
2021
The Ripple Effect of Greener Commutes
Choosing eco-friendly transportation like public transit, biking, or walking, not only cuts down carbon emissions but also leads to cleaner air, healthier communities, and quieter neighborhoods. It reduces harmful chemicals, lessens the need for more roads, and promotes a more sustainable and livable environment for everyone.
Approach
008
Process Followed
Overview
009
Research Questions
How do Seattle residents commute within the metropolitan area?
a. What are the current modes of transport that people prefer?
b. What influences them to take one transportation method over the other?
c. How has the commuters expectations and reliance on eco-friendly modes of transport changed over time?
d. How does community play a role in choice of transportation?
Uncovering Issues
010
Secondary research - findings & insights
This research provided a comprehensive look at how the city’s infrastructure has evolved over the years. Understanding this evolution was key to grasping why people have shifted from one mode of transportation to another.
01
Historical Analysis
Seattle’s transportation history reveals a cycle of building, dismantling, and rebuilding. In the late 1800s, electric streetcars dominated, but over time, the city shifted to fossil fuel-based transit. Now, it's come full circle, reinvesting in modern rail systems reminiscent of its early networks. While Seattle has made efforts to adapt to its growing population with a focus on sustainability and accessibility, gaps in the system still remain.
02
Seattle Official Reports
For non-work-related trips, such as grocery shopping, healthcare visits, and school drop-offs, nearly 75% of Seattleites drive alone. These types of trips occur more frequently than commutes to work
Approximately 11.5% of Seattle workers commuted via public transportation in 2022, a decline from 25.1% in 2019.
Source : Communities Count 2022
Uncovering Issues
011
Primary research - findings & insights
Why these methods?
To validate our secondary research findings and uncover deeper insights into user pain points, motivations, and goals, we conducted primary research through surveys (32 participants), semi-structured interviews (5 participants), and experience sampling (3 participants). Our research focused on commuters aged 21–40 living in the Seattle metropolitan area, as this demographic represents the highest proportion of single-occupancy vehicle users.
Using all three methods provides a complementary, 360° view:
Surveys tell you what people are doing.
Interviews reveal why they’re doing it.
Experience sampling shows how and when they make those decisions.
01
Surveys
Car dependence is strong – The majority prefer driving due to convenience, speed, flexibility, and privacy.
Public/alternative modes have a foothold – Around 44% are using some form of public/shared/active transport, but only driven by cost or lack of car ownership.
Reliability and safety, remain key challenges for increasing public transit usage.
Functional needs (like carrying things, running errands, and accessibility) heavily influence choice, often pushing users toward private cars.
Source : Link to survey results
Survey Insights
Through the survey we found that buses were the most preferred mode of commute as an alternative to driving in Seattle’s hilly and wet conditions. So we decided to understand the frustrations and motivations that surround the experience of taking a bus in Seattle through the interviews and experience sampling methods.
02
Interviews
Pain Points
Reliability & Tracking
Frequency & Availability
Safety
Lack of Flexibility
Terrain & Weather
Cost Sensitivity
Breakdowns in Service
Cleanliness
Comfort
Needs and Desires
Accurate Real-Time Tracking
Enhanced Safety
Higher Frequency & Express Options
Support for Flexible Travel
Community oriented travel
Infrastructure Upgrades
Accessibility Improvements
Cleanliness Focus
03
Experience Sampling
Users seek a balance of safety, speed, and comfort.
Reliability, frequency, and infrastructure are recurring pain points that directly affect daily decisions.
Emotional reassurance and comfort are just as important as functional efficiency when it comes to public transit.
Improving accessibility, real-time tracking, and travel experience could significantly boost public transportation adoption.
The User
012
The personas, their needs & their frustrations
Based on our primary and secondary research, it became clear that users have diverse needs, motivations, and expectations when it comes to transportation. Despite this variety, several key insights consistently emerged across participants.
To better understand and empathize with our target users and to effectively address their requirements, we developed two user personas that reflect common behaviors, pain points, and goals.
Common frustrations
013
🚧
Unreliable & Infrequent Public Transit
🚫
Safety & Comfort Concerns
🔒
Lack of Flexibility for Multi-Stop or Spontaneous Travel
Common needs
014
⏱️
Faster travel time and reliability of buses
🛡️
Safety especially when travelling at night
🔄
Flexibility to make stops and travel with others
How must we design
015
Design Principles
How do Seattle residents commute within the metropolitan area?
Enhance User Engagement: Create interactive and engaging elements at the bus stop to improve the waiting experience and keep users occupied while they wait.
Improve Communication and Information: Ensure real-time updates, schedule information, and important announcements are clearly communicated to users for better planning and awareness.
Prioritize Safety and Accessibility: Incorporate features that enhance security and accessibility, while also ensuring seamless connection with safety authorities to foster a safer and more inclusive environment
Exploring design ideas
016
Design Ideation
When we began ideating, we were encouraged to think of three types of solutions: one that uses existing technology, another that shifts the paradigm, and a third set in a dystopian future. Initially, we struggled to come up with ideas, but framing our thinking in this structured way helped us generate more creative solutions.
Applying a dystopian lens to revisit our ideas was incredibly useful. It pushed us to think outside the box, much like the technique of brainstorming "bad ideas" to kickstart creativity. This approach helped us explore unconventional perspectives and inspired fresh solutions.
We utilized AI to illustrate our ideas to help us visualize how the end solution would look.
Implementation
017
Final Intervention
Considering time, infrastructure, and systemic limitations, we ultimately decided to design a new bus stop kiosk, named EcoMotion. There are many systemic factors that influence one’s commuting decisions, and many of our initial solutions would be unrealistic as we could not address all of these issues at hand. Therefore, we decided to narrow down our scope and focus on one key part of the commuting experience: waiting at the bus stop.
User Testing
018
User Testing
Once the initial prototype was created, we conducted user testing with three users and discovered issues with kiosk accessibility and visual affordances. We had anticipated that the “SOS” button might cause apprehension, but our user group did not express any concerns about it.
To further evaluate usability, we tested the ergonomics of the bus stop kiosk using Augmented Reality (AR), which allowed us to simulate physical interactions and assess reachability and comfort for users, including those with disabilities. We also tested navigation and usability through interactive digital prototypes built in Figma. Based on insights from both testing methods, we repositioned some of the on-screen buttons towards the lower half for better accessibility. We also introduced features like screen readers and braille inscriptions to enhance inclusivity.
View the intervention in AR here:
(you will have to install the Adobe Aero Viewer to view it)
Consequences
019
Potential Impact
Our bus kiosk design aims to improve the public transportation experience by increasing accessibility of safety services, helping to foster a sense of community, and clearly surfacing important bus information to residents/visitors. The aim of these changes are to increase public bus use and thereby lowering emissions and environmental impact.
Scope
020
Future Scope
The current objective of this application is to debunk myths, raise awareness about menstruation and its significance, initiate dialogue among women, and ultimately empower them.
To achieve this and take the project forward the following could be done :
01
Government tie ups to promote the project to have better outreach
02
Integrating features to improve awareness in men of rural India as well.
03
Incorporating sections for inputting medicine intake to enhance accuracy and analysis
