Wander brings real-time transit information to your fingertips with interactive kiosks at transit stops and stations. Designed to make public transportation more reliable and accessible, these kiosks feature a "Plan a Route" tool with real-time tracking, updates on delays, and a crowd meter to help users plan stress-free journeys.
PROJECT CONTEXT
As the lead designer on the project, I developed an interactive and inclusive digital prototype for a kiosk focused on usability across diverse audiences, especially those without access to smartphones. I also collaborated closely with teammates to explore physical kiosk designs that balance functionality, accessibility, and user flow in a real-world transit environment.
See upcoming buses through real time tracking
Plan custom routes
Reload a Clipper Card
Crowd meter
Multi-language support
Screen collaspe
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WANDER KIOSK FEATURES
See schedule for buses on route
User are able to see the schedule for buses on route at their stop. Details such as time, crowd meter, and cost are included.
Plan your route
Similar to Apple or Google Maps, users are able to plan a custom route. When inputting a destination, Wander will display where to get off and a summary of the trip.
Clipper Card Reload
Users are able to reload and check the balance of their clipper card with the Wander kiosk.
❤️ THE PEOPLE ARE THE BEST PART!!!
THE LOVELY WANDER PROJECT TEAM @JACOBS SHOWCASE, WHERE WE WON 2ND PLACE! 🏆
WHY WANDER?
taken on public transportation by Americans in 2019
9.9 billion trips
people board public transportation,
each weekday
34 million times
time for those who have
real-time transit information than those without.
15% less waiting
PROJECT GOALS
make public transit information accessible and inclusive to all users
🚏
offer an intuitive and easy alternative that minimizes smartphone dependence
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ensure convienience, simplicity, and equity for all users at every step
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THE PROBLEM
⚠️ For individuals without personal mobile devices, accessing up-to-date transit info can be very difficult. Often times, physical maps at bus stops can be hard to read (due to wear/tear, etc.) & unreliable as updates on delays can't be shown.
Public transit users are often reliant on personal technology for their commute
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Users are often not provided with real-time public transit information including scheduling changes and delays.
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Physical public transit signage if often confusing to read, outdated, or damaged.
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Make public transit information accessible and inclusive to all users by minimizing the dependence on personal mobile devices.
⚠️ THE CHALLENGE
KEY FEATURES
IDEATION
We wanted to make sure that our interface was intuitive to navigate everyone regardless of their background with technology. We worked to develop an interface that was as simple as possible while still keeping Wanders fully functional.
🧠
To evaluate the interface’s usability, we conducted task completion tests, measuring both the time taken and the ease of navigation through our interactive prototype. Participants represented a wide range of ages and technological familiarity, from college students to older adults. Insights from these tests informed targeted refinements, ensuring that users of all backgrounds could complete tasks quickly and intuitively.
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We used testing insights to streamline navigation, add multi-language and accessibility features, and ensure the kiosk is usable for people of all ages and abilities.
✅
🧭 Streamlining navigation
I removed the kiosk’s opening page, replacing it with a schedule preview as the default view, accompanied by smaller alternative task options at the bottom to eliminate unnecessary steps for the user. I also changed the background from white to an off white color to minimize eye strain.
🌟 Enhanced Accessibilty and Inclusivity
We also introduced multi-language support for users whose first language is not English, as well as a collapsible interface mode that ensures children and users with limited reach can fully access all features.
🎨 Ensuring Visual Accessibility
All colors used throughout the kiosk were tested with a colorblindness simulator to ensure clear visibility for all users.
From these tests, we learned the importance of designing for inclusivity and simplicity, and how crucial it is for public installations. We noticed how current public transit information systems do not account for these specific audiences. To make public transit more inclusive in general, we needed to address the limitations faced by these user groups.
❗️TEAM REFLECTION
PHYSICAL KIOSK AND IMPLEMENTATION
Olivia led the design for the physical prototype. Through sketching and 3D printing, she created a minature version of what the actual kiosk would look like at a bus stop or station.
Physical
Kiosk
The kiosk is implemented into existing bus stops, featuring screens on both the front/back, and a compartment to recognize Clipper Cards and accept payments.
REFLECTIONS
Testing the UI with a diverse range of users was essential for uncovering usability and accessibility needs I hadn’t anticipated. Iterating after each round of feedback allowed me to refine navigation, streamline tasks, and ensure the interface worked seamlessly for people of all ages, abilities, and technological backgrounds.
🧪
Designing for a large-format kiosk screen—after primarily working on phone and laptop interfaces—pushed me to rethink layout, scale, and interaction patterns. This shift led to a more spacious, accessible design that made full use of the display while remaining intuitive to navigate.
🖥️
Collaborating with the team to prototype a physical product was a new and valuable challenge, as my past work had been entirely digital. Translating the interface into a tangible, real-world kiosk brought new considerations like ergonomics, reachability, and hardware constraints, which ultimately enriched my design process.
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PROJECTED IMPACT
expanding real-time transit access for 50,000 underserved riders daily
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addressing the needs of the 15% of riders without smartphones.
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