CASE STUDY
GRANAMAPP
Overview
An urban mobility app focused on providing users with all the necessary information about the public transport network of the city of Granada in a quick and easy way
Details
Personal project
UI Design
2022
Beyond a mobility problem
Despite having several lines of urban and metropolitan buses, as well as light rail, Granada does not have an unified app where users can make queries and obtain information on the status of public transport in the city. Another problem is the abscense of a single pass that can be used for the different means of transport.
As a solution to these problems I decided to design an app where public transport users could access the necessary information at any time and be notified about possible incidents in the service. The app also contains a system to validate and recharge transport passes, thus solving the problem with the lack of a single transport pass.
Similar apps
Before diving into the design of the app itself I analyzed existing urban mobility apps in Andalusia and in three Spanish cities with an important public transport network such as Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. I decided to analyze these apps instead of more general and popular ones in order to study how they adapted to their local environments. In order to design an app about Granada I needed to know how the apps of other cities worked.
A familiar design
The app had to be intutive and accessible to all type of users, from those more familiar with new technologies to those with a greater difficulty in the use of mobile applications. The design of the app is inspired in the aesthetics of Granada's city buses, highlighting the use of the color red and rounded corners as they are familiar and quickly identifiable elements.
Before designing the app, I made simple paper sketches with annotations that ultimately would transform into digital wireframes that served to define the visual aspect of the app as well as its sections and interactivity. The study of the previous apps demonstrated that most of them followed a very similar structure and order.
The app seeks to allow users to access the most relevant content in a quick and easy way.
It is not only an app to check the status of public transport, but also an urban mobility tool that allows users to see full itineraries without having to leave the app.
One of most remarkable aspects is the ability to use the app itself as a transport pass. This way, users can access all their travel passes from one single place.
Conclusion
Although it tries to solve some of the most important problems of public transport in the city, an app of these characteristics runs the risk of not being used by the users to whom it is addressed and that they end up opting for another better known alternative. However, the app has some features, such as its use as a transport pass, which are not present in other apps. This added to its more 'local' character can serve to build loyalty among many users.