Drive United-Buddy
Category: Service Design
Tools: InDesign, Photoshop, Figma
Contribution: Ideation, Research, Proposal Drafting/Individual Project
Background
This project focuses on how design can contribute to improved everyday wellbeing.
My goal is to develop innovative practical ideas and strategic design responses to driving pressure that affects solo
commuting drivers.
“Commuting is one of life's least pleasurable activities.
80% of driving stress arise for private car commuters.
And solo drivers suffer more……"
From Buddy Proposal
Process
In the first half of the 12-week project I developed a draft guide to improve solo driving commuters' mental health by
highlighting the need and proposing an opportunity to embed positive mental health into their daily lives.
The second part I designed a response to the proposal with a clear rational for the design strategy and implementation
to address the audience’s needs.
1
Primary Research
2
Secondary Research
3
Define
4
Prototype
5
Test
6
Refine
Audience
A Typical day for Mark
7:40 Gets up in the Monday morning.
8:15 Begins to drive form Manuka to CBD branch alone.
8:20 Mark Passes his neighbor—Ling's house.
She just starts her car with the bag in the passenger seat.
8:45 It is peak time so unsurprisingly Mark got jammed
on the highway and 15 minutes has been passed.
8:55 Feels like trapped in an iron cocoon: Isolating, annoying and stressful.
9:10 There is a meeting at 9:00, but Mark's car is still stuck in traffic. He's feeling very anxious about his lateness.
9:15 Finally arrives in the office after spending 55 minutes driving in a 20km route. When getting off, Mark notices that Ling's car was also parked nearby.
……
Feels exhausted and bad in mood during the rest of the workday. After work, Mark still needs to drive home.
Barriers/ Opportunities
Design Challenge
How might we
Create a Carpool Solution that
Motivates and Facilitates
Commuters to Share Rides
by enhancing
their Connections?
Final Proposal
Conclusion
My final proposal provides a creative idea for motivating commuters to carpool by enhancing social connections.
This not only provides a point of difference with other car-sharing apps, but it also responds meaningfully to concepts of well-being.
I did well in responding feedback to develop a conceptual approach highlighting the community aspect of my initiative, as this was the project’s unique point of difference. This was evident through the proposition for the posters and social media, which are much more compelling and relevant than my earlier iterations. The Buddy app also had a range of well-considered features, including connecting directly with carpool buddies. The ability to track the positive contribution to the environment and the funding of planting of trees is also a highlight in my design.
The things I need to be refine further is my typographic detailing. I'll improve it by researching greater visual and drawing off examples that inspire me.