Houssian.com

 

Concept

This was conceived for CHI2007 student design competition, it's purpose is to promote public transportation. We found studies that show that single occupant vehicles (SOV) were the dominant form of business travel (whether it be driving to a destination or a rental car). Independent research shows that given timely useful information many people are willing to try public transportation. By partnering with those that plan events such as conferences and seminars (a HUGE industry) we totally change the use context and become the primary avenue of information about a location for business travelers. A copy of the paper is here, and it contains all the relevant research. Please click on the image for a pdf version that is larger. This was originally a 3'x4' (actually A0) poster so neither really does it justice.

Process

We used a human-centered, iterative design process and involved potential users throughout, including focus groups, cognitive walkthroughs, and user testing. We made it to the finals at the conference.

Lessons Learned

I experienced the strength of a good team with varying skills. I learned that even when you have a great design that people want to see built, it doesn't mean someone will actually pay to see it through to completion--i.e. the difference between concept and execution. Good design takes time and dedication!