TransitBloom: Smarter Sustainable Travel

Designing an app that empowers commuters with efficient, eco-friendly, and accessible transit solutions all in one place.

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Transit Bloom Case Study

UI Design *tags

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OVERVIEW

Project Background

My team and I (2 *name roles*) competed in a _____. The prompt challenged us to _____

DESIGN CHALLENGE

How might we design sustainable travel options that increase efficiency while enhancing the quality of life for daily commuters?

SOLUTION

Design an app where users are able to plan sustainable routes, earn points for eco-friendly travel, view accessibility options, and enjoy a personalized, streamlined commuting experience.

DESIGN PROCESS

Research

EMPHATHIZE

Project type: Design challenge

Methods: Wireframes, Logo creation, Mood board, Responsive Design, Prototype

Role: UI/UX Designer

Duration: Nov 24 (48 hour design challenge)

Tools: Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Procreate

Research Goals

To design an effective solution, my partner and I conducted market research, competitive analysis, and user research to better understand the transportation market and the needs of urban commuters in Canada.

Before diving into research, we established clear objectives and developed a structured plan to guide our process:

  1. Identify daily pain points, such as congestion, delays, accessibility;

  2. Assess how commuters make sustainable choices and what motivates/prevents them;

  3. Assess how travel costs influence commuter behaviour and the appeal of eco-friendly incentives;

  4. Examine importance of catering to the needs of those with limited mobility.

Market Research

We began by exploring industry trends, consumer behaviours, and government initiatives influencing transportation in Canada.

✅ STRENGTHS

  • Simple, user-friendly interface

  • Real-time transit data

❌ WEAKNESS

  • Lacks sustainability tracking

Insight

Commuters face unpredictable transit delays and lack of accessible routes

Existing apps lack clear incentives and personalized recommendations

Current apps don’t sufficiently support users with low mobility or sensory needs

MICHAEL

“I want to save time but don’t want to spend money driving!”

Age: 21 years old

Occupation: University Student

Location: Mississauga

Bio

Michael is a post-secondary student from Mississauga who drives to school to Waterloo frequently. He needs a frequent, easy, and cheap option to get to Waterloo frequently. 

Pain Points & Objections

  • Bus schedules are too complex to plan out

  • Driving is more convenient 

  • No real incentive to take the bus

Transit App

Market Trends

Rise of sustainable transportation

  • According to Statistics Canada 2023, Canada’s commitment to reducing emissions has led to greater adoption of eco-friendly travel options.

Urban infrastructure investment

  • Over $1.5 billion has been allocated to Toronto’s smart transit projects, with a focus on real-time updates and digital connectivity (City of Toronto, 2024).

Consumer Trends

Growing demand for accessibility

  • With 27% of Canadians living with a disability, there is an increasing need for inclusive and accessible transportation solutions (Canadian Survey on Disability, 2022).

Impact of rewards and incentives

  • 81% of millennials are influenced by reward programs, presenting an opportunity for engagement-driven transit experiences (Deloitte, 2024).

Competitive Analysis

After gaining insights from market and user research, we analyzed two existing transportation apps to identify strengths, weaknesses, and potential gaps in the market. This competitive analysis helped uncover opportunities to differentiate the product and enhance the user experience.

Moovit App

✅ STRENGTHS

  • Detailed public transit navigation

  • Live updates on routes

❌ WEAKNESS

  • No carbon footprint tracking or incentive-based system

Personas

Based on research findings, my partner and I developed preliminary two user personas to represent key commuter groups and their needs— meet Michael and Kristine! These personas guided design decisions to create a user-centered experience.

DEFINE

Defining the Problems

Commuters face daily frustrations due to transit delays, inaccessible routes, and a lack of personalized recommendations. While existing apps provide basic navigation, they often overlook accessibility needs and fail to incentivize sustainable choices. To bridge these gaps, we identified key user challenges and needs, shaping our design focus.

Needs

Michael needs one app, with real-time, reliable transit information to reduce uncertainty

Michael needs a system that rewards eco-friendly behaviour

Kristine, an individual with low mobility, needs accessible route options

HMW

How might we design an app that provides sustainable, efficient, and inclusive travel options while also enhancing the sense of community for daily commuters?