Traverse - Mobile App + IoT Device Prototype

UX Challenge

The goal of this effort was to design a medium fidelity IoT device and supporting mobile app that improves the experience of international travel by addressing the need for users to stay safe and secure their possessions. I worked with one other designer on this project.

Design Solution

Traverse is a prototype for a GPS-enabled luggage tag that communicates with a mobile app. My teammate and I focused on how a user could reduce stress by gaining better control over their personal belongings while traveling. The key project elements include a GPS-enabled luggage tag that would alert the user to a lost-bag (based on the location of the user's phone), a way to establish trip itineraries by uploading relevant travel information and documentation into a single location, a tip-sharing feature where users who speak the same language could share experiences at restaurants, stores, etc. while traveling abroad, and other features.

The following video prototype illustrates how the luggage tag would integrate with the mobile app: 

Design Process

Brainstorming & Storyboarding

Early on in the project, the team took part in storyboarding, whiteboard ideation, and sketching to develop preliminary ideas. Interviews with potential users at the onset and throughout the project were critical in the development and evolution of product features. Our goal during this phase was to identify pain-points in the travel process that have been overlooked or had opportunities to be improved upon further through an IoT device.

Low Fidelity Prototype

We also created a paper-in-screen prototype during early iterations of the design. This enabled sketches to be assembled into an interactive prototype that would inform our later design choices.

High Fidelity Prototype

At the end of the design process, we made a high fidelity interactive prototype built in Axure with much of the proposed functionality developed. Many of the features integrate with the Luggage Tag prototype, including device onboarding, and luggage tracking. Some of the key workflows we developed include log-in, luggage tag registration, travel document management, a lost-bag scenario, and more. For a better explanation of what the app does as well as the functioning workflows, please review the Interactive App Prototype and Traverse Design Brief below.