case study for a Parking and Charging Mobile App UI/UX project

1. Project Overview

 Project Name: Car parking and charging

 Project Type: UI/UX Design for a mobile application focused on parking and
charging solutions.
 Timeline: 6 weeks
 Role: UI/UX designer. (Student)
 Tools Used: Figma, Canva
 Platform: Android

2. Problem Statement

 User Needs: “Users often struggle to find parking spots and charging stations for
their electric vehicles (EVs), leading to frustration and wasted time.”
 Business Needs: Reducing optional cost and increase customer engagement.
 Target Audience: EV owners, busy urban professionals, tourists.
 Goal: To help user easily find parking spots and EV charging stations nearby from
current location, offering real time available data, streamline payments.

3. Research & Discovery

 User Interviews/Surveys:

o Stress and Expense: Users experience stress over parking availability and
perceive it as expensive.
o Inconvenient Scheduling: Users often adjust their schedules to comply with
parking regulations, leading to inconvenience.
o Driving Habits: Driving behaviors vary based on location and job
requirements.
o Trust in Professionals: Users prefer professional services that are credible and
come recommended.
o Willingness to Pay: Users are willing to pay between $10–35 for a one-time
use of a parking app's service.
 Competitive Analysis:

Analyzing similar apps like ParkMobile and ChargePoint reveals:

o ParkMobile: Offers features such as real-time parking availability,

reservation options, and payment processing. Strengths include a user-friendly
interface and widespread adoption. Weaknesses involve occasional
inaccuracies in parking availability data and limited coverage in certain areas.

o ChargePoint: Provides a network of electric vehicle charging stations with

real-time availability and payment options. Strengths include a large network
of charging stations, user-friendly technology, and partnerships with major
automakers. Weaknesses include high initial investment costs for
infrastructure deployment and dependence on government incentives and
subsidies.

 User Personas:

o Alex, 35: A working professional who often drives to work in the city. He is
an electric vehicle (EV) owner and needs a quick way to find both parking and
charging stations.
o Sarah, 28: A freelancer who frequently travels for work. She values
convenience and is willing to pay a premium for reliable parking solutions.
o John, 45: A small business owner who uses his vehicle for deliveries. He
requires efficient parking solutions to minimize downtime.

 User Journey Mapping:

o Searching for Parking: Users open the app to find available parking spots
near their destination.
o Selecting a Spot: Users choose a parking spot based on proximity, price, and
availability.
o Booking: Users reserve the spot, often paying a fee through the app.
o Navigating: Users receive directions to the parking spot.
o Parking: Users park their vehicle and may need to check in via the app.
o Payment: Users pay for the parking session, either in advance or upon
completion.
o Feedback: Users rate their experience, providing valuable feedback for
service improvement.
  Identified Pain Points:

o Inaccurate Availability Data: Users encounter discrepancies between app

data and actual parking availability.
o Complex Payment Processes: Multiple steps or unclear instructions can
make payments cumbersome.
o Limited Coverage: Some areas lack sufficient parking options, leading to
frustration.
o Technical Issues: App crashes or slow load times disrupt the user experience.

4. Ideation & Concept Development

Concept Name: ParkEase

A smart parking app that simplifies finding parking spaces, booking spots, and paying
seamlessly. It integrates real-time availability, dynamic pricing, EV charging stations,
and user-friendly navigation to offer a stress-free parking experience.

Brainstorming:

Key Value Proposition:

o Stress-Free Parking: Reduce the stress of finding parking spots and allow
users to book parking in advance.
o Flexibility & Convenience: Offer an app that accommodates different
schedules and driving habits.
o Reliable & Trustworthy Services: Deliver accurate, up-to-date parking
availability and charge users only when the spot is truly available.
o Professional Services: Feature well-reviewed and professional services that
users can trust, including EV charging stations.

Core Features:

o Real-Time Availability & Reservation: Show real-time data for parking

availability with the option to reserve spots.
o Payment Integration: Easy and transparent payment methods, from
booking fees to hourly/daily rates, with support for EV charging.
o EV Charging Stations: Display and allow booking of EV charging stations
integrated into the parking spot reservations.
 o User Reviews & Trust Badges: Enable users to review parking spots, and
provide trust badges for verified, reliable locations.
o Smart Navigation: Offer navigation to available parking spots with GPS
integration.
o Dynamic Pricing & Discounts: Feature adaptive pricing based on location,
time, and availability, with occasional discounts or loyalty rewards.
o Location-Based Search: Automatically detect users' locations and suggest
parking spots nearby.
o Booking Confirmation & Check-In: A quick, easy check-in/check-out
process to confirm when the user arrives and departs from the spot.
o Multiple Payment Methods: Support various payment options including
credit card, PayPal, and digital wallets.

5. Wireframing & Prototyping

 Wireframes: Develop low-fidelity wireframes (either hand-drawn or digital) to

organize and structure the app’s layout.
o Focus on user-centered design with simple, intuitive navigation.
 Prototyping: Create a high-fidelity prototype that reflects your vision for the app.
o You can use tools like Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch to design interactive
prototypes that demonstrate transitions, interactions, and behaviors of the app.
 Iterate: Share your prototype with team members or users and iterate based on
feedback.

6. UI Design

 Visual Design: Move into high-fidelity UI design, considering:

o Color Scheme: Choose a color palette that resonates with the app’s function
(e.g., green for sustainability, blue for calmness, etc.).
o Typography: Use legible fonts with clear hierarchy for headings, body text,
and labels.
o Icons: Choose or design icons that are intuitive, especially for actions like
"Find Spot," "Reserve," or "Pay."
o Imagery: Use imagery that aligns with the app's goals. You could incorporate
images of cars, parking lots, EVs, or charging stations.
 Branding: If the app has branding (either existing or created), ensure consistency in
fonts, colors, and overall tone.
7. Usability Testing

 User Testing: Conduct usability tests with your target users. Gather feedback on the
usability of the design, ease of navigation, and functionality of features.
 Changes and Iterations: Based on user testing feedback, make necessary
adjustments to improve usability or enhance user experience.
 A/B Testing: If possible, run A/B tests on different designs to evaluate which version
performs better.

8. Final Design & Solution

 Final Screens: Showcase the final UI screens with annotations. Display the app’s
most important pages (e.g., home screen, map view, parking details, payment
interface, etc.).
 Prototype: Link to an interactive prototype or provide screenshots of key flows.
 Design Rationale: Explain why you chose certain design elements. For example,
"The map view is prominent on the home screen because it’s the first action users will
likely take when they open the app."

9. Results & Impact

 User Feedback: If available, include any positive user feedback or metrics from
usability tests.
 Lessons Learned: Share what you learned during the process. What worked well, and
what would you change if you had more time or resources?
 Future Recommendations: What features could be added in future updates (e.g.,
social sharing, rewards for using the app, integration with smart parking meters)?

10. Conclusion

Summarize the entire project. Highlight how the design addressed the core problems and how
it improves the user experience for those in need of parking and EV charging solutions. If
possible, include any next steps or future considerations for the app.

Example Case Study Structure

1. Introduction: Project Overview, Role, and Tools

2. Problem Statement: User and Business Needs, Target Audience, Project Goal
3. Research: Insights from User Interviews, Competitive Analysis, User Personas
4. Ideation: Brainstorming, Features, User Flows, Initial Sketches
5. Wireframing & Prototyping: Low-fidelity to high-fidelity prototypes, Iteration
 6. UI Design: Visual Design, Branding, Iconography, Typography
7. Usability Testing: Test Results and Feedback, Design Adjustments
8. Final Design: Final Screens and Interactions
9. Impact & Results: How the design improved user experience, future improvements
10. Conclusion: Key Takeaways, Lessons Learned

By following this structured approach, you'll be able to effectively communicate your design
process and showcase your work in a comprehensive and professional manner.