SUMMARY
For this project, the challenge was to improve or add a single feature to an existing website. I chose to improve the Timeout New York site, which is great for browsing new events or places to go, but lacks utility and organization for someone wanting to catalogue these places. A problem existing visitors faced was having to copy and write down their desired events in external locations. My solution was to adding a geographically-displayed "favorites" feature.
YEAR
2020
PURPOSE
School
TOOLS
Figma
STYLE GUIDE AND REFERENCES
The design system relied on that of the existing website, as the assignment was to improve a single feature. Overall, I designed 10 screens, first low-fidelity versions and then high-fidelity.
The simple color palette was employed and buttons were created to match the originals.
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New visual design elements included the map pin icon, as well as the heart, or favorite icon. Both icons have a default and selected state, or an active and inactive state.
BUTTON 1
BKND
#FFFFFF
TEXT
#1A1A1A
ACCENT 1
#C63B36
ACCENT 2
#F3F3F3
DEFAULT
ACTIVE
SELECTED
INACTIVE
BUTTON 2
LOW FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
The first deliverable of the project was a low fidelity version of the journey, which at first had a hide/show map option.
HIGH FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
For usability purposes, I decided to insert the map view as a default to minimize the clicks required to view the total information.
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Additionally, given the context of the website as an events and places resource, I realized the the location of the places was of primary importance. With this new feature, a visitor to the website can keep track of the places they want to go, and see what other favorited places are close by.
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The final deliverable was an interactive prototype that showcased the improved feature of the Timeout New York website. Here, the website visitors save events and places from either the listing in an article or its expanded view, and navigate to the favorites section of the profile. From there, they can remove favorites, and view them on a map by clicking either on the pins or the listing. Doing either action expands the dropdown where they can view a summary or visit the original event page. (Interactivity can be seen in the video above.)
REFLECTION
If I had more time with project, I had various ideas to scale up the favorites feature. To further increase the utility of the website and feature, I would have created the ability for people to select the specific region of New York they were in, the distance they were willing to travel, the mode of transport they would like to take, and the amount of time that they had. Given all of these inputs, the feature would output and recommend various agendas for the day that incorporated their favorite places within a given distance in a given time using a given mode of transport. The visitor would then be able to share this agenda with others they may be traveling with.
