Role
Product designer
Timeline
September, 2022 - December, 2022
Group
Caoyang Shen
Minshan Tang
Tools
Figma
Miro
Background
What if we implement Google co-working system within Google Maps?
Drivers bear full responsibility for route planning and collecting riders' locations, leading to driver overwhelm and rider frustration due to lack of involvement.
Consequently, Minshan and I are contemplating delegating more responsibilities to our passengers, thus enabling drivers to concentrate on driving.
Design Challenge
How might riders can co-work with drivers on Google Maps?
Solutions
1. Enable riders to participate in the route plan
2. Multiple navigation modes according to shared route plan
Riders may request permission to edit the route from the driver, who can grant access through the list page or carplay page. Once completed, the revised course will be updated in real-time. Riders may continue editing until the driver locks down the route.
Drivers have the option to follow the order of the list or choose the most convenient and cost-effective route to begin the trip. We also provide the flexibility to modify the selection during the drive with just one tap.
Research·Heuristic Evaluation
1. New list may be important for users than new saved locations
The system did not place the recently edited list on the top but placed the recently saved locations, which may cause user confusion.
(Recognition rather than recall)
2. Users can’t start navigation directly through saved list
Participants can only add and view the places in the list. However, navigation is their final goal.
(User control and freedom)
3. Real-time location sharing is inconvenient
Sharing the real-time location is complicated and deeply hidden. Drivers cannot share their real-time location with people on the same route plan.
(Flexibility and efficiency of use)
(Visibility of system status)
Research·Context Inquiry Interview
Research·User Journey
Following our contextual inquiry interview, we discovered that users often encounter obstacles when planning trips with other riders. Although the list in the saved section is intended for collaboration, users find it unhelpful and difficult to comprehend.
Research·Persona
People not only need Map to navigate accurately, but also expect Map to create more convenience.
Age: 35
Occupation: Carpooler Mom
Location: Mountain View, CA
Car Brand: Lexus
Mona Simpson
Age: 25
Occupation: Student
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Car Brand: Audi
Steve Scoot
Research·Competitor Analysis
Direct competitor
Apple Map has a more advanced location-sharing feature. Riders can receive notifications when drivers start and arrive.
Analogous comparator
Passengers can change the destination before and during the ride and send it to the driver promptly.
Zenly allows people to know others’ moving speeds when they travel to certain places.
Design·Wireframe
Our redesign focused on changes based on the original design of “the saved” and the pain points of participants.
Divide lists into two categories, created by you and shared with you.
The most recent trip will always be at the top.
Riders can participate in the trip plan and send the revised routes to the driver.
Users can start navigation directly from the list and can choose the efficient way or not if there are several stops.
Design·User Flow
Driver’s flow
Rider’s flow
Hi-Fi Prototypes
Organization
In our subsequent design, we have categorized lists into two distinct groups since the features for drivers and riders differ significantly.
Convenience
Drivers can allow the riders to see their location and edit the route with one tap.
Effciency
Drivers can choose the certain way according to the order of places in the list, or they can choose a more efficient way with the help of our algorithm to save more time.
Transparency
Riders can track the location of the driver in real-time, which enables them to determine when they should begin preparing for pickup. This feature also simplifies the process of locating the pickup point for riders.
Safety
Riders are unable to modify the route freely; instead, they must obtain permission from the driver. We have taken inspiration from Uber's design, and updates to the route will be made upon submission rather than in real-time.
Reflection
Why does Google not implement the features of sharing and collaboration in Maps?
Safety
Our design provides drivers with the ability to grant permission for riders to make edits. However, at present, the button grants permissions to everyone on the list to prevent drivers from engaging in complex tasks while driving. Consequently, riders may collaborate to modify the map and frequently alter the route plan, which increases the risk of driving. Moving forward, we aim to develop a safer design that empowers drivers to regulate permissions.
Convenience
Although the "Saved" section presents an excellent opportunity for improvement, Google may prioritize other areas due to budget constraints. However, our design facilitates collaborative trip planning with just one tap, even enabling individuals in a single car to join a group. This permits riders to assist drivers without requiring prior group membership. Nonetheless, we must analyze additional user statistics to support the design's value, particularly regarding development complexity and budgetary considerations.
