Travel App - ATM Locator & Currency Converter

Project Background
I’m creating a new app to help global travelers find an easy and quick way to exchange and attain currency when abroad. We need to find if the main user experience of our currency calculator and ATM locator is easy to navigate.

Research Questions

• If it is useful, when would the user use the currency calculator when wanting to exchange money? 

• What filters would help locate their type of ATM? 

• What do they expect in their settings menu?

• How can I make this accessible to blind / deaf/hard of hearing

• What kind of “feedback” are we expecting to get from the ATM? 

• How many filters is enough? Or helpful?

Methodology

• Moderated Usability Study

• Each session lasted 30 minutes to 1hr and would include an introduction, a list of tasks 

• Location: United States, Remote (participants will go through the usability study in their own homes on an interactive lo-fi prototype, through Google meeting, webcam /presenting screen)

AFFINITY DIAGRAM

User interview data was grouped in common themes to come up with insights and updates on next version of low-fidelity wireframes and then to the hi-fidelity prototype.

RESEARCH INSIGHTS

1. Based on the theme that: the three line hamburger menu is difficult to find for almost all users or proves to be confusing, an insight is: I need to design a more recognizable symbol or icon for the filter

2. Based on the theme that: the currency conversion would be used in a variety of activities outside of travel, an insight is: my app could be used outside of just travel, including online shopping, daily grocery shopping, or business opportunities.

3. Based on the theme that: half of the users want transparency and trust from our application, an insight is: make the user feedback available for the other users to see.

4. Based on the theme that: most of the users want options to choose from for feedback, an insight is: they want a quick and easy way to handle their feedback and don’t want to take the time to comment unless it’s a big or specific difficulty.

5. Based on the theme that:  there were interactivity issues with the prototype, an insight is: I need to make the interactions smoother for a more intuitive experience.

6. Based on the theme that: my participants had an easy time finding an “ATM near me”, an insight is: I need to keep that button available in the final prototype and make my location pinpoints clear as well as the position the user is at.

Filter Button Updates

• Filter - I’ve changed the location of the filter from the search bar to bottom central near navigation

• During my usability study 5 out of 6 users struggled to find the filter button

• A few stressed that they would like to have access to the filter before they search, so I placed it in a more obvious area.

• I plan to have a better symbol/icon to symbolize the filter button during my visual design journey

• When I gave my users the task to find an ATM “near me” about half of them couldn’t locate themselves first, so I made sure to add a cursor for their own location.