🥉 3rd place - UXL Blueprint Competition
Designing a sustainable and accessible travel app.
Despite a growing interest in eco-friendly transit, many commuters still rely on unsustainable travel options. Difficult transit systems, unreliable schedules, and accessibility issues make greener choices feel more difficult for everyday use.
OVERVIEW
TOOLS
Figma, Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Procreate
MY ROLE
Product Designer, UX Researcher
TIMELINE
Nov 2024 (3 week design challenge)
DESIGN CHALLENGE
How might we design sustainable travel options that increase efficiency while enhancing the quality of life for daily commuters?
THE SOLUTION
TransitBloom helps commuters plan routes using intuitive and inclusive design, and rewards that make eco-friendly choices feel practical and achievable.
PROCESS
What our competitors do:
Competitor Analysis
Clean, minimal interface — Prioritizes simplicity and lets users plan trips without visual clutter or unnecessary steps.
Detailed transit directions — Offers detailed guidance that walks users through their journey, reducing uncertainty for first-time riders.
Reliable real-time updates — Pulls live data across buses, trains, and other transit modes, keeping arrival times accurate.
RESEARCH
Why don’t people choose sustainable transit?
We studied 2 key groups:
Students who value speed and affordability; and
Seniors who require accessible routes.
Through interviews, competitor analysis, and market research, we discovered barriers that shape behaviours of commuters.
User Research
The real frustrations behind daily commuting…
Speaking with commuters showed that the challenge was more about uncertainty, stress, and lack of control. Students felt overwhelmed by unreliable transit systems, often relying more on Uber or driving because it felt more predictable. Seniors and users with mobility needs shared how inaccessible stations made many trips feel frustrating.
After, we knew that commuting decisions were shaped by convenience, and whether the transit system feels like it supports you.
Insights
We found that reliability and convenience are more important than simply having sustainable options available. If transit feels confusing or inconsistent, people are far less likely to choose it regardless of environmental benefits.
DEFINE
Redesigning Transit Around Real Barriers
From our research, it became clear that commuters don’t dislike sustainable transit; they just feel unsupported by already existing tools. Current apps fail to address accessibility, motivation, and uncertainty.
We defined TransitBloom as an all-in-one experience that connects real-time information, inclusive route planning, and eco-incentives to close the gap between intention and action.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
“Commuters face unreliable, inaccessible, and uninspiring transit experiences that make sustainable travel feel inconvenient and uncertain.”
DESIGN FOCUS
Reduce uncertainty with real-time updating routes
Support diverse mobility needs
Motivate greener choices through rewards
DESIGN
Low-Fidelity
Mapping out the core user structure
The first wireframes focused on key actions like transportation preferences, route planning, rewards system, and accessibility filters.
Med-Fidelity
Feedback from peers and mentors showed that users felt overwhelmed by the interface. Several screens lacked a clear visual hierarchy, accessibility options were hard to find, and the purple colour palette didn't align with the app's sustainability focus.
Final Design
We focused on strengthening both usability and visual identity. The original purple colour palette felt disconnected from the idea of green technology, so we shifted to a green-teal primary palette supported by dark green, black, and white for better readability and stronger sustainability branding.
We introduced clearer iconography, accessibility toggles, carbon-saving visuals, and an eco-points reward system. The final design below creates an experience that supports users to make greener commuting choices every day!
Redesign using feedback
RESULTS
What I learned
01. Sustainability needs motivation
Many users already care about the environment, but awareness alone does not change behaviour. Clear incentives and real-time reassurance is what drives intention into action.
02. Accessibility must be integrated from the start
Designing for seniors and users with mobility needs helped reinforce the idea that accessibility cannot be ignored. When accessibility options are built in from the start, the experience improves for everyone; not just those with specific needs.
03. Small UX decisions help shape our everyday habits
TransitBloom showed me how details such as colour choices and reward feedback can influence trust. Thoughtful UX decisions can make sustainable commuting feel easier, more rewarding, and part of a daily routine.
Designed with ❤️ (and a lot of Figma).
Toronto, ON