The outcome
My design outcome includes an added feature of the current Starbucks Mobile App, as well as a Starbucks coffee booth design that works together to provide a convenient self-serve solution to Starbucks customers.
The app interaction is made in Figma and After Effects.
Spark is a product that helps travelers build connections through good coffee and great conversation.
Timeline
Deliverables
Team
12 weeks
Design Thinking
User Journey
Service Blueprint
Information Architecture
High-Fi Prototype
Interface Design
Product 3D Modeling
Me, myself and I
CURRENT SITUATION
When waiting for flights, travelers usually purchase a drink or use their mobile devices to pass the time
When travelers are at an airport and waiting for airlines, they are either very intense in catching flights, or they are bored and turn to electronic devices to kill time. There are very few chances to speak to a traveler at an airport, especially during the covid-19 pandemic time.
PROBLEM
Travelers are unable to obtain fresh coffee at the airport after the store shuts
When travelers are at an airport and waiting for airlines, they are either very intense in catching flights, or they are bored and turn to electronic devices to kill time. There are very few chances to speak to a traveler at an airport, especially during the covid-19 pandemic time.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Provide convenient coffee self-service and encourage users to build connection and share coffee time in the mobile app to enhance social interaction
In the United States, airports offer few self-service food and beverage options. Creating a solution that enables people to easily acquire fresh drinks would be beneficial in resolving the existing issue.
Final Delivery, modelled in Solidworks
Discover
Quantitive Analysis
During the discovery phase, I conducted questionnaires to ascertain user needs and expectations and to gain insight into target consumers' attitudes. I obtained 47 valid poll responses from those who travel at least once a year.
The feelings People Have When Waiting for Flights
Behaviors When Waiting for Flights and Attitudes towards Receive a Free Coffee
1:1 Interviews
Additionally, I performed interviews to learn more about my target user group and better inform the creation of personas, journey maps, features, and workflow concepts.
Define
Pain Points
1. Requires time spent on standing in line to make a purchase at a traditional coffee shop
2. The traditional coffee shop closes at a specified time
3. It's highly unlikely that you'll get an opportunity to interact with other buyers
User Goals
1. I can save more time
2a. When I am at the airport, I can purchase a coffee at any time
2b. I can purchase coffee for another person
3. I can take advantage of this opportunity to meet new people and promote interaction.
Persona
Develop
Equitable-focused Design Concept
After doing an in-depth investigation of passengers' behaviors and the limitations of conventional coffee shops, I identified an opportunity to create an online platform that allows travelers from different airports to connect, enjoy coffee, and exchange information freely without having to meet face to face.
Service Blueprint
User Story 1
As a frequent traveler but rather a shy person, I'd like to make new friends that live in different cities and get to know their own unique stories and experiences.
FEATURE 1
Share, Connect, Talk (User Goal 3)
User Story 2
As a coffee lover, I want to be able to purchase a coffee or drink more easily at an airport, without having to queue or communicate with a stranger.
FEATURE 2
Purchase Coffee, Share Coffee Time (User Goal 1 & 2)
Prototype
Product Design
Product Development
By doing visual research and shape explorations, I finally narrowed down on two different design ideas and modeled and rendered them in Solidworks and Keyshot.
Mood Board
Sketches
A/B Test
To decide which design is better, I conducted A/B test on both of the models. I invited over ten people to provide thoughts. And the first design for the coffee vending machine failed due to the presence of too many stiff edges and a bulky appearance. Rather than following a specific coffee machine stand on a table, people believe that attaching it to the wall will save more room in an airport and make it easier for passengers to engage with.
VS
✖ A
✔ B
Usability Test
After completing the user interface design for both the mobile device platform and the product platform and showing it to more than ten users, one major piece of feedback drew my attention, and I realized I had overlooked one critical feature when designing for an across-platform product: consistency.
When designing a product, it is important to maintain consistency across platforms and to keep to the brand identity. It will help improve the user experience and build trust, because users can expect the design to feel familiar across platforms and products.
And my previous mobile app UI design used a different color scheme than the coffee machine. I had to redesign each page to maintain a similar visual appearance.
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Keep consistency across platforms
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Improve continuity, create seamless experience
Product and Interface Design
Selected Pages, Before Usability Study
Selected Pages, After Usability Study
Interface
App Icon and Logo
Color Palette
Buttons
Icons
Deliver
Q&A Forum
Share Stories
QR Code
Key takeaways
Identify user needs and conduct user testing
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By breaking difficult processes down into manageable parts, I can make each step less overwhelming and alleviate some of the pressure. Sometimes, the process is not linear, and users should be allowed to transition between steps.
Future iterations
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The following necessary stages will mostly focus on determining the following:
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If users continue to use this app after leaving the airport
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How to make business profit? Is it a good idea to put ads or perhaps charging a service fee each time a user places an order?
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