WHAT
This project focuses on researching how elderly users experience current transportation apps, particularly the challenges they face with digital interfaces. To address these challenges, it proposes a prototype for a travel wallet app, a potential step toward creating more universally inclusive transportation solutions. In addition, the project seeks to raise awareness of the importance of designing with diverse user groups in mind within the field of UI and UX design.

WHY
The topic of this research was chosen because of earlier experience working on age-friendly transportation during the practical training period in this master’s program. That experience sparked an interest in how digital transportation tools can be made more accessible for elderly users. Many older adults struggle with transportation apps due to low levels of digital literacy. This issue is especially relevant today, as the digital environment continues to evolve rapidly, often without considering elderly users. This project aims to develop solutions rooted in elderly users’ actual experiences and challenges. The broader potential lies in contributing to a more inclusive digital environment and raising awareness about the importance of including elderly users in the design process.

HOW
This project adopted a qualitative research approach guided by the Double Diamond model and grounded in service design, UI/UX design, and universal design principles. A user-centered design process was followed to explore the challenges elderly users face when navigating transportation apps. From this, a travel wallet prototype was developed. The prototype introduces features like a flex ticket, which allows users to purchase a ticket and activate it anytime within a five-day window, removing the pressure of planning travel in advance. Another feature is a widget that keeps the ticket visible on the home screen after purchase, making it easier to locate when needed. A visual element was also added to the trip planning flow, showing images and a map of the departure and destination points, which helps users feel more familiar and confident when traveling to new places.

The project included several research activities: workshops with elderly participants and expert designers, interviews with professionals who support elderly users with technology, as well as interviews with an expert in universal design and a senior designer working with transportation apps. The prototype was tested through two rounds of user testing and an expert review. Figma was used to design the prototype, and each step of the process aimed to involve relevant stakeholders to gather meaningful feedback.