B2C Travel survey application design
The project was part of an interdisciplinary research project called "Migrant Integration in the Mid-21st Century, Bridging Divides", a collaboration between Toronto Metropolitan University and Concordia University's Department of Information Systems. The project aimed to explore how mobility patterns influence the integration of migrants into urban environments, focusing on accessibility, inclusion, and systemic barriers.
Duration
10 months
My Role
User interface and graphic designer
Team Members
Mollika Chakraborty, Issac Otchere and Henrique De Freitas Serra
Softwares Used
Figma, Adobe Illustrator, After Effects, Flutter
DESIGN PROBLEM
Travel surveys ask for personal data without giving users a clear reason to care.
The design challenge was twofold: first, to make participation feel meaningful and worth the user’s effort by clearly communicating how sharing travel data benefits them and contributes to a larger purpose. Second, we explored how a website based experience could be translated into an app while maintaining clarity, accessibility, and ease of use.
KEY DESIGN DECISIONS
Framing the app as a platform where participation feels valuable rather than intrusive
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
The competiton had less transparancy than the users deserve
The competitor mobility apps often feel like research tools rather than user friendly products. They provide limited motivation, weak reward loops, and minimal transparency around data collection. Users get little control to review or correct tracked trips and simply trust automation. According to my design research, they are more about the mobility patterns than user journey and integration in a new environment.
INTERVIEW AND FEEDBACK
Montréal commuters are in distress
User interviews revealed that many Montreal commuters feel frustrated with unreliable and infrequent bus service. They were more willing to share travel data when they understood it could directly support transit planners in improving routes, frequency, and service reliability.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1) How might we make travel data collection feel valuable rather than intrusive? 2) How can we communicate “why this data matters” in under 30 seconds? 3) What motivates users to complete surveys consistently over time? 4) Which rewards feel ethical, relevant, and worth the effort? 5) How much control do users need to trust the app? 6) How can we reduce confusion when the app tracks trips incorrectly? 7) How can we design the experience so it works for low-effort, everyday use?
USER PERSONA
MAIN INSIGHTS
Users are more likely to participate in our app because it clearly shows what they’re contributing to, what they gain from it, and gives them control over their data.
DESIGN
Setbacks + design decisions
This project highlighted the gap between design and development. Working through multiple iterations due to technical constraints taught me to use auto layout and build design systems that translate smoothly into development. The biggest challenge was initial ambiguity around the app’s purpose, which made early iterations exploratory. While the design (onboarding, simple language, self-explanatory icons, etc.) helped clarify direction, some sections remain underdeveloped, and several features are reserved for future iterations due to scope and approval constraints.
TESTING + CHANGES IN DESIGN
Major improvements in design
The main challenge was decision-making. Defining the user flow required time and clarity, and integrating design with development created constraints, but the process helped solidify key product decisions.
FINAL SCREENS
The final product
An intuitive travel survey app that makes sharing data simple, transparent, and user-friendly.
Style Guide
CONCLUSION + LESSONS LEARNED
Future iterations + what would I like to change
1) As my first real-world project, this experience exposed gaps between design and development. Some challenges, such as preparing files for handoff and translating auto layouts accurately into Flutter, could have been avoided with earlier technical alignment. Moving forward, I will ensure designs are developer-ready, with careful attention to spacing, structure, and implementation feasibility. 2) I strongly believe that effective UI design begins with empathy and avoiding assumptions. While students were the primary research group, the app serves a broader migrant audience. In hindsight, conducting interviews across diverse migrant groups would have provided more inclusive insights and strengthened the design decisions. 3) This project taught me that there is no such thing as “too many iterations.” Initially, I aimed to create the perfect final mockup from the start, but real-world design thrives on continuous feedback. More iterations would have allowed deeper refinement, broader testing, and ultimately a stronger, more comprehensive product.
DESIGN PROBLEM
Travel surveys ask for personal data without giving users a clear reason to care.
The design challenge was twofold: first, to make participation feel meaningful and worth the user’s effort by clearly communicating how sharing travel data benefits them and contributes to a larger purpose. Second, we explored how a website based experience could be translated into an app while maintaining clarity, accessibility, and ease of use.
KEY DESIGN DECISIONS
Framing the app as a platform where participation feels valuable rather than intrusive
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
The competiton had less transparancy than the users deserve
The competitor mobility apps often feel like research tools rather than user friendly products. They provide limited motivation, weak reward loops, and minimal transparency around data collection. Users get little control to review or correct tracked trips and simply trust automation. According to my design research, they are more about the mobility patterns than user journey and integration in a new environment.
INTERVIEW AND FEEDBACK
Montréal commuters are in distress
User interviews revealed that many Montreal commuters feel frustrated with unreliable and infrequent bus service. They were more willing to share travel data when they understood it could directly support transit planners in improving routes, frequency, and service reliability.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1) How might we make travel data collection feel valuable rather than intrusive? 2) How can we communicate “why this data matters” in under 30 seconds? 3) What motivates users to complete surveys consistently over time? 4) Which rewards feel ethical, relevant, and worth the effort? 5) How much control do users need to trust the app? 6) How can we reduce confusion when the app tracks trips incorrectly? 7) How can we design the experience so it works for low-effort, everyday use?
USER PERSONA
MAIN INSIGHTS
Users are more likely to participate in our app because it clearly shows what they’re contributing to, what they gain from it, and gives them control over their data.
DESIGN
Setbacks + design decisions
This project highlighted the gap between design and development. Working through multiple iterations due to technical constraints taught me to use auto layout and build design systems that translate smoothly into development. The biggest challenge was initial ambiguity around the app’s purpose, which made early iterations exploratory. While the design (onboarding, simple language, self-explanatory icons, etc.) helped clarify direction, some sections remain underdeveloped, and several features are reserved for future iterations due to scope and approval constraints.
TESTING + CHANGES IN DESIGN
Major improvements in design
The main challenge was decision-making. Defining the user flow required time and clarity, and integrating design with development created constraints, but the process helped solidify key product decisions.
FINAL SCREENS
The final product
An intuitive travel survey app that makes sharing data simple, transparent, and user-friendly.
Style Guide