DEVIN VOWELS
A senior at the University of Michigan studying Urban Technology with a minor in Entrepreneurship.
I'm an empathetic and multidisciplinary thinker who is passionate about reimagining space and place-making for people—physically and digitally. I view design as a creative playground to build community and shape space for cultural progress.
01 Urban Street Planter Tool
02 Little Village Play Paths
03 Union Exchnage
04 Worldwide MI
05 Caution Signifier Devices
06 Apple Maps - Biker Awareness
-> other work
-> about me
06 APPLE MAPS - BIKER AWARENESS
OCT-DEC 2023
Junior Design Studio
Collaborator(s):
>Bella Kressaty
>Siya Shah
Role(s):
>Interface Design
>Research + Ethnography
Tool(s):
>Figma
>FigJam/Miro
>Excel
An Apple Maps redesign encouraging drivers to be biker conscious in effort to improve biking culture in Ann Arbor.
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This project aims to enhance access to public mobility in Ann Arbor with a keen focus on achieving the Vision Zero and carbon neutrality goals by 2030. By unraveling the intricacies of existing systems, the project seeks to reveal the inner workings of public mobility, fostering a deeper understanding of biking culture in Ann Arbor.
THE OBJECTIVE
Develop a design intervention on an existing interface that seamlessly connects individuals and systems, empowering users with agency and aiding in informed decision-making
THE CHALLENGE
Improving the road dynamics between bikers and cars by changing the hierarchy of the road.
EXPLORATORY + GENERATIVE ANALYSIS
We spent 3.5 weeks conducting initial exploratory and usability research. We focused on two things: (1.) learning about the current state of Ann Arbor’s biking culture primarily from the cyclist’s perspective, (2.) learning what drivers focus on the road and as they use Apple Maps to navigate their ride.
RESEARCH INSIGHTS
THE BIKER
- Bikers in Ann Arbor, regardless of experience, feel a lack of belonging on the road.
- Biking information is not centralized; bikers rely on crowd-sourcing and word of mouth for etiquette and knowledge.
- Cyclists constantly make real-time decisions, anticipating actions of cars, pedestrians, and responding to road changes.
- There are varying levels of understanding of bike rules among bikers and drivers.
THE DRIVER
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Bike lanes and signage are often overlooked due to blind spots and sizing issues.
- On the road, drivers are MOST aware of cars and LEAST aware of cyclists and road obstructions.
- Many drivers disable audio cues while using navigation apps.
CYCLIST JOURNEY MAP
After completing our journey map and identifying opportunity points within it, we chose to center our solution around opportunity points three (Navigation Enhancement) and six (Safety Awareness).
THE SOLUTION
Simple UI and notification changes to Apple Maps that decentralize the car, forcing drivers to be a little more aware of bikers on the road.
INTERFACE DESIGN: