Node - AR App For Urban Planning
Node is a participatory urban planning platform that leverages Augmented Reality to allow community residents to discover local urban planning projects and contribute their feedback in an engaging, time-efficient way. Node closes the communication gap between urban planners and community members and makes the public engagement process more equitable.
Role
User Experience Designer (Augmented Reality)
User Experience Designer (Augmented Reality)
Timeline
10 weeks (summer 2021)
10 weeks (summer 2021)
Tools
Figma, InVision, Adobe, AR Kit
Figma, InVision, Adobe, AR Kit
Team
Brendon Gross, Aichen Guo, Anna Zhang, JD LeRoy, Ruchi Vora
Brendon Gross, Aichen Guo, Anna Zhang, JD LeRoy, Ruchi Vora
The Prompt
Design a near-future conceptual product that utilizes Augmented Reality and 5G technology to improve the experience of post-pandemic society, giving people the ability to engage with local communities.
The Problem
Urban planners understand the importance of getting feedback from community members in the process of city development. However, they face challenges in getting diverse and representative feedback when gathering this information early on in the urban planning process.
Community members want to give feedback and share their voices, but they face high barriers in contributing feedback. From being unaware of these opportunities to only having inflexible and time-consuming ways of participation, residents often face inequitable barriers when trying to engage in their community’s urban planning process.
How Might We Questions
How might AR reduce communication and feedback gaps during early phases of the urban planning process?
How might AR allow urban planners to reach a larger and more diverse segment of the community so they can get more representative feedback?
How might AR help community members visualize how new projects and proposals will impact their community?
User Research
Sample size:
7 interviewees (4 urban planners, 3 community members)
7 interviewees (4 urban planners, 3 community members)
Methodology:
Participants were recruited through UserTesting.com
1-on-1 moderated individual sessions, conducted over Zoom, 60-minutes each
The users were asked a set of questions to help identify pain points in their experience
Participants were recruited through UserTesting.com
1-on-1 moderated individual sessions, conducted over Zoom, 60-minutes each
The users were asked a set of questions to help identify pain points in their experience
Objective:
Understand the goals and challenges that urban planning professionals and community members face when engaging with each other and identify opportunities for Augmented Reality to improve this process
Understand the goals and challenges that urban planning professionals and community members face when engaging with each other and identify opportunities for Augmented Reality to improve this process
User Interviews
Key quotes extracted from insightful user interviews that have been pivotal in steering the design process. These quotes serve as touchstones, offering a glimpse into the authentic voices that guided the development of user-centric experiences.
Tonya - Community Member
Gabriel - Urban Planner
Mark - Community Member
Information Architecture
Having a clear understanding of user pain points we identified an opportunity for AR in Urban Planning. The team developed an information architecture model to map our key features.
Wireframes
We had 2 minute design sprints as a team thinking through additional AR solutions for each proposed opportunity area. With the information architecture approved by the team, we then used InVision to draw out paper prototypes.
Storyboard
The storyboard for Node aims to immerse users in an interactive and informative urban planning experience using augmented reality and 5G technology. As the user approaches the location, the app uses augmented reality to display a 3D model of the proposed project or development, giving the user a better understanding of the planned changes to the area. Users are able to make comments on the proposed plans, make suggestions, and share with friends.
Brand Identity
We chose to name the AR platform “Node” to represent the collection point between intersecting pathways. Our goal is to enable everyone to have a voice in shaping the future of their community and plan public spaces collectively.
High Fidelity Prototypes
Throughout the design process, the team prioritized usability and accessibility, ensuring that the platform is easy to use for all users, regardless of their technical proficiency. The goal of these high fidelity prototypes is to identify and resolve any design issues early on in the development process, ultimately leading to a more user-friendly and successful platform.
IDA International Design Award
The International Design Awards (IDA) exists to recognize, celebrate and promote exceptional design visionaries and discover emerging talent in Architecture, Interior, Product, Graphic and Fashion Design worldwide.
IDA International Design Award Winner 2023
Bronze in Multimedia / Interface Design
Bronze in Multimedia / Interface Design
