PROJECT OVERVIEW
Given the persona “Gig-Economy Workers”, I explored how emerging technology, specially drones can improve efficiency, safety, and income potential for food delivery couriers.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILTIES
UX Research
UI Design
User-Testing
TIMELINE
November - December
3weeks
DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT TOOLS
figma
photoshop
miro
PERSONA & EMPATHY MAP
ZACK MICHAELS
GIG-ECONOMY WORKER
Zack is currently a self-employed contractor, his main source of income at the moment is working as an Uber driver and doing food delivery on the side as well. Zack has the freedom to choose the day and time to work which allows him to pursue his passion of photography on the side.
AGE:
25
STATUS:
In Relationship
LOCATION:
Los Angeles, CA
JOB:
Gig-Economy Working
THINK & FEEL
I get to meet new people
Different experience every time
Bad mood
Conversation
Delivery
HEAR
Tip Money
Notification
Navigation
Complaints
Praise
Different People
Feedback
SEE
Navigation Instruction
Destinations
Uber
Lyft
Fiverr
New client
Uber Eats
Skip the Dishes
Other Drivers
SAY & DO
Creating Conversation
Sensoring
Friendliness
Outgoing
“Entrepreneur”
PAIN POINT
Unstable income
Lack of benefits
Client’s hygiene
Irregular schedules
Operational costs
Safety and security concerns
PERSONALITY
GAIN POINT
Schedule Freedom
Financial Growth
Variety of Work
Connect with community
Flexibility
Lifestyle Benefits
USER GROUP
Food delivery has seen a massive growth in North America, especially the pandemic. However, traffic delays and long wait time affect food quality, courier efficiency and income.
Drones can help couriers deliver more orders, faster, and contactless improving the experience for both couriers and customers.
DESIGN PRECEDENTS
Synchronous Drone
Drones fly in sync to perform shows and complex tasks
Delivery Robots
Already delivering on streets with locked compartments
Drone Technology
Advancements in GPS, obstacle sensing, tracking, and cameras
The Rock Drone
Controlled from anywhere in the world
Phone Application
Central hub to manage orders, drones, and customers
Zipline
Medical drone delivery service
DESIGN CONCEPTS
To design a method that makes courier more efficient on delivery while incorporating emerging technologies, I hve deiced to utilize DRONES equipped with autopilot and GPS for the service.
Track drones and orders in real-time
Handle multiple deliveries at once
Chat with restaurants or customers
Review past deliveries, earnings, and other statistics
MOODBOARD
STYLE TILE
PROTOTYPE ONE
USER TESTING
GOAL
To evaluate the initial wireframes and gather feedback to improve usability, flow, and visual design.
QUESTIONS
What do you enjoy the most on this wireframes?
As gig-worker, what potential benefits do you see you will gain from this?
How would you describe the general mood of this design?
What additional features would you like to see change?
SUMMARY
5 participants were given tasks to navigate the app and provide feedback through discussion.
USER TESTING RESULT
WHAT WORKED WELL
Simple layout and easy to navigate
Interesting and innovative concept
Clear information hierarchy
Liked the multiple delivery idea
AREAS TO IMPROVE
Add more colour and visual appeal
Include more engaging visuals
Explore more features and options
Improve information architecture
PROTOTYPE TWO
REFLECTION
This project provided valuable experience in designing a mobile application from concept to completion. The process involved conducting user research, developing the information architecture, creating user interfaces, and validating design decisions through user testing. Working with an unfamiliar user group initially presented challenges; however, engaging directly with gig-economy workers allowed me to gain meaningful insights into their daily experiences, pain points, and needs
The project strengthened my ability to translate user research into practical design solutions while balancing user needs with business and technological considerations. Although the current solution represents an early-stage concept, it establishes a solid foundation for future development and refinement.
FOR FUTURE
Moving forward, I would focus on further refining the visual design system, including the colour palette, typography, and overall interface consistency. I would also revisit the information architecture to improve navigation, content organization, and user flow.
In addition, I am interested in exploring more advanced features that could provide greater value to gig-economy workers, such as enhanced delivery optimization, earnings forecasting, real-time route management, and personalized insights. These improvements would help create a more intuitive and impactful user experience while better addressing the evolving needs of the target audience.
