ABOUT
Adam joined the smart campus team to create complex designs for Transit and Parking. Working with a close team of designers, researchers, content managers, and engineers, Adam led design initiatives on mobile, kiosk, and full size physical display experiences that interfaced with Microsoft’s internet of things environment.
PHYSICAL SPACE DESIGN
The first client for this was the Redmond Technology Station (RTS) located in Redmond, WA. This station is a location for Microsoft Connector buses and shuttles to interface with each other as well as the public Sound Transit buses and lightrail train. Displays are to be installed and linked to data provided by Microsoft and potentionally Sound Transit to present information to riders on location.
TRANSIT DISPLAYS
Adam led UX design efforts to design displays that would help Microsoft employees interface with Connector/Shuttle options as well as various public transit offerings.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Microsoft employees need a reliable way to see their Connector and Shuttle schedules at transit stations and streetside stops in a way that interfaces with their pre-scheduled routes.
DISPLAY TYPES AND RESEARCH
Both the Redmond Technology Station and Microsoft’s greater campus offered many interesting opportunities for display design.
Timetable Displays
Objective: Show shuttle ETAs and the routes for Fix Route Shuttles and On Demand Shuttles and a distinction for both on the display.
MVP Features:
- Connector and shuttle active routes
- Connector and shuttle Departure times
- Public transportation arrival times
Top Tasks:
- See Connector and public transport arrival times & status
- Understand transportation routes and if they will get me where I need to go
- Know my transportation options and where to go to get them (bus, shuttle, bikes)
Shuttle Stop Displays
Objective: Display that will be outside at MS shuttle stops for visibility of shuttles arriving at that specific stop.
MVP Features:
- Incoming On-demand shuttle’s arrival time for the building
- Incoming Fixed route shuttle’s arrival time for the building
Top Tasks:
- See when my shuttle is arriving
- See when my connector is arriving (Transit only)
- See shuttle and connector routes and destinations so that I can catch the appropriate one
Bay/Lane Displays
Objective: Display that will hang above the bays to show what vehicles are arriving at that specific bay
MVP Features:
- Fixed route, shuttle, connector public transit arrival times
Top Tasks:
- See if my transit is arriving at a specific bay
- See when my transit will arrive
Timetable Displays
Objective: To provide a departure experience for our employees and guests, which involves visibility of shuttles arriving at that location.
MVP Features:
- Incoming On-demand shuttle’s arrival time for the building
- Incoming Fixed route shuttle’s arrival time for the building
Top Tasks:
- See when my shuttle is arriving
- See shuttle and connector routes and destinations so that I can catch the appropriate one
SPACE PLANNING
Our team received construction prints for the space. Using these, we plotted where we believed our displays should be located for easy readability as well as accessibility.
SITE VISIT
Our team visited the RTS site to get insight into our proposed locations for installation, as well as sizing for fonts, intensity and contrast of colors, and placement of content on screen.
SITE FINDINGS
Many new thoughts were raised as a result of the site visit.
“The space was much bigger in person than we intially planned for.”
“Priority of signage should change from timetable displays to bay lane displays.”
“Sightlines and display readability is now very important.”
“Art hanging from ceiling now has to be accounted for. Previously hung displays must be mounted.”
“Locating tech plug hubs has an effect on where our displays are installed.”
“Buses queuing before approaching platform influences how status messages are shown.”
“Installing cameras near platform or other methods could be used to update bay lanes.”
“Fonts need to be scaled and hues contrasted to help readability on platform.”
EXAMPLE INSPIRATION
We received example displays from the firm offering to build the displays, giving us building blocks for our work.
PREVIOUS DESIGNS
These designs were created well before discussion and began with Sound Transit. Since Microsoft uses the Coherence Design System for use with Digital Kiosks, it was necessary to create better designs that matched with the established brand.
COLOR AND TEXT
As stated before, Coherence Design System denotes colors and text to use within a digital kiosk. Here is what Adam assembled to work with.
EARLY CONCEPTS
These were done as simple proofs of concept for the system. Ideas explored included traditional timetable designs, creative alternatives for monitoring a shuttle’s movement, and more simplified lists.
PHYSICAL TESTING
To test his designs for readability and clarity, Adam printed out designs and created test boards out of cardboard to help understand how the designs would hold up in the actual space.
PHYSICAL TESTING
When physical hardware arrived, testing was done to make sure colors and text were readable at suitable distances.
TIMETABLE DISPLAYS
These are the final designs for the timetable displays.
Features:
- Route names
- Arrival times
- Status markers
- QR for MyHub handoff
SHUTTLE STOP DISPLAYS
These are the final designs for the shuttle stop displays.
Features:
- Route names / shuttle numbers
- Bay numbers
- Arrival times
- Status markers
- QR for MyHub handoff
BAY LANE DISPLAYS
These are the final designs for the bay lane displays.
Features:
- Route names / shuttle numbers
- Bay numbers
- Arrival times
LOBBY DISPLAYS
These are the final designs for the lobby displays.
Features:
- Route names / shuttle numbers
- Bay numbers
- Arrival times
- QR for MyHub handoff
HARDWARE DEMO
To get a sense of how the designs would appear on the actual hardware, the team had the sources uploaded to a server and casted to the new devices.
CONCLUSION
Working on Microsoft’s transit service was an incredible challenge that proved to be extremely rewarding. From initial research, to high-fidelity wireframes, Adam worked through just about every stage of design.