Improving SingleTrack’s Mobile App Usability
Improving usability of a mobile app for mountain biking.
Context
SingleTracks is a mobile app intended to help users to find mountain bike trails, read mountain bike/gear reviews, and keep up with the latest mountain biking news. As a solo UX designer (and user), I investigated how to improve the usability of the app’s design.
Goal
The goal was to efficiently identify usability issues with the app related to browsing and finding trails, and provide solutions to fix them and improve the design.
Process
I conducted a heuristic evaluation of the app’s home screen and features intended to help users find mountain biking trails using Nielsen’s universal design usability heuristics. When evaluating features involving a map, a version of the heuristics modified to focus on map use was referenced. I documented findings and design recommendations to resolve usability concerns in a report, and then translated recommendations into medium-high fidelity mockups to support a redesign.
Result
The evaluation identified significant usability concerns relating to the app’s navigation, its failure to stick to a consistent and aesthetic design, and its lack of preventing errors and providing help elements. The redesign mockups addressed identified usability concerns by introducing a new home screen, a restructured information architecture, and new navigational flows.
Design Example
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