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CalExplore Navigation Feature

Designed and developed a Caltrain extension for the Caltrain Administration to boost tourism and support small businesses by enabling seamless exploration through a swipe-based discovery interface with personalized, algorithm-driven recommendations.

Project Type

CalTrain Consulting Project

Duration

6 Weeks

Team

Carmah Hawwari, Shun Ueno, Bennie Nkwantabisa, Nadia Ansari

Relevant Skills

Figma, User research, Experience Design, Product Design, Prototyping

PRODUCT TRAILER

PROBLEM SPACE

With the electrification of Caltrain, the administration sought to move beyond its identity as a commuter line. Historically tied to travel, the system struggled with underuse outside rush hours. Electrification created an opportunity to reposition Caltrain as more than transport.

DESIGN PROCESS

Need Finding & Research

Ideation & Iteration

Refining UI & Business Implications

Section 01

NEED FINDING & USER RESEARCH

We conducted in-depth interviews and multiple field visits to the caltrain station to understand the needs, frustrations, and behaviors of Caltrain commuters. This research revealed critical pain points, including communication gaps, limited exploration opportunities, and the desire for better local engagement, which guided our design decisions.

5 In Depth Interviews

Multiple Field Visits

TARGET USER

Curious Callie is an adventurous individual who uses Caltrain to explore surrounding areas in the Bay Area, frequently visiting family and friends

Callie is an explorer that enjoys trying new hidden gems such as restaurants, cafes, and shops in the bay area.

Frustration point: Feels like there is a lack of new or curated recommendations

Secondary Users

Local Business Owners

Tertiary Users

Commuters

Starting

They always go to the same Philz Coffee, but this week, Callie wants to try something new.

Trying

Callie suggests exploring new places, but Nadia is too tired to search and refuses to download Yelp or scroll Google Maps. Callie feels frustrated but doesn’t have time to either.

Conflicting

Tension builds as Callie reluctantly suggests Philz again to avoid conflict.

Quitting

They enjoy each other’s company at Philz for the fourth time this month but wonder what they’re missing by sticking to their lazy habits.

JOURNEY MAP

Section 02

IDEATING & ITERATING

We began the brainstorming process by bouncing initial ideas off each other to spark creativity, followed by a brain dump to capture every potential solution. We then critiqued and refined these ideas through group discussion, identifying the most viable directions. Finally, we moved into rapid prototyping to quickly test and iterate on solutions that addressed the main pain point identified in our HMW statement.

CORE MECHANISM DEVELOPMENT

We initially started with a traditional map view featuring pins for cafes, restaurants, and shops, providing a comprehensive overview. However, this approach proved overwhelming and time-consuming for users seeking quick decisions, with a cluttered interface that required constant zooming and tapping. Moreover, its similarity to existing platforms like Google Maps and Yelp directly contradicted our goal of creating a streamlined and unique user experience

To address this, we introduced a swiping mechanism featuring a large card design that allows users to quickly scan key details, such as name, rating, and distance, without opening additional menus. Mimicking a horizontal card carousel with a Tinder-like functionality, this design minimizes cognitive load and streamlines decision-making, especially for users in a rush. Upon opening the CalExplore feature, users select their station and category, then swipe through curated recommendations with essential details like cuisine type, price range, and mileage prominently displayed. Once users select a recommendation, it seamlessly syncs with their preferred navigation service.

FIRST PROTOTYPE