Usaamah Kadery

Designer

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Usaamah Kadery

Designer

Home

Portfolio

About

Usaamah Kadery

Designer

Home

Portfolio

About

Usaamah Kadery

Designer

Amp Up!

Case Study (2023)



Project Duration

3 Months


Role

UX Designer Generalist. This is an independent project, where I practiced all components of UI/UX Design.



Problem Statement


EV drivers struggle to find an intuitive, easy-to-use service for quick and seamless emergency recharges.





Goals


  • Provide users a way to quickly and effortlessly request a recharge in the case of an emergency, wherever they are.

  • Allow users to save the necessary info such as vehicle information or payment information for expedited service/future use.

  • Provide real time location data, providing accurate ETAs for service vehicles and precise locations for the foregoing vehicles in the vicinity.

  • Provide users a way to quickly and effortlessly request a recharge in the case of an emergency, wherever they are.

  • Provide users a way to quickly and effortlessly request a recharge in the case of an emergency, wherever they are.





Context



The inspiration for this project is rooted in my belief that electric cars are the future. Eco-friendly, modern, and increasingly popular, EVs are the next generation’s mode of transportation. But these vehicles come with their own set of road bumps.

I’ve never owned an EV or driven one, but I was aware that finding suitable charging stations is a problem many users of EVs. Fuel-driven cars already have a plethora of roadside assistance services, many of them operated by auto insurance companies.

But for electric cars, these services are far and few between. My goal was to design an app that is feasible both business wise and practically, with the intention of helping EV drivers when they’re in a pickle. I wanted to incorporate two emerging technologies into this product: electric cars AND self-driving autonomous vehicles. The concept of the service revolves around self-driving service vehicles to bolster efficiency and minimize human contact.





User Research


For Amp Up, I conducted small-scale user research through surveys, interviews, and usability testing to gain a deeper understanding of the needs and preferences of EV drivers. I also created personas and user journey maps. Many friends and peers of mine are EV drivers, so their personal accounts were valuable.

Going into the research, I knew that the pain points of EV drivers might revolve around the charging aspect of it. Charging stations are less prevalent than regular gas stations. From the research I conducted, I discovered that a significant portion of EV Drivers often find themselves in near or actual emergency situations when it comes to low charge. Many users don’t even have charging stations where they live.

From my understanding, there aren’t really any apps like Amp Up. Sure, there are charging stations popping up steadily in all parts of the world! And also tons of companies boasting that their charging stations are the fastest? But what about mobile charging stations? What if the charging station came to you?

According to the stats, young people are dominating the EV market. So I knew this app would have to pander to the younger demographic. The UI had to be visually appealing. Dark Mode was a must, as younger people have grown acclimated to it. The UI was just as important as the UX!







Pain Points




Unexpected Depletion of Battery:

Electric car users might sometimes miscalculate or overestimate their battery life, leaving them stranded on the road.



Limited Charging Stations:

Electric car users might sometimes miscalculate or overestimate their battery life, leaving them stranded on the road.



Waiting Time at Charging Stations:

Some popular charging stations might have long wait times, especially during peak hours or on busy routes.



Emergency Situations:

Unexpected situations like bad weather or detours might lead to the car consuming more battery, leaving the user in need of immediate assistance.







Project Duration

3 Months


Role

UX Designer Generalist. This is an independent project, where I practiced all components of UI/UX Design.



Problem Statement


EV drivers struggle to find an intuitive, easy-to-use service for quick and seamless emergency recharges.





Goals


  • Provide users a way to quickly and effortlessly request a recharge in the case of an emergency, wherever they are.

  • Allow users to save the necessary info such as vehicle information or payment information for expedited service/future use.

  • Provide real time location data, providing accurate ETAs for service vehicles and precise locations for the foregoing vehicles in the vicinity.

  • Provide users a way to quickly and effortlessly request a recharge in the case of an emergency, wherever they are.

  • Provide users a way to quickly and effortlessly request a recharge in the case of an emergency, wherever they are.





Context



The inspiration for this project is rooted in my belief that electric cars are the future. Eco-friendly, modern, and increasingly popular, EVs are the next generation’s mode of transportation. But these vehicles come with their own set of road bumps.

I’ve never owned an EV or driven one, but I was aware that finding suitable charging stations is a problem many users of EVs. Fuel-driven cars already have a plethora of roadside assistance services, many of them operated by auto insurance companies.

But for electric cars, these services are far and few between. My goal was to design an app that is feasible both business wise and practically, with the intention of helping EV drivers when they’re in a pickle. I wanted to incorporate two emerging technologies into this product: electric cars AND self-driving autonomous vehicles. The concept of the service revolves around self-driving service vehicles to bolster efficiency and minimize human contact.





User Research


For Amp Up, I conducted small-scale user research through surveys, interviews, and usability testing to gain a deeper understanding of the needs and preferences of EV drivers. I also created personas and user journey maps. Many friends and peers of mine are EV drivers, so their personal accounts were valuable.

Going into the research, I knew that the pain points of EV drivers might revolve around the charging aspect of it. Charging stations are less prevalent than regular gas stations. From the research I conducted, I discovered that a significant portion of EV Drivers often find themselves in near or actual emergency situations when it comes to low charge. Many users don’t even have charging stations where they live.

From my understanding, there aren’t really any apps like Amp Up. Sure, there are charging stations popping up steadily in all parts of the world! And also tons of companies boasting that their charging stations are the fastest? But what about mobile charging stations? What if the charging station came to you?

According to the stats, young people are dominating the EV market. So I knew this app would have to pander to the younger demographic. The UI had to be visually appealing. Dark Mode was a must, as younger people have grown acclimated to it. The UI was just as important as the UX!







Pain Points




Unexpected Depletion of Battery:

Electric car users might sometimes miscalculate or overestimate their battery life, leaving them stranded on the road.



Limited Charging Stations:

Electric car users might sometimes miscalculate or overestimate their battery life, leaving them stranded on the road.



Waiting Time at Charging Stations:

Some popular charging stations might have long wait times, especially during peak hours or on busy routes.



Emergency Situations:

Unexpected situations like bad weather or detours might lead to the car consuming more battery, leaving the user in need of immediate assistance.







Project Duration

3 Months


Role

UX Designer Generalist. This is an independent project, where I practiced all components of UI/UX Design.



Problem Statement


EV drivers struggle to find an intuitive, easy-to-use service for quick and seamless emergency recharges.





Goals


  • Provide users a way to quickly and effortlessly request a recharge in the case of an emergency, wherever they are.

  • Allow users to save the necessary info such as vehicle information or payment information for expedited service/future use.

  • Provide real time location data, providing accurate ETAs for service vehicles and precise locations for the foregoing vehicles in the vicinity.

  • Provide users a way to quickly and effortlessly request a recharge in the case of an emergency, wherever they are.

  • Provide users a way to quickly and effortlessly request a recharge in the case of an emergency, wherever they are.





Context



The inspiration for this project is rooted in my belief that electric cars are the future. Eco-friendly, modern, and increasingly popular, EVs are the next generation’s mode of transportation. But these vehicles come with their own set of road bumps.

I’ve never owned an EV or driven one, but I was aware that finding suitable charging stations is a problem many users of EVs. Fuel-driven cars already have a plethora of roadside assistance services, many of them operated by auto insurance companies.

But for electric cars, these services are far and few between. My goal was to design an app that is feasible both business wise and practically, with the intention of helping EV drivers when they’re in a pickle. I wanted to incorporate two emerging technologies into this product: electric cars AND self-driving autonomous vehicles. The concept of the service revolves around self-driving service vehicles to bolster efficiency and minimize human contact.





User Research


For Amp Up, I conducted small-scale user research through surveys, interviews, and usability testing to gain a deeper understanding of the needs and preferences of EV drivers. I also created personas and user journey maps. Many friends and peers of mine are EV drivers, so their personal accounts were valuable.

Going into the research, I knew that the pain points of EV drivers might revolve around the charging aspect of it. Charging stations are less prevalent than regular gas stations. From the research I conducted, I discovered that a significant portion of EV Drivers often find themselves in near or actual emergency situations when it comes to low charge. Many users don’t even have charging stations where they live.

From my understanding, there aren’t really any apps like Amp Up. Sure, there are charging stations popping up steadily in all parts of the world! And also tons of companies boasting that their charging stations are the fastest? But what about mobile charging stations? What if the charging station came to you?

According to the stats, young people are dominating the EV market. So I knew this app would have to pander to the younger demographic. The UI had to be visually appealing. Dark Mode was a must, as younger people have grown acclimated to it. The UI was just as important as the UX!







Pain Points




Unexpected Depletion of Battery:

Electric car users might sometimes miscalculate or overestimate their battery life, leaving them stranded on the road.



Limited Charging Stations:

Electric car users might sometimes miscalculate or overestimate their battery life, leaving them stranded on the road.



Waiting Time at Charging Stations:

Some popular charging stations might have long wait times, especially during peak hours or on busy routes.



Emergency Situations:

Unexpected situations like bad weather or detours might lead to the car consuming more battery, leaving the user in need of immediate assistance.






Impact & Takeaways



Amp Up is ingeniously designed to address the unique challenges faced by electric vehicle owners, offering them timely and efficient roadside assistance. At a moment's notice, users can tap into the Amp Up app to summon a self-driving service vehicle, equipped with an integrated portable charger. This ensures that no electric car driver is left stranded due to a depleted battery, making long journeys and unexpected detours worry-free. With its state-of-the-art technology and user-centric design, Amp Up promises to redefine the future of roadside assistance, particularly for the growing community of electric vehicle enthusiasts.


Throughout my journey designing Amp Up, there were more than a few "aha!" moments and, let's be honest, a couple of "oops" moments too.

Creating Amp Up wasn't just about fiddling with pixels and code. It was about understanding the genuine worries of electric car owners and turning those insights into actionable solutions. Adapting the app to handle real-time data like battery levels and charger compatibility wasn't a walk in the park. There were times when I had to take a step back, grab a coffee, and rethink my approach.

I also realized how essential it was to design an interface that wouldn't let users down in emergencies. Every second counts when you're stranded on a road, so making the app's navigation quick and intuitive became my top priority.

Converting my initial sketches into functional interfaces was like piecing together a puzzle. Tracking the service vehicle in real-time and estimating how long a charge would take were challenging, but oh, the satisfaction when I got it right!

But one of the biggest takeaways? UX principles aren't just textbook jargon. Applying Fitt's Law and Hick's Law became crucial in ensuring users had a seamless experience with Amp Up.


All in all, Amp Up wasn't just another project; it was a whirlwind of learning, growing, and, most importantly, problem-solving. And I can't wait to dive into the next challenge!



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