Smarterscoot
Q1 2024
Project Overview
Smarterscoot is a mobile application designed to fill the critical gap in micro-mobility and scooter-sharing options on the island of Malta.
As the sole end-to-end Product Designer, I was embedded into the project to take Smarterscoot from an abstract business concept to a launch-ready MVP. I participated in the entire product lifecycle, including competitive strategy, MVP feature scoping, UI architecture, and developer handoff.
The Objective
Design a highly intuitive, compliant mobile application that could secure immediate buy-in from HandsOn Systems’ key clients, while using a scalable design framework for rapid engineering implementation.
Challenges
The design strategy had to accommodate friction points:
The Familiarity Threshold (Jakob’s Law): Because Malta relies heavily on international tourists who already use micro-mobility apps globally, Smarterscoot needed to feel instantly recognizable.
The Trust & Compliance Barrier: Local transport regulations required strict identity verification. I had to embed a third-party provider (Veriff) into the onboarding flow without disrupting the user's high-intent to rent a scooter right away.
To avoid reinventing the wheel and to leverage Jakob’s Law, I conducted a deep-dive competitive analysis of 8+ leading global and local micro-mobility applications.
Methodology
Heuristic Evaluation: Audited the UI/UX flows of top-tier apps to benchmark industry standards.
Sentiment Analysis: Scoured App Store reviews to identify critical user friction points (e.g., hidden fees, rigid ID verification loops, GPS inaccuracies).
Field Testing: Personally registered, booked, and rode scooters using competitor apps to map the physical-to-digital user journey.
Key Insights & Strategic Decisions
The Friction: Cluttered interfaces and inconsistent UI elements frequently caused user cognitive overload during stressful, on-the-street booking scenarios.
The Opportunity: By prioritizing an ultra-streamlined booking flow and predictable navigational patterns, Smarterscoot could win on usability.
The Blueprint: Emphasized a "map-first" architecture to ground the user immediately in their physical surroundings.
To align on business goals and technical feasibility, I led scoping workshops with the Product Owner and developer. Using a value-vs-effort matrix, we balanced user needs against engineering complexity.
Core MVP scope defined:
Sign in & Sign up
Embed ID verification from external provider ( Veriff)
Add payment methods
Chose the vehicle nearby
Start, resume and end the ride
See ride history
Before jumping into high-fidelity designs, I mapped out user journeys and system architecture in Miro together with the Product Owner to visually shape the product logic together.
Design system
To ensure long-term scalability and design-to-development speed, I constructed a design system from scratch in line with client's core brand identity, anchored by a vibrant brand red color.
Accessible Typography & Contrast: Ensured all text and interactive components met WCAG AA accessibility standards, crucial for outdoor mobile usage.
Component Library: Developed reusable buttons, input fields, map pins, and modal sheets with auto-layout rules in Figma to guarantee a pixel-perfect handoff.
Hi-fidelity wireframes
I translated low-fidelity wireframes into high-fidelity prototypes in Figma. Because we had already solved the core logic architectural challenges as a team, I was able to rapidly apply our component-driven design system.
Macro & Micro-interactive prototypes
I engineered high-fidelity prototypes in Figma to demonstrate both macro-flows (the entire booking journey) and micro-interactions (button states, transitions, map-pin expanding animations).
Results
The high-fidelity wireframes and interactive prototypes illustrated the app's functionality and design to the client. The project laid a solid foundation for the app's ongoing implementation and upcoming launch on the MVP on the Apple Store and Google Play.
Future improvements
During the design process, I identified several areas for improvement and potential advanced functionalities, such as:
Integrating a feature to help users navigate to the scooter’s location more efficiently.
Implementing real-time updates on scooter availability and location changes.
Adding a feedback system for users to report issues or suggest improvements directly through the app.
Expanding payment options to include more diverse and user-friendly methods.
Focusing more on user accessibility.
