Mo Bus App Redesigned

MO Bus Service, initiated by the Odisha Government is a public transport bus service that operates in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Puri, Odisha. The service was launched in 2018 and has been widely praised for its use of smart technology, its reliability, and its safety.

Key features of the MO Bus Service

• E-ticketing: Passengers can purchase tickets using the MO Bus app
• Real-time tracking: Passengers can track the location of their bus in real time using the MO Bus app
• Surveillance cameras: All MO buses are equipped with surveillance cameras to deter crime and ensure the safety of passengers.
• Reliability: MO Bus is known for its reliable service. The buses run on a regular schedule and are typically on time.

In 2022, MO Bus was recognized by the United Nations as one of 10 global recipients of its annual Public Service Awards. The award was given to MO Bus for its “innovative and impactful approach to public transportation”.

Brief Overview of MO Bus App

The MO Bus app is a mobile application that provides users with real-time information about the MO Bus service in Odisha. This can be used to track the location of buses, plan trips, and purchase tickets. The app is available for both Android and iOS devices.

Features of MO Bus App

• Real-time bus tracking: The app can be used to track the location of buses in real time. This information can be used to see when a bus is expected to arrive at a particular stop.
• Trip planning: The app can be used to plan trips. This includes specifying the origin and destination, as well as the desired time of travel.
• Ticket purchase: Tickets can be purchased through the app. This eliminates the need of convincing conductor for ticket, and reduce the chances of having quarrel with others while asking for ticket when the bus is packed.
• Bus schedules: The app includes bus schedules for all MO Bus routes.
• Customer service: The app includes a helpline number that can be used to contact customer service.

Strengths of MO Bus App

• Comprehensive Features: The app offers a wide range of features, including real-time tracking, trip planning, e-ticketing, bus schedules, etc.
• Live Updates: The app provides real-time updates on bus locations and arrival times, offering valuable information for passengers.

Weaknesses of MO Bus App

• Performance Issues: Users frequently report slow loading times, server errors, and inaccurate bus tracking.
• Poor Usability: The app’s interface can be confusing and difficult to navigate, hindering user experience.
• Lack of User Engagement: The app lacks features that encourage user engagement and feedback, limiting opportunities for app improvement.

Improvement Opportunities

• Improve interface and navigation: Implementing a user-friendly interface with intuitive navigation can make the app more accessible and user-friendly.
• Optimize performance: Addressing server issues and improving app responsiveness can significantly enhance user experience.

Design Goals

The primary objective of this redesign is to establish a seamless, intuitive, and aesthetically pleasing user interface (UI). Based on extensive user research, it was evident that many regular MO Bus app users expressed dissatisfaction with the existing UI, perceiving it as outdated and unappealing. This redesign aims to address these concerns by implementing a modern and user-friendly UI that caters to the preferences and needs of the app’s target audience.

User Research

To gain a deeper understanding of the user needs and pain points associated with the existing MO Bus app, I conducted informal conversations with a group of college students and regular MO Bus users. While this was not a formal research study with a large sample size, the consistent feedback I received provided valuable insights into the areas that required improvement.

Through these informal interactions, two primary concerns emerged:

• Outdated Interface: The app’s interface was perceived as outdated, cluttered, and difficult to navigate. Users expressed frustration with the lack of visual clarity, inconsistent design elements, and overall lack of modernity.
• Server Issues: Users frequently encountered server issues, leading to slow loading times, unexpected crashes, and unresponsiveness. These issues disrupted their ability to access bus schedules, plan trips, and purchase tickets efficiently.

The insights gained from our user research informed the core objectives of the redesign. I focused on:

• Modern Aesthetics
• Intuitive Navigation
• Streamlined Interactions

While I acknowledge that server issues require backend development expertise, the redesign aimed to address the interface-related pain points and improve the overall user experience within the app’s capabilities.

Design Process

The redesign process was initiated with a thorough user research phase, involving in-depth interviews with a group of college students who regularly use the MO Bus app. These interviews uncovered key pain points and usability issues faced by users, providing valuable insights into the areas that required improvement.

Armed with user feedback, the design process transitioned into an ideation phase, where rough wireframes were sketched to visualize potential solutions. These wireframes were then refined and iterated upon, incorporating feedback from both the users i interviewed and my own personal experience with the app.

To establish a consistent and modern visual identity, the latest Material Design 3 guidelines were adopted. This ensured a user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing interface that aligned with current design trends. The overall design process maintained the existing app’s core functionalities, such as real-time tracking, trip planning, e-ticketing, and bus schedules. The focus remained on enhancing the user experience by streamlining interactions, improving navigation, and refining the visual elements.

By following a user-centered design approach, the redesign process addressed the identified pain points and transformed the MO Bus app into a more intuitive, user-friendly, and visually appealing platform.

Visual Design

Material 3 Design for Modern Aesthetics and Interactive Elements

• Adopting Material 3 Design: Embracing the latest Material 3 design guidelines instilled a modern and cohesive aesthetic throughout the app, aligning with current design trends and user preferences.
• Incorporating Interactive Elements: Implementing interactive elements, such as expandable panels and progress indicators, enhanced the user experience by providing visual cues, feedback, and a sense of dynamism.

Visual Clarity

• Enhancing Visual Hierarchy: Employing clear visual hierarchy, whitespace, and consistent spacing ensured a clutter-free interface, making it easier for users to scan, locate, and understand information.
• Streamlining Visual Elements: Refining visual elements, such as icons and typography, improved clarity and consistency, reducing the need for text-heavy content and promoting intuitive comprehension.

Improved Navigation

• Introducing Bottom Navigation Bar: Implementing a bottom navigation bar provided users with quick and easy access to primary app functions, streamlining navigation and reducing the need for deep menu diving.
• Simplifying Information Architecture: Simplifying the app’s information architecture and flow made it more intuitive and logical for users to navigate, reducing confusion and enhancing task completion efficiency.

These design decisions collectively contributed to a significantly improved user experience, making the MO Bus app more user-friendly, engaging, and accessible to a wider audience.

Screens

Comparison between Real App and my Redesign

Conclusion

The redesigned MO Bus app represents a culmination of user-centered design principles, and a focus on modern aesthetics. By addressing the identified pain points and implementing intuitive navigation, streamlined interactions, and a visually appealing interface, this redesign aims to revolutionize the user experience for regular MO Bus app users.

This project has instilled several valuable learnings:

• The power of user research: Even small-scale research can uncover critical user needs and inform design decisions that resonate with a broader audience.
• The importance of iteration: User feedback is a continuous learning loop, guiding design improvements and ensuring a final product that truly serves its users.
• The impact of visual clarity: A clean and intuitive interface can significantly enhance user comprehension, reduce frustration, and make technology accessible to everyone.

Moving forward, further user testing and data analysis will be crucial to refine the design and quantify its impact on user behavior. Additionally, exploring advanced features, such as real-time bus capacity information and multi-modal trip planning, could offer further value to MO Bus users.

This redesigned MO Bus app stands as a testament to the transformative power of user-centered design. It embodies the possibility of creating a seamless and enjoyable experience for public transportation commuters, empowering them to navigate their city with confidence and ease.

This redesign project is completely fictional, I wasn’t associated with CRUT or the team behind the MO Bus App.