Case Study:
ParkPal Chicago
Problem
Chicago is known for its extensive public parks and outdoor spaces, but there is no centralized and convenient resource that provides information on park amenities, available activities, or upcoming events. Without easy access to this information, both residents and visitors may miss out on valuable opportunities in their neighborhoods and across the city.
To address this gap, we aimed to create an application that serves as a comprehensive and user-friendly hub for information on Chicago’s parks and green spaces.
Solution
Our team validated the need for this solution through academic research and competitive analysis. We identified user needs and behaviors by conducting interviews and surveys, then refined our designs through multiple rounds of usability testing.
The final outcome was a high-fidelity interactive prototype, accompanied by a presentation and report detailing our research, design process, and key findings.
Role
UX Researcher & Designer – Conducted user research, designed prototypes, and led usability testing.
Timeline
Overall: 11 weeks
Discovery & Research: 5 weeks
Design & Testing: 6 weeks
Tools
FigJam & Figma
Optimal Workshop
Qualtrics
Zoom
Research
Competitive Analysis
We researched similar products using Google Scholar and Google Search and analyzed five competitors.
Findings:
Existing solutions lacked accessibility and key features.
Most focused only on parks or events—not both.
Choose Chicago was the closest match but still had gaps..
Takeaways
Our competitive review exposed an opportunity to provide users with an Our research highlighted an opportunity to design a mobile app that:
✅ Improves community engagement through better park awareness
✅ Provides personalized recommendations
✅ Makes park information easier to access and explore
User Interviews
To better understand our target audience, we conducted interviews with 9 participants. These conversations provided valuable insights into user behaviors and needs.
Methods: Interviews, Affinity Mapping
Tools Used: Informed Consent Forms, Interview Protocol, Zoom, FigJam
Key Findings:
Activities people enjoy when visiting parks
How they discover park events
Their preferred modes of transportation to parks
Challenges they face when accessing park information
User Surveys
To gather quantitative insights on user preferences and behaviors, we conducted a survey with 28 respondents. This data helped us better understand our target users.
Methods: Surveys, Affinity Mapping
Tools Used: Qualtrics, FigJam
Key Insights:
Frequency of park visits in Chicago
Preferred modes of transportation
Favorite activities and events
Key factors influencing park visits
Tools used for planning trips
Desired features for a park-related app
Ideation Workshop
With a clear understanding of our users, we began brainstorming and exploring design concepts.
Methods: Collaborative Ideation, Low-Fidelity Prototyping
Tools Used: Pencil & Paper, Figma
Design Phase
Mid-Fi Prototype & Testing
Building on our research insights and design concepts, we developed a mid-fidelity prototype. We prioritized five key tasks that best represented the app's core functionality.
Methods: Wireframing, Mid-Fidelity Prototyping
Tools Used: Figma
Remote Usability Testing
To evaluate our prototype, we conducted unmoderated usability testing with three participants from another project group. Participants were provided with a Request for Proposal (RFP) outlining five key tasks, each paired with a scenario and follow-up questions.
Methods: Unmoderated Testing, Think-Aloud Protocol, Affinity Mapping
Tools Used: Zoom, FigJam
Key Outcomes:
Each team member independently reviewed session recordings and created an affinity diagram of findings.
We then collaborated to discuss insights and identify necessary design improvements.
User Feedback & Iterations
Key Insights:
The onboarding process felt too lengthy.
Users found confirmation modals unnecessary for frequent actions.
Some interface elements lacked clear icons or labels.
The purpose of certain features (Navigate and Community) was unclear.
Design Refinements:
✔ Introduced a progress bar to improve onboarding clarity.
✔ Removed confirmation modals to streamline user interactions.
✔ Enhanced iconography and labeling for better usability.
✔ Integrated Google/Apple Maps, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for seamless connectivity.
✔ Redesigned the Navigate feature to focus on exploration rather than strict navigation.
Brand Identity & Visual Design
To ensure consistency as we refined our high-fidelity prototype, we developed a brand and style guide. Additionally, we designed the ParkPal Chicago logo, incorporating elements that reflect both the City of Chicago and its vibrant parks.
Final Usability Testing
To validate our high-fidelity prototype, we conducted moderated usability testing with eight participants.
Methods: Moderated Testing, Think-Aloud Protocol, Affinity Mapping
Tools Used: Usability Test Script, Zoom, FigJam
Key Outcomes:
Each team member reviewed session recordings and created an affinity diagram for their facilitated sessions.
We then collaborated to analyze findings and identify necessary design refinements.
Final High-Fidelity Prototype
After incorporating feedback from the moderated usability evaluation, we developed the final high-fidelity prototype.
Techniques: Wireframing, High-Fidelity Prototyping
Tools: Figma