Yubuk
Yubuk is a platform that supports both tourists and locals in the Austrian village Kleinwalsertal in the finding and booking of restaurants. Based on extensive research this location-specific app was developed and prototyped by following essential user experience design steps such as user testing, information architecture and wireframing.
UNDERSTANDING THE CONTEXT
In Human Computer Interaction it is not enough to analyse the technological environment, but it is necessary to consider the broader context of settings in order to develop inclusive products and experiences.
A trend around food is evolving in the field of tourism in Germany and Austria. Locals are gravitating back towards regional products and agriculture, putting emphasis on the homemade aspect in kitchens and food retail. As the seasons become more unpredictable and it is difficult to say whether it will snow during the winter, inhabitants affected by tourism tend to try and expand into different directions. One of them being the offer of unforgettable culinary experiences.
Therefore, I wanted to take the opportunity and leverage such demand while simultaneously contributing to the village’s digitalization of infrastructure.
RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY
People who come from big cities are used to long flexible opening hours and spontaneous dinners. In the Kleinwalsertal region however, restaurants close quite early, making it useful to organize meals in advance. Especially during high season, the demand for restaurants naturally increases, making it even more difficult to find a place. Customers are additionally frustrated because they have to call each single restaurant.
«Organizing a dinner with friends should be fun and easy, not a long, dreadful procedure.»
Peter F.
UserS, profiling AND FLOW
The targeted users belong to two main groups, tourists and locals, which implies that there would be short-term and long-term users. During the profiling stage this meant that the app would have to respect language preferences and favor recognition and ease of use.
For an easy experience I chose to have the list of restaurants and the map as only openly visible menu points. Other functions such as “cancel reservation” could then be found under the personal profile which is also visible on the home screens.
PROTOTYPING AND TESTING
Initial wireframes were sketched and tested to receive fast feedback on general functions, features and error states. The insights gained were then implemented and the high-fi prototyping development began. Further tests showed high satisfaction rates in usability and interface choices.
THE BRANDING
The design language is characterized through a light blue and faded orange which are meant to represent the two strongest seasons for tourism in Kleinwalsertal, winter and summer. While the blue was kept as the prevalent background color, the orange is used to highlight relevant elements. The logo and type treatment were kept minimal but with a fun twist due to the font’s playful contrasts of shapes.
DONE AT
University of Brighton
ROLE
UX/UI Design
YEAR
2019/2020
