Volux (Design challenge)
Client
Toll Brothers | Volux
Background
Toll Brothers is a luxury home builder. They wanted to see how I would approach creating a user experience for a fictitious high-end, luxury brand. In this case they imagined a private jet service that would offer unrivaled amenities for their users.
Having a few simple branding ads provided to me, my task was to create the next level user experience. For them, that meant everything from establishing the information architecture and interaction patterns to the visual design.
Design challenge criteria
• Volux logo and 3 advertisements provided for reference/context
• Time constraints: Spend no more than 3-4 hours
• Create a Volux mobile app UX that emphasizes the luxury brand
• Propose big ideas and features for this app
• At a minimum: Display a reservation system
• Show how the app functions
• Show process, inputs, and visual elements
• Explain assumptions as needed?
Creating Personas (20 Minutes)
As a designer it always helps to have a persona or idea of whom you're designing for. I created three personas to envision a quick backstory. This helped me to layout a couple of goals (discovering new/exciting hotels; exploring the local cuisine, expedited travel booking). As well as define some points of pain (not tech savvy, being comfortable in airline seats, too many options)
Brainstorming - Crazy 8s (40 Minutes)
I generated a number of ideas on what types of features the app should provide. Given the time constrains and scope of the project, I narrowed down my focus to creating four which include: Booking, amenities, dining, and inflight experience.
High Fidelity Prototyping (3 hours)
I jumped into wire framing and skinning quickly to a simple layout. While thinking through the user journey, I envisioned that there would be four essential steps for the user. These include: destination, amenities, dining, and scheduling.
Selecting a destination
As the user enters their destination, beautiful photography of the city is overlaid by a brief description: “Paris, the city of light is renowned for its culture, theater, and dining.
Once concept that occurred to me while brainstorming was an option for the user to select the mood for their destination. This could have impacts from the type of services offered in-flight (lighting, music, meals etc that would be suggested by the app later on). It might also impact features like a mood themed concierge to help direct travelers to the sites and experiences matching the mood themes selected.
Selecting Amenities
In high-end travel exclusive amenities curated by the airline are offered to passengers. In addition to providing the user with the ability to select from various options, an augmented reality feature is included in the app which lets the user explore the products in greater detail beyond the description.
Selecting In-flight Dining Options
Likewise, with dining users are provided with a background on the chefs, regional fare, and have the option to view details on the menu through an image carousel.
One idea (not shown) could be for users to request a recipe sample. Volux could partner with Plated, or HomeChef to provide the user with a sample of these recipes pre/post-flight.
Booking / Confirmation
Rather than requiring the user select from a predefined timeframe, the user selects the time of day that they prefer to depart which allows for a simple tile based layout requiring only a minimal UI that informs and allows the user complete control over their physical in-flight experience.
Pre Flight Immersive exploration
To make sure users have everything required for their flights, they're encouraged to explore the cabin using the augmented reality feature.
