Trailblazing for Beginners: A mountain bikers guide to trail navigation.
As the lead designer, I spearheaded a design exercise to develop a beginner's guide to mountain biking, showcasing my process and vision for creating an impactful and user-centered solution.
Mountain biking can be intimidating for beginners, and I took the initiative to address this challenge head-on. During my interview, I seized the opportunity to choose a design topic and decided to create a comprehensive solution for novice mountain bikers. Conducting an impromptu user interview with the interviewer acting as a proxy user, I led the effort to develop empathy and identify key problems to address in the design. The entire process unfolded within the interview session, demonstrating my ability to take charge and deliver under pressure.
Overview
Problem
How can I empower beginner mountain bikers to start their journey with confidence? How can I guide them in choosing trails, selecting appropriate gear, and ensuring their safety?
Design Approach
Given full creative agency, I decided to use the National Parks color palette for the design. This choice was driven by my love for the outdoors, which added excitement to the project and aligned perfectly with the theme of mountain biking.
My Role: Product Designer
Timeline: Interview session
Discovery
Result & Solution
In the end, I was able to accomplish the goals I set out to achieve. I presented an experience that reflects a user's novice state. My solution provided an experience that guides users towards:
Bike Safety: Educating users on necessary safety gear and practices.
Way-finding: Helping users select suitable trails for their skill level.
Biking Navigation: Offering tips and tools for effective biking navigation.
Trail Navigation: Ensuring users can confidently navigate trails.
The goal was to conceptualize a guide that encourages more users to hit the trails, empowering them to do so with safety, confidence, and equally important to have fun.
Outcome:
Creating this project allowed me to practice critical thinking, attention to detail, and use human-centered design thinking for a hobby I am passionate about. It also brought to light some aspects I take for granted as an advanced mountain biker, forcing me to consider the perspective of those without the same knowledge and experience. My leadership in this process resulted in an empathy-driven solution that was well-received and provided valuable insights into the needs and challenges faced by beginners.
While I didn't get the job due to the company undergoing budget constraints and being unable to offer me a position at the time, they expressed interest in hiring me in the future when the timing aligns with business feasibility.