AccessiParks

A mobile app created to help people with disabilities locate accessible parks in their area

AccessiParks High Fidelity Prototype 

AccessiParks Case Study

Project Background​​​​​​​
An introduction to AccessiParks, a native mobile app that helps users locate parks in their area that meet their specific accessibility needs. Also lists project duration (01/2025 to 03/2025), my role (lead UX researcher and designer), and my responsibilities (user research, wireframing, prototyping, and testing).
Image describes the problem that led to AccessiParks (lack of consistent accessibility considerations in public parks), and how AccessiParks solves it (by providing an app that displays parks in user's area compatible with their accessibility needs).
Getting to know the end user
Persona for Annalise, a wheelchair user who enjoys getting out in nature
Annalise's goals (getting out in nature, exploring new areas in her city, keeping herself and her service dog active) and frustrations (many outdoor spaces being inaccessible to her due to her wheelchair use, limited accessibility at parks, negative past experiences with trying new places).
Problem statement: "Annalise is a wheelchair user who needs a way to determine the extent of a park's wheelchair accessibility because 'wheelchair accessible' is vague and doesn't tell her if she can take full advantage of the park's attractions/amenities."
Empathy map for Annalise
Annalise's User Journey. Goal: Find a park that is fully wheelchair accessible.
Describes the user journey for Annalise as she uses AccessiParks to find and navigate to a park that fits her needs
Persona for Mateo, the father of a child with autism
Mateo's goals (bonding with his son through play, making the most of his time with family, and providing an environment his child can fully enjoy) and frustrations (playgrounds can be too over/under-stimulating for his son, hard to know if a new park will suit his family's needs, and can't spend as much time with family as he would like).
Mateo's problem statement: "Mateo is a parent who needs assistance vetting playgrounds that are inclusive to those on the autism spectrum because his son with autism can become easily over/under-stimulated on non-inclusive playgrounds."
Empathy map for Mateo
Mateo's user journey. Goal: Leave a review on a park's playground accessibility.
The steps Mateo takes on his user journey to submit a review for a visited park
Scoping Out the Competition

I conducted individual online research on competitors to AccessiParks. I discovered three direct competitors and one indirect. However, none of the competitors offered the same unique value proposition as AccessiParks- an app for finding and reviewing parks on a wide variety of accessibility needs, with a rating system, ability to attach photo/video to reviews, and a tagging system for sorting results. Thus AccessiParks fills a necessary gap within this market.

View/download the competitive audit here
Beginning the Design
Visualizes the user flow for AccessiParks
View/download the user flow here
Paper wireframes for AccessiParks, showing early design ideas
Digital wireframes for AccessiParks, including more detail of page elements compared to the paper wireframes
View digital wireframes here
Refining the Design
AccessiPark's mockup is where we start to see branding, with the inclusion of a green color scheme and outdoor imagery
View mockups here
A closer look at screens in the mockup, showcasing the first iteration of the accessibility needs tag system, and the ability to login with biometrics
Usability testing recommends some changes. Primarily, an update to include more tags in the tagging system, a helpfulness rating for reviews, the inclusion of key park details on the results page, and tweaks to text apperance
The high-fidelity prototype, with several new screens and more functionality
View high-fidelity prototype here
Screens showcasing new additions in the high-fidelity version, including basic park info in the results page, an updated tag system including more specific accessibility needs, and a review helpfulness rating feature
High-Fidelity Walkthrough
Access the walkthrough here
User testing in the second round is generally favorable, though a recommendation was made to make the nav menu sticky, which has since been incorporated
Considerations for the Next Steps
Accessibility considerations for AccessiParks- these include satisfactory color contrast, appropriate text and icon size, alternative methods for accessing AccessiParks like use of biometrics, and industry standard methods of navigation
Final user reviews are positive. This project allowed me to expand my design skills, learn new techniques, and develop a deeper understanding of the needs and experiences of people with disabilities
Next steps include continuing to add interactions and screens, continue user research (particularly regarding accessibility), and add more microinteractions and tweaks to design
Citations page for all project imagery, fonts, and icons
That's all, Folks!
Thank You!
↑Back to Top