National Park Service
App Redesign
UX Design | Information Architecture
Overview
The National Parks Service seeks to preserve natural and cultural resources across the United States to benefit and educate visitors. There are 63 national parks across 30 states, among 360 other local and national sites. In Feb. 2021, NPS launched its official local search application for iOS and Android.
We researched alternative apps in the same field of local search. In contrast to the results, NPS did not provide essential information and customizable experiences, prompting us to establish it as our goal for solution development.
We surveyed individuals who frequently visit National Parks and those in the process of planning a National Park trip to pinpoint any challenges, frustrations, requirements, and preferences they have with the National Park Service app. The aim is to enhance their planning experience and address specific pain points identified through their feedback.
By analyzing the challenges and objectives shared by interviewees, we identified recurring themes within this diverse group and structured them using an affinity map.
With our gathered information, we created personas to help understand the users' needs, experiences, behaviors and goals.
We developed journey maps to immerse ourselves in the users' experiences, understanding the challenges they encounter in their daily lives, and identifying potential solutions and opportunities for improvement.
To refine our focus, we formulated problem statements for each user, providing a clear definition of the challenges we aim to address and solve. We ideated the user's problem statement and formulated questions to address and solve their issues.
We created task flows for each feature, ensuring seamless integration and application within the existing app structure.
The new design of the NPS App focuses on creating a narrative flow, with a persistent tab bar for user control and easy navigation to frequently used features. It highlights exceptional NPS information, aiming to personalize the user experience and encourage visits to National Parks. The design incorporates modern standards and practices for a contemporary and up-to-date app.