Problem
Google Maps offers essential features like navigation, real-time traffic, Street View, and location search. However, it lacks features to see the weather of the destination location, requiring users to switch to see other weather app.
Solution
I propose integrating a weather feature directly into Google Maps, enabling users to check weather conditions of their destination and receive a real time weather updates during their trip so they do not have to access third party weather apps
Role
Research, UX, UI
View Destination Weather and Plan Your Drive
Timeline
Aug 2024 - Sep 2024
Define
Overview
Research
Competitive Analysis
User Interviews
Planning
Affinity Mapping
User persona
Design
User Flow
Task Flow
Prototype
Hi-Fi
Testing
and iteration
User Testing
Revisions
Next Steps...
OVERVIEW
Google Maps is a widely used web mapping service by Google with millions of active users. It provides essential features such as navigation, real-time traffic updates, Street View, and location searches, available across numerous countries. Users can explore features like turn-by-turn directions, traffic forecasts, and business listings. As of today, Google Maps continues to be one of the most popular tools for travel, local discovery, and daily navigation worldwide.
Opportunity
Introduce a feature that offers a simple and convenient way to check weather conditions at the destination within the app, enhancing user satisfaction and experience while maintaining the app's current design.
RESEARCH
Research Goals
The research will help me understand user preferences when using maps and how they manage switching between multiple apps during their travels. This will provide valuable insights into how to streamline the user experience by integrating essential features within a single app.
Methodologies
Competitor Analysis
User Interview
Key Takeaways
01
Google Maps offers the option to view the current weather, but it does not provide the ability to check the weather of the destination while setting the address.
02
Google Maps users must drag the map to the desired location in order to see the current weather for that area.
03
Apple Maps offers the option to view the weather, but it redirects users to the Weather app for more detailed information.
04
Waze is the only app that offers a feature called "Plan a Drive," which sends notifications to users, helping them arrive on time.
Competitor Analysis
To develop the most effective solution, I conducted a competitive analysis of direct competitors offering similar map services. I focused on identifying common features and key differences, evaluating how each competitor approaches functionality and user experience.
User Interview
I interviewed six people who frequently travel between states to understand their experiences with map services and the importance of weather information. They shared concerns about safety, particularly with traffic and bad weather. This feedback will help develop a feature that makes their travel experience safer and easier.
Affinity Mapping
01
5 out of 6 participants emphasized the importance of checking the weather before going out.
02
All participants found it easier and more convenient to access travel information of the destination location in one place, rather than switching between multiple apps.
03
There is a clear desire among participants for a streamlined solution that combines navigation and weather updates into a single app.
What did we learn?
We’ve learned that users want to simplify their travel planning and save time. Checking multiple apps for weather and traffic can be time-consuming and stressful. Users prefer a relaxed, smooth experience while driving, similar to following an easy navigation route. For example, a busy professional who travels often may struggle to check different apps for weather and traffic during their drive. Similarly, someone driving long distances would appreciate real-time weather updates within their navigation app, helping them plan ahead and avoid delays.
After analyzing my research and interview responses, I gained a deeper understanding of the users’ needs and identified their main pain points. I then focused on creating solutions to address these challenges. I reframed these insights into a point of view (POV) statement and developed a “How might we” question to guide the solution process and ensure I am addressing their key issues effectively.
POV
I would like to explore ways to help users by introducing a weather feature in Google Maps, simplifying their travel preparation with everything they need in one app.
“How might we develop a weather integration feature for Google Maps to help users plan their trips more effectively and access all relevant information within a single app?”
Flowchart
These user and task flows will help me to hypothesizing how the users would navigate through key screens.
Task 1: The user is viewing the weather forecast of their destination on Google Maps.
Task2: The user is looking at the best time to start driving based on the weather.
Task3: Alternate Route suggestion.
Wireframes Annotations
With the user flows defined, I moved on to building the initial frames for the prototype. Since this feature is designed for Google Maps, I used their existing design framework to ensure a cohesive integration. My goal was to fit the new feature seamlessly within the current app layout, maintaining a familiar experience for users. This is an early-stage prototype, and I plan to refine the layout and interactions further based on insights from upcoming user testing sessions.
All Screens
The following screens showcase the current Google Maps interface, now enhanced with the newly integrated feature. This feature becomes accessible once the user sets a destination. Users can also see the optimal time to start their drive by entering their destination, with updates based on real-time traffic and weather conditions. This addition aims to provide a more convenient and informed travel experience, helping users plan their routes more effectively.
Usability Testing
I conducted usability testing with five participants to gather feedback on the design and functionality of the new feature. The testing surfaced valuable insights: some users encountered difficulties with certain design aspects, while others experienced challenges with functionality. These findings have informed the next steps for refinement, ensuring the feature is both user-friendly and seamlessly integrated. The results as follows:
01
Participants loved the time-based weather feature, finding it easy to use and super helpful for planning their trips.
02
The weather icon was relocated to better align with Google Maps’ current design, ensuring a more cohesive and intuitive user experience.
03
Some users mentioned that the title "Time to drive” tab under weather was confusing and unclear to them.
04
Almost all participants had difficulty finding the "Best Time to Drive" tab to view the weather conditions based on time.
05
They loved the idea of receiving pop-up notifications during their trip, as it would allow them to stay informed without having to switch to a separate weather app while driving.
Before & After
After testing the product on the participants, I addressed the solutions to improve the design based on users feedbacks.
What did I learn?
This idea resonated with users, as all participants expressed a strong desire for the reminder and travel planning features to be available on Google Maps as soon as possible. I believe that prioritizing an intuitive user experience will have a positive impact on the brand by making travel planning easier and more efficient. As a result, it’s likely to increase user engagement and attract users who want to plan ahead and avoid bad weather during their trips.
Next steps...
I would run more rounds of testing with a broader user base to gather further insights on the new layout and functionality, especially after implementing the changes.
Design the "Get Reminder" feature and provide a visual representation of how it would appear as a pop-up notification on a phone, outside the app.
View project
Persona
The new features are designed for professionals who frequently take long trips or commute daily by car. These users rely on seamless, efficient travel planning to manage weather, traffic, and time effectively. For example, a business professional who drives long distances for meetings would benefit from real-time weather and traffic updates integrated into a single app, allowing them to make informed decisions on the best route and when to depart.
