AP.

DAU Ridepod

Year
2026
Role
UX Researcher and Designer, in a team of four
Deliverable
Kiosk and interface design, and a physical mock-up
Duration
9 to 20 March 2026
Course
Service Design

0

Survey responses

Campus travel survey. 28 of the 36 live in the on-campus hostel.

0%

Go out often

31 of 36 travel outside campus daily or a few times a week.

0%

Would use it

25 said yes, 6 maybe and 5 no to an e-bike rental on campus.

0

Usability rounds

One on the problem, one on which kiosk and interface to build.

01 Brief

What it is

A concept render of a kiosk bay: the kiosk, a row of docked blue e-bikes and three steps on the wall.

02 Problem

What was wrong

  1. 01.

    No transport of their own.

  2. 02.

    Cabs cost more than short trips justify.

  3. 03.

    Plans bend to the ride.

  4. 04.

    Walking is the default, and it is hard.

03 Survey

What I found

  1. 01.

    Most students live in the hostel.

  2. 02.

    They go out often, for everyday things.

  3. 03.

    Walking and cabs carry the load.

  4. 04.

    Cost, then options, then time.

  5. 05.

    Most pay something every trip.

  6. 06.

    Interest is high.

04 People

Who it is for

Shruti

19, second year, on-campus hostel

Wants an affordable way to travel alone within 5 to 7 km, without paying 100 rupees for a short trip.

Aman

20, third year, off campus

Wants a vehicle on demand without asking friends, including for late-night plans.

05 Journey

One trip

  • Realises a trip is needed

    Feeling

    Mild stress, time pressure

    What the design does

    Makes Ridepod visible across campus

  • Explores the options

    Feeling

    Hesitation, budget concern

    What the design does

    Shows the cost against a cab

  • Decides to use the kiosk

    Feeling

    Curious, slightly unsure

    What the design does

    Clear instructions and cues for how simple it is

  • First interaction and booking

    Feeling

    Curious, slightly anxious

    What the design does

    A step-by-step interface, a large screen, price up front

  • The ride

    Feeling

    Freedom, relief

    What the design does

    A comfortable bike and safety features

  • Returns and completes

    Feeling

    Satisfaction, trust

    What the design does

    A trip summary and a reason to come back

06 Design

What I decided

One surface to approach.

A single dominant screen with one front interaction zone makes it clear where to stand and what to do.

The screen sits in the reach band.

Placed within a 1000 to 1350 mm band and tilted forward about 18 degrees, which reduces glare and wrist strain.

Soft, safe edges.

Rounded edges are safer in a crowd, and nothing protrudes in front, so people can stand close.

Safety kit out of the way.

The fire extinguisher sits below the primary reach zone so it does not interfere.

Stable and self-service.

A broad base resists tipping, and several docking slots let one kiosk manage several bikes without staff.

Calm tone, short process.

A calm blue palette reads in daylight and at night, and the whole process finishes in under a minute.

The ten kiosk screens: welcome, details, OTP, ride duration, payment by QR, UPI or card, and bike unlocked.

07 Testing

Two rounds

  • 1. The problem

    What students saw

    Questions about their travel

    What they said

    They needed a better option than cabs, bent schedules around rides, and wanted something faster and cheaper that did not break down.

  • 2. Kiosk and interface

    What students saw

    Kiosk concepts and interface directions

    What they said

    More chose the white kiosk for looking sleek and modern, and the blue interface for being faster, with a balanced, clean tone.

What happened

The administration's first reason
The second reason
The third reason

A note on the numbers

  • The survey is 36 students at one campus, mostly hostel residents. It records what they say they would do, not what they did.
  • The deck quotes other counts (25 interviews, 30 or 35 survey responses, 55 users). The survey form holds 36, so 36 is the number used here.
  • The number of students in each usability round is not recorded, so the preference for the white kiosk and blue interface is directional.
  • The kiosk screens show sample data. Bike availability, ride history and fares are placeholders.

08 Limits

What I could not test

  • The administration's view was asked for only at the final presentation. The research before that covered students alone, so cost recovery was not tested until the end.
  • No bike was ever rented, so willingness to pay and real use are not measured.
  • The file holds no cost model, battery or maintenance plan, and no approval from the university for space or power. The project ran in 12 days.
  • An agreement with an outside provider for a service desk near campus was about to be signed, and was shelved after joint meetings with the Student Body Government and the Director.

09 Learnings

What I learnt

  1. 01.

    A need is not yet a service.

  2. 02.

    Body and screen are one problem.

  3. 03.

    Research methods give the foundation.

Next Project: Swiggy Agent Decision Interface

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