Project Overview
DriveWise is a mobile application designed to help drivers improve their habits through real-time monitoring, personalized feedback, and behavior-based incentives. Our team identified a common issue: many drivers unknowingly develop harmful driving habits over time, which compromise road safety and increase accident risks. This app aims to support drivers—especially those preparing for advanced licenses—by offering consistent, data-driven insights into their driving behaviors.
By installing smart cameras both inside and outside the vehicle, DriveWise tracks key driving patterns, evaluates user performance, and delivers tailored recommendations. The app also uses a reward-based system to motivate users to adopt and maintain safe driving habits. I served as both team leader and UI/UX designer, guiding the project from research through to final prototype development.
Key Contributions: Field Research, Secondary Research, Wireframing, Visual Design, Interaction Design, Prototyping
Topic Selection & Framing
The project began with collaborative brainstorming sessions where we explored various socially relevant issues. After evaluating feasibility, impact, and alignment with our team’s strengths, we narrowed down to three ideas. With feedback from our instructor, we chose to focus on improving driving habits, originally targeting novice drivers. However, after further refinement, we decided to focus specifically on Class 4 license applicants—a niche but underserved user group.
I led the framing of our final problem statement:
"How might we help Class 5 drivers prepare for the Class 4 driver’s license through resolving their bad driving habits?"
This focus allowed us to clearly differentiate DriveWise from existing driver training programs while identifying a specific need in the market.
Research & Discovery
Leading both field and secondary research, I guided our team through the planning and execution of a robust qualitative research phase. Our methods included pre-interview surveys, semi-structured interviews, and user observation. I developed research goals to ensure we investigated the motivations, pain points, and values behind driving behaviors.
To ensure ethical standards, I referenced IDEO and IBM Design Thinking principles to create a comfortable, open environment for participants. Our two sets of interview questions helped us draw insights from both users who had professional driving instruction and those who did not.
The data collected was synthesized into thematic clusters, which led to our development of: two distinct user personas, two journey maps, two empathy maps
This research shaped the core functionality and features of the DriveWise app.
Design & Prototyping
I began the design phase by sketching low-fidelity wireframes that established the app’s structure and user flow. These early visuals formed the foundation for the mid- and high-fidelity wireframes developed in Figma. I also established the visual style guide, including font selection, color palette, and UI component styles to ensure consistency and usability.
In addition to digital design, we proposed smart in-vehicle cameras for behavior tracking. One teammate created the 3D models of these cameras, visualizing how our product would integrate with real-world driving environments.
I was solely responsible for the interactive prototype, ensuring a smooth, intuitive, and logical user experience across the app’s various features—from feedback delivery to reward redemption.
Final Product
The final prototype, built in Figma, features a clean and functional interface that offers real-time behavioural insights, performance tracking, and reward-based motivation. The app is designed to be user-friendly for Class 5 drivers seeking to level up to Class 4, with a focus on accountability, consistency, and ease of use. To experience the full interactive prototype in Figma, Click Here
Reflection
This project was a significant learning experience—both as a designer and as a leader. While I typically gravitate toward minimalist visual design, this project pushed me to adapt to a more complex, information-rich interface preferred by my teammates. I embraced the challenge and contributed strong visual elements that aligned with our collective vision.
As team leader, I demonstrated strengths in project management, including task delegation, prioritization, and maintaining timelines across multiple workstreams. I also led creative problem-solving efforts and contributed to translating complex ideas into effective, user-centered solutions. Strong communication played a crucial role—I ensured smooth collaboration within the team and with our instructors by clearly articulating our goals, progress, and decisions.