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Traversor: AR Wayfinding
Traversor: AR Wayfinding
Traversor: AR Wayfinding
Overview
Overview
Traversor is a navigation system for downtown Indy, designed for both locals and visitors to discover hidden gems. kiosks placed at the key corners, guide you on their own or use your phone via QR for the navigation. The experience translates familiar wayfinding cues (arrows, signboards) into a clean AR interface for easy navigation.
Traversor is a navigation system for downtown Indy, designed for both locals and visitors to discover hidden gems. kiosks placed at the key corners, guide you on their own or use your phone via QR for the navigation. The experience translates familiar wayfinding cues (arrows, signboards) into a clean AR interface for easy navigation.
Role
Role
UX Design
Research
Prototype
3D Model
Tools
Tools
Figma
Miro
Blender
Photoshop
Duration
Duration
4 Months
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
Navigating downtown Indianapolis is often confusing and inconsistent for locals and visitors due to lack of clear guidance and detailed maps, causing many to miss the city’s hidden gems as well as its key landmarks.
Navigating downtown Indianapolis is often confusing and inconsistent for locals and visitors due to lack of clear guidance and detailed maps, causing many to miss the city’s hidden gems as well as its key landmarks.
Navigating downtown Indianapolis is often confusing and inconsistent for locals and visitors due to lack of clear guidance and detailed maps, causing many to miss the city’s hidden gems as well as its key landmarks.
Why?
Why?
Fragmented Information Sources
Fragmented Information Sources
Visitors rely on scattered tools like maps, apps, or outdated signage that don’t offer a unified, real time navigation experience.
Visitors rely on scattered tools like maps, apps, or outdated signage that don’t offer a unified, real time navigation experience.
Poor Integration Between Physical and Digital Elements
Poor Integration Between Physical and Digital Elements
There’s minimal connection between physical kiosks (if any) and digital platforms, leading to disjointed experiences that interrupt spatial understanding and exploration.
There’s minimal connection between physical kiosks (if any) and digital platforms, leading to disjointed experiences that interrupt spatial understanding and exploration.
Lack of Personalized Guidance
Lack of Personalized Guidance
Existing systems fail to adapt to different user needs, locals seeking hidden gems, daytrippers needing orientation, or first-timers requiring step-by-step guidance.
Existing systems fail to adapt to different user needs, locals seeking hidden gems, daytrippers needing orientation, or first-timers requiring step-by-step guidance.
The Solution
The Solution
The Solution
A kiosk + mobile web ecosystem that spotlights hidden gems and popular landmarks, with multilingual UI and AR directions handed off from kiosk to your phone, inspired by familiar physical wayfinding like arrows and signboards.
Kiosks placed at four key zones across downtown, acting as “pillars of connectivity” for quick, walk-up guidance.
Interactive maps with seamless handoff to your phone, scan a QR code to continue navigation without an app.
AR navigation inspired by familiar physical cues like street signs and arrows, translated into a clear, intuitive digital experience.
A kiosk + mobile web ecosystem that spotlights hidden gems and popular landmarks, with multilingual UI and AR directions handed off from kiosk to your phone, inspired by familiar physical wayfinding like arrows and signboards.
Kiosks placed at four key zones across downtown, acting as “pillars of connectivity” for quick, walk-up guidance.
Interactive maps with seamless handoff to your phone, scan a QR code to continue navigation without an app.
AR navigation inspired by familiar physical cues like street signs and arrows, translated into a clear, intuitive digital experience.
How did we start?
How did we start?
How did we start?
We began by studying global wayfinding exemplars, including airports, office spaces, and urban kiosks. The key focus of this project was to translate physical navigation experiences into intuitive digital interfaces (e.g., AR overlays, floating signage, kiosk trails)
We began by studying global wayfinding exemplars, including airports, office spaces, and urban kiosks. The key focus of this project was to translate physical navigation experiences into intuitive digital interfaces (e.g., AR overlays, floating signage, kiosk trails)
So, what were our findings?
So, what were our findings?
So, what were our findings?
We began by studying global wayfinding exemplars, including airports, office spaces, and urban kiosks. The key focus of this project was to translate physical navigation experiences into intuitive digital interfaces (e.g., AR overlays, floating signage, kiosk trails)
We began by studying global wayfinding exemplars, including airports, office spaces, and urban kiosks. The key focus of this project was to translate physical navigation experiences into intuitive digital interfaces (e.g., AR overlays, floating signage, kiosk trails)
Users follow landmarks over directions. “Next to Starbucks” is more useful than “walk 300 ft.”
Users follow landmarks over directions. “Next to Starbucks” is more useful than “walk 300 ft.”
Color coded visual paths are more memorable than text based routes.
Color coded visual paths are more memorable than text based routes.
Phones first, kiosks second. Most users default to mobile and seek kiosks when lost.
Phones first, kiosks second. Most users default to mobile and seek kiosks when lost.
Different users = different strategies (mental mapping vs route based).
Different users = different strategies (mental mapping vs route based).
Who are the users?
Who are the users?
Who are the users?
These user groups were defined after speaking with visitors and locals and mapping real downtown behaviors tourists, day trippers, and residents whose needs around orientation, planning, and hidden gem discovery exposed the biggest gaps in existing wayfinding.
These user groups were defined after speaking with visitors and locals and mapping real downtown behaviors tourists, day trippers, and residents whose needs around orientation, planning, and hidden gem discovery exposed the biggest gaps in existing wayfinding.
Stepping into their shoes
Stepping into their shoes
We went across downtown ourselves to see what our users face and deeply understand them before building a solution for them
We went across downtown ourselves to see what our users face and deeply understand them before building a solution for them
Stepping into their shoes
We went across downtown ourselves to see what our users face and deeply understand them before building a solution for them
Key Insights and Ideas
Key Insights and Ideas
Key Insights and Ideas
From user interviews, site walks, and wayfinding research, we distilled a set of principles that guided the system.
From user interviews, site walks, and wayfinding research, we distilled a set of principles that guided the system.
Beacon enabled kiosks guide people to key zones while encouraging exploration along the way.
Beacon enabled kiosks guide people to key zones while encouraging exploration along the way.
Virtual signboards on mobile extend kiosk guidance to phones, leading users directly to their destination.
Virtual signboards on mobile extend kiosk guidance to phones, leading users directly to their destination.
Web based mobile experience avoids forced app downloads, making Traversor accessible for one time and casual visitors.
Web based mobile experience avoids forced app downloads, making Traversor accessible for one time and casual visitors.
Beacon interaction inspired by the 9/11 Memorial ensures intuitive proximity based content at each kiosk.
Beacon interaction inspired by the 9/11 Memorial ensures intuitive proximity based content at each kiosk.
Scalable network of kiosks allows new units to plug into the same system as downtown grows.
Scalable network of kiosks allows new units to plug into the same system as downtown grows.
Kiosks placed at high traffic hotspots anchor navigation at the most visible and useful points in the core.
Kiosks placed at high traffic hotspots anchor navigation at the most visible and useful points in the core.
Four kiosks as “pillars of connectivity” frame most of downtown, creating a cohesive coverage loop.
Four kiosks as “pillars of connectivity” frame most of downtown, creating a cohesive coverage loop.
AR navigation informed by scavenger hunt style play adds delightful, floating directional cues for discovery.
AR navigation informed by scavenger hunt style play adds delightful, floating directional cues for discovery.
Initial Sketches
Initial Sketches
Initial Sketches
We started with quick paper sketches to explore how kiosks, QR handoff, and AR directions could work together. We designed a kiosk that will complement the mobile flow as the user prefers mobile first for navigation, and a seamless transition from the kiosk to the webapp is our key feature. The users can find a place in the kiosk and use their phone to navigate to that place.
We started with quick paper sketches to explore how kiosks, QR handoff, and AR directions could work together. We designed a kiosk that will complement the mobile flow as the user prefers mobile first for navigation, and a seamless transition from the kiosk to the webapp is our key feature. The users can find a place in the kiosk and use their phone to navigate to that place.
Early User Testing
Early User Testing
Early User Testing
We tested our initial prototypes to understand what the user had to say and if they could understand what we were trying to achieve. We asked them about their experience and what they find difficult to understand or navigate within the app.
We tested our initial prototypes to understand what the user had to say and if they could understand what we were trying to achieve. We asked them about their experience and what they find difficult to understand or navigate within the app.
How we did it?
How we did it?
We conducted the usability testing and followed the Cognitive walkthrough, and asked the users to imagine themselves in a scenario where they are new to the town and want to explore downtown and visit popular restaurants and places. We chose the users who are from Indy and some who never visited Indy. We broke down the steps as follows
We conducted the usability testing and followed the Cognitive walkthrough, and asked the users to imagine themselves in a scenario where they are new to the town and want to explore downtown and visit popular restaurants and places. We chose the users who are from Indy and some who never visited Indy. We broke down the steps as follows
Scenario Building
Scenario Building
You are John, who came to Indy for his office meeting. Now he has 36 hours left in Indy, and he wants to explore all the popular places in as efficient a way as possible without getting lost in the confusing streets
You are John, who came to Indy for his office meeting. Now he has 36 hours left in Indy, and he wants to explore all the popular places in as efficient a way as possible without getting lost in the confusing streets
Targeted Tasks
Targeted Tasks
Visit the kiosk and look for a place you want to visit and follow the instructions and then navigate through your phone to that location
Visit the kiosk and look for a place you want to visit and follow the instructions and then navigate through your phone to that location
What we found?
Users were confused by separate “local vs new user” paths and felt this distinction was unnecessary.
Users were confused by separate “local vs new user” paths and felt this distinction was unnecessary.
Participants wanted multiple travel modes, walking, cycling, and public transport—rather than only one default route.
Participants wanted multiple travel modes, walking, cycling, and public transport—rather than only one default route.
Users expected a seamless way to send their chosen destination from the kiosk to their phone without re-entering details.
Users expected a seamless way to send their chosen destination from the kiosk to their phone without re-entering details.
They asked for a neutral home screen and a clear reset action so the kiosk doesn’t expose the previous user’s route.
They asked for a neutral home screen and a clear reset action so the kiosk doesn’t expose the previous user’s route.
The “Top places to visit” list felt cluttered; users preferred fewer, clearer, and better-curated options.
The “Top places to visit” list felt cluttered; users preferred fewer, clearer, and better-curated options.
Users wanted the map to highlight popular spots and let them navigate to those directly.
Users wanted the map to highlight popular spots and let them navigate to those directly.
Four kiosks as “pillars of connectivity” frame most of downtown, creating a cohesive coverage loop.
Four kiosks as “pillars of connectivity” frame most of downtown, creating a cohesive coverage loop.
Final Results
Final Results
Traversor transforms a confusing, fragmented downtown journey into a seamless kiosk to phone experience that surfaces clear routes, multiple travel options, and hidden local gems for every type of visitor.
Traversor transforms a confusing, fragmented downtown journey into a seamless kiosk to phone experience that surfaces clear routes, multiple travel options, and hidden local gems for every type of visitor.
1
Home Screen for Kiosk
Home Screen for Kiosk
Instant help with a visible support number, quick language switch for international visitors, and for privacy, routes are cleared automatically after inactivity, returning the kiosk to the home screen for the next user.
Instant help with a visible support number, quick language switch for international visitors, and for privacy, routes are cleared automatically after inactivity, returning the kiosk to the home screen for the next user.
2
Place Details & Route Preview
Place Details & Route Preview
Shows photos, key info, and ratings for the selected spot, with an immediate route preview and a single tap to start navigation with an option for AR navigation.
Shows photos, key info, and ratings for the selected spot, with an immediate route preview and a single tap to start navigation with an option for AR navigation.
3
Interactive City Map
Interactive City Map
Kiosk map highlights popular areas and curated points of interest, with concise details and photos on the side and a clear Directions CTA, making it easy to discover a spot, understand where it sits in downtown, and start navigating in one step.
Kiosk map highlights popular areas and curated points of interest, with concise details and photos on the side and a clear Directions CTA, making it easy to discover a spot, understand where it sits in downtown, and start navigating in one step.
4
Photo Capture & Handoff
Photo Capture & Handoff
Kiosks have built in cameras and are positioned at photo worthy spots so visitors can snap memorable shots, then instantly save them by scanning a unique QR code
Kiosks have built in cameras and are positioned at photo worthy spots so visitors can snap memorable shots, then instantly save them by scanning a unique QR code
5
Multilingual Access & Guided Support
Multilingual Access & Guided Support
A dedicated language hub offers one tap switching into visitors’ native languages and a clear path to book local guides, making Traversor welcoming and usable for international travelers.
A dedicated language hub offers one tap switching into visitors’ native languages and a clear path to book local guides, making Traversor welcoming and usable for international travelers.
6
AR Navigation
AR Navigation
Overlays a clear path, distance, and nearby points of interest directly onto the street view, translating familiar arrows into AR so users can follow intuitive directions.
Overlays a clear path, distance, and nearby points of interest directly onto the street view, translating familiar arrows into AR so users can follow intuitive directions.
The Conclusion
The Conclusion
The Conclusion
Reflecting on this pilot helped surface what worked, what didn’t, and how Traversor can evolve into a more robust, city scale wayfinding system.
Reflecting on this pilot helped surface what worked, what didn’t, and how Traversor can evolve into a more robust, city scale wayfinding system.
Limitations
Limitations
Due to the absence of real Kiosks, we had to use cardboard boxes, which may have changed the users' experience during the testing.
AR navigation is powerful but fragile, its success depends on device capability, connectivity, and clear onboarding
Testing was limited, and finding someone with no experience of downtown and asking them to come and test the product in the downtown was challenging
Due to the absence of real Kiosks, we had to use cardboard boxes, which may have changed the users' experience during the testing.
AR navigation is powerful but fragile, its success depends on device capability, connectivity, and clear onboarding
Testing was limited, and finding someone with no experience of downtown and asking them to come and test the product in the downtown was challenging
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
Testing with real environments and realistic hardware matters, even cardboard mock kiosks gave users an indea of the actual product
Placing kiosks at popular places in downtown gives strong coverage while keeping the system scalable for future expansion
App free access via web proved essential, especially for one time visitors who won’t download a dedicated app
Familiar physical cues like signboards into digital and AR elements helps users understand the system quickly
Testing with real environments and realistic hardware matters, even cardboard mock kiosks gave users an indea of the actual product
Placing kiosks at popular places in downtown gives strong coverage while keeping the system scalable for future expansion
App free access via web proved essential, especially for one time visitors who won’t download a dedicated app
Familiar physical cues like signboards into digital and AR elements helps users understand the system quickly
What future holds
What future holds
Adding more kiosks at more places, because the downtown is big enough, can be a great addition
Added a review system for the places of downtown might help the users take full benefit from the ecosystem
Audio navigation for people driving their own vehicle can be one more feature that can be added
After some research, we can allow the users to book the tickets of the events or venues from the app or the kiosk itself to prevent the confusion caused while finding the tickets on different places
Adding more kiosks at more places, because the downtown is big enough, can be a great addition
Added a review system for the places of downtown might help the users take full benefit from the ecosystem
Audio navigation for people driving their own vehicle can be one more feature that can be added
After some research, we can allow the users to book the tickets of the events or venues from the app or the kiosk itself to prevent the confusion caused while finding the tickets on different places