10. Screens and Light

I'm still flushing out the visual design of the Hub system, particularly focusing on typography and color. The logo has been set with an inline, but I'd like it to take a step further conceptually. Sure it looks fun, and even has a bit of modern and vintage flare, but what sets it apart from all the other inline typefaces out there? So I returned to what my app is all about: Maps. So using the inline to reflect a road system or grid has produced some interesting, although busy and fractured possibilities for the Hub logo. I'll be moving forward with simple versions, and possibly some variations in line wait to differentiate possible major and minor roads.


At the midsemester critique, outdoor lighting was brought up as a possible issue when considering the contrast of the design and how colors influence this when on screen outside with the iphone. This of course greatly matters to my system as it would exist almost completely outdoors, and needs to hold up to the glare of the sun. Type itself is one of my main concerns, as it's legibility will serve as the best test of success when dealing with this environmental challenge. Below are 4 images of different color combinations. The first 2 directions have 5 colors in the palette, while the last 2 have a max of 3. The 3 color limitation restricts color to black, white, and a single high contrast color; In this case yellow and orange, reflecting road safety systems and signage as well as caution. The 3 color options seem to provide far more contrast, so I'll be continuing with orange, black, and white.

Another viewing option for night was brought up later in an in class discussion. Most GPS units in cars have a secondary night time display mode for when the sun goes down. This way the colors and light aren't bright enough to distract or annoy the driver. I'm considering this as a possibility for the hub application as well, but as the application doesn't function while the rider is in motion, I'm not certain that the brighter colors and lit screen could or would distract a cyclist on their route. I might put it as an option in the system, but only dedicate a few seconds in the first scenario to show it as an option.

I've also began designing a few frames for the Missouri Department of Transportation desktop/ website end of the system. Rather than animating a 3rd scenario for the final presentation of Hub, I'll be putting a few screens at the end of the first 2 presentations. In this way, the MoDot users can be seen reacting to the catalyst the rider users provide when posting safety hazards and imagery.

9. Hub: Midterm Presentation

Hub Midterm Presentation

8. The Beginnings of a Design

So things are finally coming together! Below are a few screen grabs of the application in the works. Haven't decided between Tread or Hub for the app name quite yet, but I'm thinking Hub will come out the winner. Both have some pretty dynamic imagery and the double entendre. 

The color palette is something quite different from my typical blue or green, and I've made a great effort to not only brighten up the design, but to create moments of great contrast when in different parts of the application. I have a tendency to like darker neutral tones, so it's interesting to work with large areas of white and lighter tans.

I'll also move forward considering a new range of typefaces. I clearly have an overly imposing love for the Univers type family, so I'll be branching out a bit and considering some other options. Perhaps some slab serifs and other more squat forms.

Photography will also play a bigger part in the design from here. I'll be incorporating imagery of various biking gear to enforce application functions. A bike messenger bag can help reinforce the idea of "saving" a new bike route for example. And on screens like those below, where the cyclist is in motion and tracking a route, a simple road texture can provide some nice depth.

The application will decidedly function only when the rider is not in motion. This will be determined by gps tracking features running while the application is open. In this way the rider won't be distracted by the interface while on the roads. The gestures have also been considered in this way. When a rider is tracking a route, and riding their bike, they only need to tap the screen to start and stop the tracking. This can be anywhere on the screen surface. It's also considerably handy for those that have their phone strapped or banded around their arms, like many athletic runners and cyclists tend to use for practical reasons.

The focus in my application seems to have shifted from an application focusing on info-graphics showing density, to a collection of safety postings developed and laid out by cyclists on their rides. It's no longer a negotiation between the Department of Transportation and the bike community. It's a one way discussion, where the bikers can communicate just where they want these lanes and safety measures in Kansas City to be put in place, and DoT simply listens and makes it happen.

For the mid semester critique I'll have at least 1 scenario designed. I'll of course shoot for having the second one started, but if that means a bit more time to make the presentation look nice, I might step back a bit and get some feedback from my peers and professors.