Case Study
Warm Showers
Overview
This was a personal project where I analyzed the user experience of a popular bicycle touring application, and designed a refined version based on user feedback and needs, as well as personal experiences.
What Is It?
Warm Showers is a community for bicycle tourers and hosts. It allows travelers to find hosts on their cycling route.
The Users
Warm Showers serve an adventurous group of individuals, and caters to a market exclusively of bicycle travelers. Many hosts have completed bike tours themselves, though anyone who is willing to share hospitality can sign up.
The Goal
To redesign the Warm Showers application to increase bicyclist and host conversions, as well as increase the use of the app by current users. This will be accomplished by incentivizing users through the meeting of not only hosts but other cyclists as well, thereby creating a greater community of bicycle tourers and revitalizing the Warm Showers organization at large.
Persona Research
After meeting with and observing bicycle tourers and hosts, I discovered that both parties sign up for Warm Showers because of their curiosity for meeting new people, with the common interest of cycling.
They tend to be free-spirited, frugal, and account very positive experiences during the hosting process.
Pain Points: Identified
Due to the inefficiencies of the current interface, users must spend valuable time browsing through the surplus of available hosts
This causes the experience for finding a host to become overwhelming, especially when riding through larger cities with many host options. In these instances, many cyclists opt to camp instead of spending tedious time manually filtering through host options.
It’s difficult for cyclists to know how close a host is to their route
The majority bicycle tourers use paper maps by Adventure Cycling, due to a lack of cell service in remote areas of countries, often where tour routes pass through. As cyclists prefer to stay close to their defined route, it becomes a timely process to cross-reference the paper map with host locations.
In the flow of the current app, it's inefficient to navigate between the map and host messages
The user must return to the map in order to see the host or cyclist profile, a process which is unideal.
Here are some screenshots of the current mobile interface:
Sketching the New Experience
Flow Map
The Experience- Redesigned
The new Warm Showers experience aims to connect users more easily, enriching its community of bicycle tourers and hosts.
Find a Host or Cyclist With Ease
Say goodbye to spending precious time looking at every profile. Filter your search to find what you’re looking for right away.
Stay on Track
Forget about cross-referencing maps. Link your map to your Adventure Cycling Route to know where hosts and tourers are in relation to your ride
Request a Stay
Message your host or guest, or request a stay with just one click, and see when your host is available
Connect With Cyclists
Meet other cyclists on your route along the way. See who’s coming your direction and message each other with ease.
Plot Your Journey
Let us help you plan your trip. Easily access your touring schedule and calendar. Your only job is to ride.
Share Your Ride
Let the bicycle touring community see where you’re riding. Future hosts can locate where you are, and previous hosts can follow your journey until the end. See who’s riding near you and reach out.