Bridging the GAP: Make bike touring the GAP Trail easy, seamless, and inviting to new riders on the trail
Overview
Introduction
This is a design studio project where groups are tasked with choosing a service that could benefit from better visual communication design. The goal is to create at least four deliverables to improve user access, enhance the user experience, and build a positive connection with the service.
Duration
4 weeks
(November to
December 2024)
Tools
Figma, Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate
My role
Research, Ideation, UIUX design, Visual design
Team
Rui Ying, Lorin Anderberg, Michael Juan
Challenge
Our group chose the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile scenic trail from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, MD, known for its rivers, valleys, and historic sites. Despite Pittsburgh's amazing bike trails, few people seem to know about the GAP or how to experience it.
How can we increase awareness and interest in bike touring the trail?
The Process
Research
Field Research
Interviews
We conducted field research to engage with trail users with a bike tour setup, a whiteboard, and prepared questions. Our findings revealed key barriers to entry:
Time
Companion
Diversity in media representation
Education
Trail info
Fitness levels
Trip planning
Documenting existing communication designs
Historical markers
Wayfinding
Scenic spots/Maps
Information
Keepsakes
Community boards
Affinity Map
We conducted further research through conversations with 30 individuals, including strangers, students, family, and friends. Among them, only one expressed no interest in bike touring, highlighting the significant potential to engage and inform a wide audience of those who are interested but currently unaware.
Based on our field research and interviews, we created an affinity map to identify the biggest challenges and needs people face when starting to experience the GAP trail.
Time
Needs time off work
Perceives this as a time consuming experience. unaware of ability to do sections
Childcare
Scheduling Conflicts
Safety
Distance between resupply/first aid
Worried about strangers
E-bikes are a lot faster. uncomfortable with passing.
E-bike riders feel targeted
Interest in a supported ride with a car following along the group at every stop
Wants to be able to see live trail updates to feel that trail is safe to ride
Rural PA is conservative, worried about being targeted bc of identity
Equipment
Very specific touring equipment
Equipment seems expensive especially if you only use it once
What is available for people who need mobility assistance?
Renting process is tiring
No idea what specific equipments to buy and where to get them
Unaware of possibilities to rent or share equipment
Awareness
Don’t have historical knowledge
Lacks understanding of mileage and elevation
Interpreting weather reports is hard
Leave no trace principles not followed
Has interest in nature, animals, and learning more about them
Has interest in nature, animals, and learning more about them
Want something to show others accomplishment/keepsake
Not aware of the existence of trail
Community
Need people to go with
People who are at your same pace or won’t make you feel bad if you are slow
Students only here for relatively short period
Need carpool
Need experienced ones for advice
Groups helping with equipments etc. between the stops
Interest in a supported ride with a car following along the group at every stop
Logistics
Transportation to and from trail
Has dogs and kids at home to think about
Where to sleep?
Permit process is unclear
Temporary student population doesn’t have car
Doesn’t want to sleep outside. If using B&Bs how to organize it in advance? What if you don’t make it on time or get delayed on the trail?
Hard to schedule lodging without awareness of pace. Inability to accurately schedule stops.
Confidence in fitness level
Worried about fitness level required
Intimidated by perception of athletic ability, lacks representation and diversity in photos/marketing
Not interested in riding a bike all day, sounds hard
Not enough energy due to daily workload
Knowledge
Doesn’t know about bike maintenance
Lack of understanding about trail amenities
Doesn’t know how to interpret a bike map
Doesn’t know what is required of user to be able to participate
Learn group diversity on the trail
Access
Lack of platforms to get trail info
Few friends doing cycling trails
Would do a guided trip but doesn’t know where to look to sign up or learn more
Is interested but would not seek out information by themselves
Trail info update
External factor
Weather
Season
Intense wind
Rain
Challenges and needs
Through this process, we identified awareness, knowledge, and logistics as the three main categories of challenges. These encompass other subcategories, affect the widest range of people, and hold the greatest potential for improvement through enhanced communication design.
Awareness
Knowledge
Logistics
Analyzing Existing Brand and Competitive
Existing Brand
Insights
1
Consistency across platforms enhances user experience.
2
Colors and visuals evoke emotions.
3
Clear, easy-to-understand icons are essential for trail designs.
4
Clarity and visual appeal attract first-time users.
Competitive
We analyzed Strava, Kamoot, AllTrails, TrailForks, FarOut, and GaiaGPS, looking at the pros and cons of each app and website for trails, hiking, and cycling.
Insights
1
Most platforms cater to experienced users with trail knowledge.
2
Advanced features can overwhelm and discourage beginners.
3
Broad platforms lack focus and customization.
4
Simple interfaces, engaging content, and rewards boost user participation.
Reframing the Problem
From our research, interviews, and competitor analysis, we found that newcomers to the GAP trail—whether experienced riders or complete beginners—face a knowledge and information gap. This disconnect prevents many interested individuals from experiencing the trail. Thus, we reframed our problem as:
How might we make bike touring the GAP Trail easy, seamless, and inviting to new riders on the trail?
To reflect this goal, we gave our project a meaningful, double-entendre name: Bridging the GAP.
Ideation
User Persona
We synthesized our research into user personas, representing diverse needs and lifestyles, to better inform our approach to reaching and engaging them.
User Journey Map
We analyzed each user’s journey in planning, experiencing, and reflecting a bike tour in before-during-after phases and identified key pain points to strategically focus our deliverables.
Design Opportunities
Based on our research, analysis, insights, and user-flow ideation, we identified key needs and painpoints, and translated them into our four deliverables.
Needs & Pain points
Awareness, Logistics, Knowledge
Need for basic trail information before starting, along with feeling interested, prepared, and confident
Need for real-time information / way-finding during the trail
Need to strengthen brand recognition and motivation
Deliverables
GAP Map App
Help users filter and access personalized info
Synchronize updates while on the trail
GAP Guide
Engaging and attractive to spark interest
Provide essential trail info
Signage
Clear and visible
Along the trail for easy navigation
Apparel
Consistent branded
Pretty and inspirational
Brand Identity
Development
1.Moodboard
2.Sketches
3.Vectorizing
BRIDGING
THE
BRIDGING
THE
BRIDGING
THE
4.Refining&Adding colors
REAT
LLEGHENY
ASSAGE
REAT
LLEGHENY
ASSAGE
REAT
LLE ENY
ASSA E
5.Finalizing
Brand Design Guide
Logos
ASSAGE
LLEGHENY
REAT
ASSAGE
LLEGHENY
REAT
Merch
PASSAGE
ALLEGHENY
GREAT
ASSA E
LLE HENY
REAT
Colors
Gray Scale
Gray 100
Gray 200
Gray 300
Gray 400
Gray 500
Gray 600
Gray 700
Gray 800
Gray 900
Primary color
Light
#E0EAFF
Blue
#4D89FF
Dark
#122C5F
Dark-1
#394A6C
Dark-2
#2B374E
Dark-3
#17233D
Dark-4
#080A0E
Secondary color
Green
#7CF3C4
Peach
#FF9685
Yellow
#FFE67D
Fonts
National Park
(Display/Headers)
National Park
National Park
National Park
National Park
National Park
National Park
National Park
Inter
(Body + Print)
Going on a bike tour can be intimidating but there are many things you can do to feel prepared. This pamphlet is an introduction to the beautiful Great Allegheny Passage Trail (GAP) and the attractions you can see along your ride. Curate your trip with our interactive map app + online planner.
Graphics
GAP MAP APP
Information Structure
Home
Search
Filter
Difficulty
Elevation Gain
Attractions
Distance
Duration
Sleeping type
Recommendations
Start
Description
Images
Elevation
Distance
Duration
360° Preview
Directions
Map View
Download
Gear
GO
Before Start
Selfie
Reminder
Live share
Spots along the trail
Messages
Motivation
Info
Historical tour
Real-Time tracking
Distance
Time
Elevation gain
Calories
Speed
Pace
Map View
Low-fidelity Prototype
Visual Identity
Designing Interface
GAP Guide
We designed a pocket-sized pamphlet to introduce the GAP MAP app and the trail. Distributed along the trail and to mailboxes, it highlights attractions, gear, and itineraries, while clearly communicating that users of all levels can customize their journey based on duration, difficulty, and attractions, etc.
· Intro to the GAP Map App
· FAQ about bike touring
· Attractions map
· Recommended routes
· Visual gear guide
Apparel
We designed playful apparel appealing to all age groups, intended to provide motivation and inspiration.
Signage
Our trail signage incorporates icon graphics to highlight attractions along the trail. These signs are designed for placement on asphalt surfaces in urban areas and trail towns, as well as along the trail itself.
