Carpaal
Hello!A community-driven ride-sharing app that makes finding safe, reliable rides simple.
Team: Sole UX designer
Tools: Figma, FigJam, Survey Monkey, Slack
Duration: 4 months
Focus: Mobile app usability, user flow optimization, and trust-centered design
Carpaal is a ride-sharing platform designed to make local travel safer, easier, and more community-connected. By offering a dedicated, vetted environment, the app serves as a secure alternative to informal networks like social media groups or forums.
Confidentiality Note: To comply with my non-disclosure agreement, specific proprietary features and internal business data have been omitted. This case study focuses on my design process, research methodologies, and the high-level UX solutions developed for the MVP.
Challenge
In the U.S., peer-to-peer ride-sharing is often fragmented. Users rely on informal channels that lack safety protocols, leaving them concerned about trust. My goal was to design a platform that simplified the booking process while prioritizing user confidence and community safety.
Research & Insights
To ensure the app solved real problems, I conducted extensive discovery through user interviews, surveys, and flow analysis.
Key Research Findings:
Safety is the Primary Barrier: Users expressed high anxiety regarding verification when connecting with strangers on informal platforms.
The "Vetting" Friction: Current informal methods (Facebook/Discord) make it difficult to quickly verify a driver’s or rider’s reliability.
Communication is Key: Users prioritized clear feedback mechanisms and simple navigation to feel confident in a transaction.
Design & Iteration
I translated research insights into a functional mobile experience through an iterative process:
Logic & Flow: Developed low-fidelity wireframes prioritizing clarity and accessibility. I focused on reducing the number of steps required to offer or find a ride.
Prototyping for Trust: Created interactive prototypes to test "trust-centered" features, such as identity verification touchpoints and community feedback loops.
Refinement: Based on usability testing, I simplified the navigation to improve task completion rates and ensure the interface felt intuitive for a wide range of users.
Technical Alignment: I maintained a constant feedback loop with the developer to balance user needs with technical constraints, ensuring a smooth handoff for development.
Outcome & Impact
Improved Confidence: Usability testing indicated that the dedicated app structure significantly increased user confidence compared to informal social media groups.
Efficiency: Streamlined flows resulted in faster task completion for both driver and rider personas.
Strategic Alignment: Successfully translated the founder’s vision into a validated design system ready for market entry.
Reflection
This project reinforced the importance of designing for trust. Being the sole designer allowed me to strengthen my skills in end-to-end product ownership—from initial "messy" research to polished, developer-ready assets. I learned how to advocate for the user while navigating the technical and business realities of a startup environment.