CAPSTONE/CASE STUDY
trainingwheels
Parents juggle so much, and getting kids to activities shouldn't be another stress. TrainingWheels makes carpooling simple and safe, connecting families so no ride is ever a last-minute scramble.
what is trainingwheels?
TrainingWheels is a 7-month design research capstone project involving a brand identity design and UX/UI design for web and mobile. TrainingWheels is a local Nanaimo-based company designed to help parents with afterschool transportation to activities in a safe, stress-free way. It provides a platform—with verified parent drivers—that connects families who need rides with families already heading in the same direction. Think of it as a modern, secure carpooling solution designed specifically for parents!
why why why?
Throughout my process, my proposed solution changed a million times. My initial question was, "Why are we increasingly seeing a decline in youth participation in organized sports?" This question framed my research for the first 4 months of my capstone project. I just kept looking for a why. I found a few factors influencing the decline in youth sports participation, but the overarching one I could help with was transportation struggles. I can't change the market or conflicting work schedules, but I can build an app!
I began researching and brainstorming how to go about this safely and practically. This evolved from collaborating with the police department and requiring all users to apply for a criminal record check before registering for the app to the now simplified, code-based system I landed on. The code-based system allows clubs, schools and organizations to apply for 3-month temporary codes to give to families in their network, keeping the network closed to only those involved in youth organizations.
the outcome
The outcome of the project has been overwhelmingly positive. After presenting my concept and app prototype to a board of designers, I received the feedback, "You should make this a real thing!" It's safe to say that was a little bit of a confidence boost and has fueled me to push the limits even further for my second prototype and in the final steps of rounding out the TrainingWheels brand and project. Overall, the capstone project was a truly fulfilling experience that has helped me grow as a designer, and I'm excited to continue to show it off!
Who knows, maybe I'll bring it into existence, and you'll see posters and brochures around town in no time;)