How would you design a consumer application for a scooter-sharing business?

Introduction

Designing a consumer application for a scooter-sharing business is an exciting challenge that combines urban mobility, sustainability, and digital innovation. I'll approach this by first clarifying our objectives, then analyzing the market and user needs, before proposing and prioritizing solutions. Let's dive in.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Based on the problem description, I'm thinking this might be for a specific company's existing product. Is that the case, or are we designing for a hypothetical new entrant?

Why it matters: This helps frame the solution within existing constraints or as a greenfield project. Expected answer: Let's assume it's for a new entrant. Impact on approach: We'll need to focus on differentiation and rapid market entry strategies.

• Given the current trends in micromobility, I'm assuming this is for an urban environment. Are we focusing on a particular city type (e.g., dense metropolis, mid-sized city)?

Why it matters: Different urban environments have varying infrastructure and user needs. Expected answer: Let's focus on mid-sized cities. Impact on approach: We'll prioritize features that work well in areas with less developed public transit.

• Considering the competitive landscape, are there any specific pain points or areas where existing solutions are falling short that we should focus on?

Why it matters: This helps us identify key differentiation opportunities. Expected answer: Yes, user complaints about scooter availability and maintenance are common. Impact on approach: We'll prioritize features addressing availability and reliability.

Propose the Goal

Given our focus on a new entrant in mid-sized cities, I believe our goal should be to create a user-friendly, reliable scooter-sharing app that improves urban mobility while addressing common pain points in availability and maintenance. Does this align with your vision?

Define the Scope

For this product design challenge, let's focus on the core user experience of finding, reserving, and using a scooter. We'll assume we're designing for iOS and Android smartphones, targeting young professionals and students in mid-sized cities.

Based on these clarifications, I'll proceed with the following assumptions:

1. We're a new entrant in the scooter-sharing market.
2. Our initial focus is on mid-sized cities.
3. We're prioritizing solutions to availability and maintenance issues.
4. Our target audience is tech-savvy young professionals and students.