Kwik Rewards Apple CarPlay
An Apple CarPlay app prototype created with Figma.
Scientific Visualization Using 3D Animation (ARTIS 408), Professor Anson Call - Iowa State University
Task
For this project, I was tasked with creating three screens which would adapt an existing mobile app to present information in a simple, glanceable, and non-distracting way for Apple CarPlay screens. I decided to create an Apple CarPlay version of the Kwik Rewards app, which allows users to find KwikStars and other Kwik locations for gas, food, and convenience. Although the mobile app obviously has many features that couldn't be converted to an Apple CarPlay format in a way that prioritized the user's and other drivers' safety, but I managed to create an app adaptation that still allows users to quickly glance at their screens to see their total number of visits so far, their current fuel discounts, and their ability to add the nearest Kwik location as their next stop in Apple Maps.
Challenges
Information condensation - it was difficult trying to represent this app in a way that still gave the users as many features as possible without overwhelming the user or putting their safety or the safety of those around their vehicle at risk. Information architecture is always the most challenging part of the UX process when I'm creating an interface, but I still managed to identify the key features I wanted to be as clear as possible at a glance: the user's number of visits, current discounts, and nearest locations.
Driver safety - information architecture and existing UX accessibility guidelines are one thing, but creating an app specifically to be within vehicles adds a whole new layer to this process. As instructed, I ensured compliance with Apple's Human Interface Guidelines (HIG). I also removed many components that would be less necessary for this use case in order to remove clutter that could impact readability of these screens.
Final Result
Although designing for a vehicle screen was a very new realm for me, I managed to create three working screens as an adaptation of the Kwik Rewards app as well as a split-screen view to use with Apple Maps. I also showed how this app would look as an icon on the home screen of the Apple CarPlay interface. This app is beneficial to drivers who enjoy Kwik products and services as while still maintaining the safety of the driver and those around the driver.
