Ho'Aloha App
Ho'Aloha is an application that stems from the concept of revitalizing the traditional Hawaiian navigation culture, emphasizing memory and the user's physical environment. It assists users in navigating Hawaii's landscapes effectively, promoting reliance on physical surroundings over digitally illustrated paths. It presents two modes: Kilo mode encourages users to observe, examine, and reflect on their surroundings, while Journey mode provides a novel yet authentic method of navigating Hawaii's terrains.
Project duration
14 weeks
Project term
Spring 2023
Project client
University of Hawai'i
Industry
Educational and Navigation
Project status
Finished prototyping
Project team
Flora Massah
Hardik Makhija
Rutuja Chavan
Snehal Khatavkar
Symone Fogg
The Challenge
In Hawaii, the intricate diversity of its population poses unique challenges for data-driven initiatives. With a populace comprising various ethnicities, including Native Hawaiians, Asians, and Caucasians, ensuring equitable representation and accessibility in technology solutions becomes imperative. Additionally, as a premier tourist destination welcoming over 10 million visitors annually, the preservation of Hawaiian culture faces threats of commodification and cultural dilution. Furthermore, relying solely on mainstream mapping services like Google Maps proves inefficient in Hawaii's complex terrains and indigenous spaces, hindering accurate navigation and perpetuating reliance on colonial frameworks. These challenges underscore the necessity for culturally sensitive and locally informed technological solutions in Hawaii.
The Opportunity
How might we create an interactive, engaging spatial navigation experience that provides Non-Natives a Hawaiian lens to space, place, and land?
Design Rationale
There exists an opportunity to develop an educational, immersive, and interactive platform that encourages users to embrace Hawaiian cultural principles and reverence for the land. This application would shift its focus away from mere navigation and instead prioritize the experiential aspects of discovering and contemplating the Hawaiian landscape. The necessity for such a solution arises from insights gathered through stakeholder interviews:
There is a demand among non-Native individuals to adopt a non-Western approach to land interaction, one that is non-extractive and respectful.
Stakeholders express a desire for more captivating methods of engaging with Hawaiian traditions, culture, and values.
While conventional navigation apps prioritize convenience and swift usability, they predominantly reflect Western perspectives, such as Google Maps and Waze.
Process
Research & Analysis: Through user interviews, surveys, and in-app analytics, we delved into user pain points and needs. Additionally, we scrutinized competitor apps and industry trends to glean valuable insights.
Information Architecture: Utilizing our research findings, we revamped the app's navigation and content structure, prioritizing features and information based on user requirements.
Wireframing & Prototyping: We crafted low-fidelity wireframes to visualize the updated layout and navigation, refining them iteratively with user input. Subsequently, we developed a high-fidelity, interactive prototype for design testing.
Usability Testing: Engaging a diverse user group, we conducted usability tests to validate the design and pinpoint areas for enhancement. Guided by feedback, we made necessary refinements to the design.
Visual Design & Style Guide: Establishing a unified visual language encompassing color schemes, typography, and iconography, we ensured design coherence across the app. Additionally, we formulated a style guide to uphold design consistency in forthcoming updates.
Here's a complete prototype of the app we designed, feel free to interact with it to know more bout our proposed experience.
Stack
Conclusion
In conclusion, this app prototype represents the culmination of meticulous research, thoughtful analysis, and iterative design refinement. By prioritizing user needs and feedback throughout the development process, we have crafted an intuitive and immersive experience that seeks to bridge the gap between technology and Hawaiian cultural values. From reimagining navigation through the lens of cultural respect to fostering deeper connections with the land and its traditions, this prototype embodies our commitment to creating meaningful and impactful digital solutions. As we continue to refine and enhance this prototype, we look forward to furthering its potential to enrich lives and promote cultural understanding.
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