Semester Project - Physical Prototype

Your journey - one button push away

A physical button device named Uber Push located on a bike’s handlebar was designed for delivery drivers to make their journey easier and safer. Uber Push includes upwards - and downwards shift to access predefined shortcuts to functions of installed applications as well as the pressing of the button to continue the main delivery-flow.

Save Ciccio, the pizza boy!

Some few million 2-wheelers zip around every day. But did anyone give them the product they need?
What interactions do they need to make their runs?
How can you improve their safety?
How can you stop others from bullying when they stop?
How can you help them control the vehicle with the load?
How can they run a better service?

Project Brief

This was a group project with four other HCI master’s students from FH Salzburg and the University of Salzburg, powered by KISKA. As a third-semester Human-Computer Interaction master’s student and UX Designer, I led the research process and guided how to integrate the findings into a physical product. I was also actively involved in developing the product idea. At the end of the project, I created the "Research and Development" page for the Uber Push website.

My Role

The Product

The final concept of the product revolves around improving the overall delivery journey, featuring a physical button device called UberPush, mounted on a bike’s handlebar for control. The button’s main functionality includes upward and downward shifts to access predefined shortcuts for installed applications, as well as pressing the button to continue the main delivery flow. Each function is accompanied by light feedback, designed to match the respective app’s colors, providing clear visual confirmation of the action taken.

First Step

Delivery is available

When there is an incoming request, the button lights up and the driver can accept it by pushing the blinking button.

Second Step

Going through the target location

The device provides real-time feedback when the driver enters a certain vicinity of the restaurant or customer, allowing them to send an upfront notification by simply pressing the button.

Final Step

Process completed successfully

The device allows the driver to set their status as "available" for incoming requests with a single tap on the button.

Bonus

Anytime driving the bike

The device can be linked to two additional apps, with their respective functions assigned to the upward and downward shifts, as well as the press of the button.

Defining the underlying problem

One of the most exciting yet challenging aspects at the beginning of the project was working with an open-ended brief. We were tasked with identifying a specific problem and developing a well-grounded solution within the context of delivery drivers. As the research lead, I took the initiative to define a structured research plan, ensuring our design decisions were rooted in real user needs.

To achieve this, we employed a mixed-method research approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. I led ethnographic observations to understand delivery drivers' real-world behaviors, challenges, and work environments. Additionally, I conducted semi-structured interviews to gain deeper insights into their pain points, motivations, and expectations. To complement our primary research, I analyzed secondary sources such as YouTube videos, research papers, and industry reports to identify broader trends and existing solutions.

One of the interviewees

“The phone mount has made my life easier, but trying to swipe or tap with the gloves on is still a total mess”

As part of this process, I developed a comprehensive interview plan that detailed the research goal, participant profile, interview environment, and guiding questions. This structured approach ensured that our findings were actionable and directly informed the design of our solution.

By synthesizing our research findings, I led the creation of a delivery journey map, which visualized key touchpoints, challenges, and opportunities in the delivery process. Additionally, I developed a persona representing a typical delivery driver, encapsulating their needs, frustrations, and goals. These artifacts became foundational tools in shaping our final concept.

UCL Centre for Transport Studies

“40% of those whose work was mobile phone app-based, found that the app had caused them distractions whilst driving/riding.”

Persona development and key insights

Ciccio - the Delivery Driver

Age 22
Male
Student in Salzburg
Single

Bio

Ciccio, a delivery worker, loves cycling in the small city of Salzburg. Delivery is the perfect job for him because it combines one of his favorite activities with work. Working with Über Eats is ideal for him for two main reasons. First, he can earn more money by delivering food over longer distances, making his hobby valuable. Second, he has the flexibility to choose which deliveries to accept or take on every request to maximize his earnings. However, to catch all the requests, he needs to be fast!

Ciccio can't live without music—his Spotify listening time last year was an impressive 51,000 hours. He also recently started dating someone new!

Pains

Struggles with maintaining safe driving habits while making deliveries
Frequently uses his phone with one hand while riding, which can be risky
Finds interacting with his phone clumsy at times, making navigation and order management difficult

Goals

Increase delivery speed to maximize earnings
Minimize smartphone interaction while riding for a safer and more efficient workflow

Devices

A smart phone with Über app for delivery workers and Google Maps
A bike

The entire journey revolves around a smartphone

Owning a smartphone is the first requirement for becoming a delivery driver. The journey begins with accepting delivery requests through the app. Throughout the process, the driver relies on their phone for essential tasks such as checking the map, contacting restaurants and customers, and reporting completed deliveries—all while being on the move.

Distractive

Smartphones contribute to distracted driving by reducing a driver’s awareness of their surroundings and slowing their response time.

Dangerous

Reduced attention increases the risk of injury for bicyclists and other road users, making smartphone use while riding especially dangerous.

How might we reduce delivery drivers’ interaction with their mobile phones while driving?

"How might we..." statements were a powerful tool for turning our insights into actionable design questions. I found that formulating our thoughts and research results in this way made our design ideation more grounded.

Before generating design ideas through low-fidelity prototypes, we defined six core features for the potential final product. Using these key elements as a guideline, we developed as many prototypes as possible to shape our ideas and make them testable. The final design was refined and evolved based on these initial concept indicators.