LagniAPP
TL;DR
A New-Orleans focused navigation app built on mutual benefit for users, small businesses, and cities. LagniAPP rewards users for reporting road incidents, especially NOLA-specific traffic issues (like frequent road closures and parade detours) with points redeemable for rewards at local businesses.
2023
Project Type
University coursework turned personal project.
Role
Lead UX designer and brand strategist, alongside 3 other members.
The Problem & Opportunities
Infrastructure in New Orleans is pretty terrible. Potholes & frequent unannounced road closures make commuting a nightmare.
I envisioned a navigation app tailored to New Orleans that embraced these oddities.
A New Orleans specific platform creates a digital marketing opportunity for local businesses, giving back to an amazing city and community.
Qualitative Survey
I conducted a qualitative survey to identify pain points and features that would encourage commuters to switch navigations apps.
Key user takeaways:
Would love to earn rewards just for using an app they would otherwise use.
Want better reporting of local road closures for more accurate ETAs.
Need support for various travel methods, including streetcar.
Rewards Ecosystem
These takeaways underscored what would become LagniAPP's clever rewards ecosystem.
Reporting or confirming street hazards earns users points.
Points can be redeemed from local businesses, and partnered businesses are highlighted through the app.
Incentivized reports leads to an optimally accurate navigation system.
Personas & User Flows
With the core features solidified, I defined two audiences and flows they may take on LagniAPP.
Brand Identity
LagniAPP was built for New Orleans, and emphasizes Mardi Gras in its brand style.
Why "LagniAPP"?
In Cajun-French lagniappe means "a little bit extra," like a small gift or surprise.
LagniAPP provides a little something extra for everyone involved:
Gifts from local companies for commuters.
Another marketing channel for businesses.
Infrastructure improvements for the city.
The name was more than just a pun… it was a commitment in the product's experience to build in moments of mutual benefit.
High-Fidelity Mockups
Prototype Video Walkthrough
What I Learned
LagniAPP started as an extension of a business class project, so the research and positioning came before any design. Design hinges on those decisions more than I understood at the time — without that foundation, a project provides value to nobody.
LagniAPP’s premise was providing it three ways at once: to commuters, local businesses, and public infrastructure. It’s the project that turned me toward digital design as a career.