RESPONSE
Hi-fi Frames
Designing for trust, not distraction.
Approach
Three new features were designed to integrate seamlessly into existing flows
News & Announcements — a concise feed for service alerts and route updates, replacing the need to check multiple sources.
Transfer Timer — a visual countdown that eases uncertainty about re-boarding or transfer validity.
Report a Problem — a quick form to flag issues with instant confirmation and support links.
Each was tested through low-fidelity prototypes and commuter scenarios, ensuring the design matched the rhythm of real travel — quick, clear, and considerate.
My Role
I led the end-to-end design process. From early research to final visual prototypes, focusing on how to make the Presto app more useful for real people.
UX/UI Design: Designed user flows, wireframes, and interface mockups for new features.
User Research: Conducted surveys and interviews with daily commuters to understand app pain points.
Information Architecture: Streamlined navigation to make key features easily accessible mid-commute.
Visual Design: Ensured consistency with Metrolinx and Presto’s established branding systems.
Insights
Turn downtime into empowerment.
Commuters crave reliability not entertainment. The new features turns wait time into useful interactions, and lets users report issues, transforming frustration into control.
Presto Card App
Building an Information Hub
to reduce rider friction.
CONTEXT
Overview
Our Presto app redesign introduces three new features; News & Announcements, Transfer Timer,
and Report a Problem.
Aimed at transforming the app from a simple reload tool into a daily companion for transit users.
By adding context, convenience, and transparency, the redesign encourages commuters to rely on the app as part of their travel rhythm. Not just for transactions, but for real-time awareness and trust.
Team
PM, Research, Designer
Role
PM, Research, Designer
Tools
Figma, Tally,
Adobe Suite
Backstory
For most commuters, the Presto app feels like an afterthought, useful only when funds run low.
Beyond balance checks, it offers little reason to open it again. Meanwhile, transit kiosks and station boards still do most of the work: updates, alerts, transfers, and issue reporting.
My team wanted to explore how the app could earn its place in the everyday commuter’s routine — not by reinventing transit, but by bridging the gaps between digital and physical travel experiences.
Challenge
How might we make the Presto app feel genuinely useful, and not redundant?
The goal was to design features that add value in motion, during real commuting moments, while staying simple, glanceable, and unobtrusive.
In short: turn an app people have to use into one they want to use.
OUTCOME
Reflection
Working on this project made me rethink about what “utility” means in User Experience.
The best tools often go unnoticed, they quietly support, inform, and reassure. Designing for commuters meant designing for tension and timing — every second counts, every delay frustrates.
The most rewarding part was finding ways for digital design to reduce stress rather than add friction.
Results
Design tools that move beyond function, are built by trust through empathy.
Redesigned app demonstrated increased engagement value in testing sessions.
85% of survey respondents reported they would use the app more often if it included these features.
Recognized for balancing functionality, trust, and everyday empathy — turning Presto from a transaction tool into a travel companion.
