Park Suite Case Study

Project Overview

Role: UX/UI Designer
Timeline: 8 weeks
Tools: Figma, FigJam, Adobe Suite
Type: Capstone UX Project

Finding parking in a city shouldn’t feel like a quest. ParkSuite is a mobile app that helps users locate, reserve, and pay for parking spots quickly and confidently. This case study walks through the process, from research and ideation to testing and high-fidelity design.

Research & Discovery

User Interviews (8 participants): Conducted interviews with regular urban drivers to understand pain points.
Surveys (17 responses): Gathered quantitative data on parking habits and frustrations.
Contextual Inquiry: Observed 4 users attempting to find parking in downtown areas.
Competitive Analysis: Analyzed 5 existing parking apps (ParkWhiz, SpotHero, ParkMobile)
Insights: I found that although many of the people I interviewed some personas had different motivations and goals when locating a parking spot.
Primary: Lisa, The Practical Commuter
Drives to work 5 days/week in downtown area
Values predictability and wants to pre-book spots
Felicia: The Cautions Urbanite
32-year-old who drives into the city for events.
Values price comparison and clear directions
Time Anxiety: 73% of users reported feeling stressed when searching for parking, especially when time-constrained
Price Transparency: Users wanted upfront pricing without hidden fees or surprises
Trust Issues: Many users expressed concern about whether advertised spots would actually be available
Cognitive Load: Switching between multiple apps (parking, maps, payment) created friction
Last-Mile Problem: Finding the exact parking entrance was consistently problematic

Design Goals

Reduce search time by providing real-time parking availability
Increase transparency with upfront pricing and facility details
Streamline payment through integrated mobile payments
Improve wayfinding with turn-by-turn navigation to parking spots

Design Solutions

The app opens with a clear value proposition and streamlined account creation. Users can sign up via email or Google account with minimal friction, getting them to the core functionality quickly.
The primary interface displays available parking spots on an interactive map with color-coded availability indicators (blue = available, gray = full). This visual approach allows users to quickly scan options near their destination.
Users can search by:
- Current location
- Specific address or destination
- Time range (immediate or future booking)
- Price range and parking type
- Amenities (covered, EV charging, security)
Each parking location shows:
- Real-time availability count
- Hourly and daily rates
- Walking distance from destination
- Facility amenities and features
- User ratings and reviews
- Operating hours
The booking interface minimizes steps:
- Select start time and end time with intuitive time picker
- View total cost calculation in real-time
- One-tap confirmation with saved payment method
- Instant booking confirmation with QR code.
- Secure payment via Apple Pay, credit card, or PayPal
- Saved payment methods for one-tap checkout
- Digital receipts automatically saved
- Transparent pricing with no hidden feesdescription

Process

Created a sitemap prioritizing three core user flows:
1. Quick search and book (power users)
2. Explore and compare (price-conscious users)
3. Navigate to spot (wayfinding support)
Contextual Inquiry: Observed 4 users attempting to find parking in downtown areas.
Competitive Analysis: Analyzed 5 existing parking apps (ParkWhiz, SpotHero, ParkMobile)
Problem 1: Users waste time driving around looking for available parking
Solution: Real-time availability map with color-coded indicators
- Implemented an interactive map showing parking locations with green (available), yellow (limited), and red (full) markers
- Added filter options for price range, distance, and spot type (garage, street, lot)
- Included occupancy predictions based on historical data
  Values predictability and wants to pre-book spots
Felicia: The Cautions Urbanite
32-year-old who drives into the city for events.
Values price comparison and clear directions
Problem 2: Price comparison requires opening multiple apps and websites
Solution: Unified pricing display with transparent fee breakdown
- Designed comparison cards showing total cost including all fees
- Added "Best Value" and "Closest" badges to help decision-making
- Integrated sorting options (price, distance, rating, availability)
Problem 3: Users struggle to find parking entrances once they arrive
Solution: Turn-by-turn navigation with entrance-specific directions
- Partnered navigation flow with visual cues for parking entrance
- Added photo references of entrances from street view
- Implemented proximity alerts: "You're approaching your parking spot"

Usability Testing

- 8 participants (mix of user personas)
- Task-based testing scenarios
- Think-aloud protocol
- Post-test interviews and surveys
Successes:
- 100% task completion rate for primary booking flow
- Average booking time: 47 seconds
- "Very easy" rating: 87.5% of participants
- High satisfaction with map interface and visual design
- Users wanted ability to compare multiple spots side-by-side
- Confusion about parking spot numbering in large facilities
- Request for photos of actual parking spots, not just facilities
- Desire for notifications about price drops or availability

Challenges & Learning

- Integrating real-time availability from multiple parking providers
- Ensuring accurate GPS positioning in urban canyons
- Balancing map performance with data freshness
- Simplifying complex information without losing important details
- Designing for various parking types (street, garage, lot, valet)
- Creating intuitive wayfinding in multi-level structures.
1. Real-time data is critical: Users prioritize accuracy over additional features when it comes to availability information.
2. Visual hierarchy matters: In a map-heavy interface, strategic use of color and size helps users process information quickly.
3. Trust is earned through transparency: Showing all costs upfront, including fees, builds user confidence and reduces booking abandonment.
4. Context is king: Users need different information at different stages of their journey (searching vs. navigating vs. parked).

Conclusion

ParkSuite successfully addresses the core pain points of urban parking through thoughtful UX design, real-time data integration, and seamless mobile-first experience. By focusing on user needs throughout the design process and iterating based on testing feedback, we created a solution that not only meets functional requirements but delights users with its simplicity and reliability.

The project demonstrates the power of user-centered design in solving real-world problems and the importance of balancing business goals with user needs to create successful digital products.

Hey, I’m Monica.