Transit Hub Display
Designing a data-driven display for a tourist hub
What The Atlantis transit hub in the San Juan Islands had no ambient display to help tourists plan multi-island itineraries, understand departure options, or discover what each island offered.
Why First-time visitors at a transit hub are disoriented. The right environmental display reduces friction and actively promotes the experience the hub is designed to enable.
How A data-driven ambient display with real-time departures, PTF multi-trip pass promotion, and island-wide points of interest. Designed for peripheral attention with motion-based content transitions.
Overview
An environmental display for the fictional Atlantis transit hub in the San Juan Islands. It shows real-time departure information, promotes the PTF multi-trip pass program, and highlights points of interest across the islands.
- Goal 1People can plan itineraries to visit multiple islands and places of attraction.
- Goal 2Promote the specific attractions and sight-seeing options across the different islands.
- Goal 3Surface the PTF pass program, allowing passengers to combine multiple trips across points of interest.
Discovery
We analyzed stakeholder personas and available transit data for the islands using Wurman's LATCH model (Location, Alphabet, Time, Category, and Hierarchy) to determine what was essential and what could be omitted from each view.
Personas
- Elizabeth Duarte, Transportation DirectorFunds the display, aims to promote the PTF pass program, and wants the system to show transportation data clearly across the island network.
- George Shimko, Island ResidentLong-time resident who regularly travels between islands with family. Wants a simple way to purchase PTF passes and plan cross-island trips.
- Patrick Mulvaney, Field EngineerVisits drilling and wind power sites throughout the islands three days a week. Weather affects his travel; he needs to optimize itineraries on the fly using the multi-trip pass.
Prototyping
We ran 3-2-1 parallel sketching sessions to generate as many initial directions as possible. The first digital iteration combined trip data and map info with visual coupling: a highlighted region in the map rotating to show the current island. Critique surfaced two problems.
- Critique 1The map's lack of geographic accuracy undermined the display's credibility.
- Critique 2From a distance, the subtle color palette hid too much information.
The second iteration switched to a darker palette, gave the map more space, and refined the typography. We also introduced motion as a primary feedback mechanism.
- Motion Use 1An animated vehicle indicator shows position relative to origin and destination.
- Motion Use 2Card status changes animate when a vehicle arrives, is ready to board, or is boarding.
- Motion Use 3A card disappears with animation when the vehicle departs, bringing the next trip into view.
Solution
The final prototype displays upcoming departures per location. Users interact with physical up/down controls to reveal more detail about a departure. A card layout expands on interaction. The map highlights routes for whichever point of interest is currently in focus.