RoadDog
Mobile App / Carplay UX Design
Role: UX Designer
Project Type: Mobile App
Project Date: 2024
RoadDog is a voice-activated road-tripping app designed for free spirits and solo travelers. With Siri and Apple Carplay integration, RoadDog helps users keep their eyes on the road while seeking adventure.
About
RoadDog is more than a campsite finder—it’s your guide to spontaneous adventures and hidden gems. Whether you’re chasing off-the-beaten-path campsites, local hotspots, or scenic views, RoadDog has you covered.
Designed for free spirits and solo travelers, this voice-activated app keeps your hands on the wheel and your focus on the road.
Discover:
• Secluded campsites in nature.
• Unique local dining, attractions, and events.
• Scenic routes and breathtaking stops.
Skip the planning and embrace the journey—RoadDog makes every road trip safe, spontaneous, and unforgettable.
ASSUMPTION:
Free spirited people that enjoy freedom & spontaneity on their trips are at a higher risk of driving tired and in dangerous conditions.
THESIS:
Because these users do not like to plan in advance, the solution needs to be something that allows them to find something quickly and easily on the go.
User Stories
On long roadtrips, I get frustrated when I get exhausted and need to urgently pull over and rest, but I am in an unfamiliar area.
It is hard for me to research campgrounds & stops along my route, read reviews, all while staying focused on the road.
It is hard for me to plan in advance when I am not sure how far I will be able to drive in a given day.
As a solo road tripper, I struggle to make plans on the fly without compromising my time & safety.
As a solo road tripper, I would feel a lot safer using voice commands to find sites and stops while driving.
I do not like to research & plan in advance, but sometimes I feel I miss great stops on my roadtrips because I didn’t plan ahead.
Desired Outcomes
BRAND:
Strengthen brand trust by being known for reliable, voice-activated technology that enhances road safety and minimizes distractions while driving.
USER:
Users can travel confidently, trusting RoadDog to uncover must-see stops and safe places to rest. With reliable recommendations and no need to over-plan, travelers can enjoy the journey without compromising safety.
BUSINESS:
Developing partnerships with local states & government organizations that help prevent car accidents.
Partner with restaurants, venues, campgrounds, fuel stations to offer curated, suggested stops and exclusive deals that enhance the travel experience.
KEY JTBD
Discover campsites & road-trip stops effortlessly, hands-free.
Features
Voice Commands
Benefit: Enhances Safety
Information Read Aloud
Benefit: prevents users from looking at phone screen while driving
Set Campsite Preferences
Benefit: gives users simple navigation
Integration Apple/Google Maps
Benefit: gives users simple navigation
Location Preferences
Benefit: gives users simple navigation
Review System
Benefit: gives users simple navigation
Apple Carplay
Benefit: gives users simple navigation
User Journey
Phases
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4
Phase 5
Tasks
-
Set Campsite Preferences
-
Allow Location Services / Maps Integration
-
Initiate search: “Hey RoadDog, help me find a campsite on my route.”
-
Listen to campsite suggestions, information & reviews
-
Tell RoadDog your campsite decision & accept map route
-
Drive to campsite & rest
-
Leave review for other campers
Thoughts
“I prefer free dispersed camping, but I rely on reviews for safety.”
“I am so exhausted I need to pull over ASAP and sleep”
“That site has all of my preferences except a bathroom. It is only 10 minutes away too.”
“That is a great option, I can barely keep my eyes open”
“I feel safe here, there are other people nearby and I have service”
Emotions
Mental Note Models
01
Need for Certainty
Persuasion/Attention
Reliable and Specific information about campgrounds will be available to users. Users will be more likely to take action when presented to the top 3 campgrounds according to their location & preferences.
02
Sensory Appeal
Attention/Memory
Users will be able to engage with the App through sound, speech, sight and touch on multiple screens (phone/carplay)
03
Autonomy
Persuasion
Users will be given the tools/resources to safely choose campsites without relying on a copilot. The sites will fit users preferences, which can be controlled and changed at any time.
Mobile App Wireframes
Set Campsite Preferences
Filters to help curate the best campsites for the user.
Choosing a Campsite
The app will suggest 3 campsites for the user based on their location and preset camping preferences.
Set Recommendation Preferences
Setting preferences for nearby recommendations helps RoadDog give users personalized recommendations.
Recommendations
The app gives you category based suggestions near the user or the user can search along a driving route.
The user can also opt to just see top recommendations in the area if they do not have any specific in mind.
Apple Carplay Screens
Flow #1:
Find a Campsite
"Hey RoadDog, can you help me find a campsite?"
-User
"Please give me more info about Gross Reservoir."
-User
"Please open in Apple Maps"
-User
Flow #2:
Find Nearby Recommendations
"Yes, show me stops nearby"
-User
"View top suggestions near me"
-User
Killer Feature
By leveraging AI to generate location-based recommendations tailored to user preferences, the app suggests can’t-miss stops—like top restaurants, scenery, and events—at ideal rest points, ensuring road trips are spontaneous, safe, and unforgettable.
A location based pop up alert that makes real time suggestions for stops along the users driving route.
Helps users create unforgettable, spontaneous memories on their roadtrips.
USER TESTING
USER 01
“I struggle to find relevant things along my route.”
“It is basically everything I would want in an app for camping and road trips because I don’t have to scroll on my phone and can speak into it.”
“The research aspect is always hard so it’s helpful all the information is already here.”
“I love how simple it is.”
“Can the user say like, ‘what are the top 3 reviews?’
“Do you have something that indicates the safety aspect of a site?”
USER 02
“If you did not want any of the top 3 sites, could you refresh?”
“Would you have it read out loud too?”
“Maybe try replacing the icon with a mouth instead of ear and see how users react to that as well. Like it is telling me information.”
“What if you don’t have Apple CarPlay?
USER 03
“Could you let users set preferences for their recommendations?”
“There are a lot of filters.”
“The read out loud icon may not be clear.”
“Could you add an overlay of a map so you can see the campsites in comparison to you?”
“It would be nice to see multiple photos on the carplay screens, may an automatic scroll.”
“It would be nice to see more information about the pop up alert of stops (killer feature) on the carplay screen.”
Social Proof
Customer Reviews & Ratings:
App Store
Users will be incentivized, through credit towards a partnership experience, to review this app.
Campsite Reviews / Live Updates
In App
Users will review campsites and leave real time updates for other users. This will also be incentivized through credits towards partnership experiences.
Marketing Plan
Partnerships:
Govt. Organizations
Developing partnerships with local states & government organizations that help prevent car accidents and enhance road safety.
Partnerships:
Local Businesses
Creating partnerships with restaurants, gas stations, venues, etc. in which their businesses are suggested to users in the app.
Social Media:
Adventure/Nomads:
Tapping into the nomadic, adventure lifestyle through partnerships with social media influencers and communities (ex. vanlife communities).