Ryan Schork

Product Designer

Home

About Me

Contact

Ryan Schork

Product Designer

Home

About Me

Contact

SideQuest

SideQuest

Reviving the MapQuest Brand by giving users a new way to experience the open road.

Reviving the MapQuest Brand by giving users a new way to experience the open road.

SKIP TO:

SKIP TO:

OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW

PRODUCT

PRODUCT

PROCESS

PROCESS

01 Overview

01 Overview

Team

Team

Ryan Schork - Product Designer

Ryan Schork - Product Designer

Nathan Sisack - Copy Writer

Nathan Sisack - Copy Writer

Nathan Sisack - Copy Writer

Alex Ward - Art Director

Alex Ward - Art Director

Project Summary

Project Summary

My team and I wanted to develop a new platform to revive the once prominent brand, MapQuest, into a modern era. MapQuest was once the leader in road trip navigation; however, its popularity has faded over the past decades as navigation apps like Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze have taken over.

My team and I wanted to develop a new platform to revive the once prominent brand, MapQuest, into a modern era. MapQuest was once the leader in road trip navigation; however, its popularity has faded over the past decades as navigation apps like Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze have taken over.

How will we bring back MapQuest? By curating a product innovation and campaign, positioning MapQuest as the navigation app that lets you experience more. The MapQuest app will no longer provide the "efficient route". SideQuests will provide users with the opportunity to see more, do more, and create new memories by taking the scenic route.

How will we bring back MapQuest? By curating a product innovation and campaign, positioning MapQuest as the navigation app that lets you experience more. The MapQuest app will no longer provide the "efficient route". SideQuests will provide users with the opportunity to see more, do more, and create new memories by taking the scenic route.

Research

When my team and I were starting out, one thing was abundantly clear: MapQuest needs to be different. This is because it is incredibly difficult to compete with an app that comes pre-installed on users' phones (Apple & Google Maps). So instead of going head-to-head with these major navigation apps, MapQuest will take an alternative route.

When my team and I were starting out, one thing was abundantly clear: MapQuest needs to be different. This is because it is incredibly difficult to compete with an app that comes pre-installed on users' phones (Apple & Google Maps). So instead of going head-to-head with these major navigation apps, MapQuest will take an alternative route.

Problem

MapQuest was one of the first commercial mapping services, but they didn't keep up with their competitor's technological developments. So, how might we re-establish MapQuest as a brand in the modern era?

MapQuest was one of the first commercial mapping services, but they didn't keep up with their competitor's technological developments. So, how might we re-establish MapQuest as a brand in the modern era?

Insight

Road trips aren't about getting from Point A to Point B as fast as possible. They are about the experiences and memories you make along they way. Instead of competing with the dominating navigation apps (Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze), MapQuest should differentiate itself by going in the complete opposite direction.

Road trips aren't about getting from Point A to Point B as fast as possible. They are about the experiences and memories you make along they way. Instead of competing with the dominating navigation apps (Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze), MapQuest should differentiate itself by going in the complete opposite direction.

Opportunity

MapQuest's mission statement reads, "We're into maps, but we connect more than just Point A to Point B." By leveraging its mission statement, MapQuest has a great opportunity to differentiate itself from the competition by rethinking efficiency-centric travel.

MapQuest's mission statement reads, "We're into maps, but we connect more than just Point A to Point B." By leveraging its mission statement, MapQuest has a great opportunity to differentiate itself from the competition by rethinking efficiency-centric travel.

02 Product

Onboarding

Users will be greeted with pre-made SideQuests for their area. This way, those who just want to send it are able to get started as fast as possible.

Users will be greeted with pre-made SideQuests for their area. This way, those who just want to send it are able to get started as fast as possible.

Users can also filter these pre-made routes based on what they would like to experience, such as history, museums, nature, etc.

Users can also filter these pre-made routes based on what they would like to experience, such as history, museums, nature, etc.

Before putting in a final destination, users are able to select their vehicle of travel. This allows SideQuests to be more accessible by letting users drive, bike, or take a simple stroll.

Before putting in a final destination, users are able to select their vehicle of travel. This allows SideQuests to be more accessible by letting users drive, bike, or take a simple stroll.

Homescreen with pre-made Quests

Choose mode of transportation

Enter final destination

Choosing your categories

Users can use the slider feature to tweak their route based on what they would like to experience. Having this be the first option primes the user to think about the journey in experiences rather than in time spent.

History Slider at 100%

Adding Sightseeing to Quest

Adding Museums to Quests

Selecting Distance

When it came time to consider distance, SideQuests offered a slider with a corresponding map that shows approximately how long the journey will take. It ranges from a little out of the way, to an Epic Quest.

When it came time to consider distance, SideQuests offered a slider with a corresponding map that shows approximately how long the journey will take. It ranges from a little out of the way, to an Epic Quest.

Short quest

Medium quest

Epic Quest

Customizing Stops

Based on user input, SideQuests will generate a route with suggested stops. Users can choose to stick with this route, tweak the stop order, or add specific locations that they would like to stop at.

List of Stops

Navigation

Navigation remains the same as it currently is in MapQuest, featuring a simple UI so users can safely reach their stops.

Navigation remains the same as it currently is in MapQuest, featuring a simple UI so users can safely reach their stops.

They can also see their trip in full at any moment while navigating.

They can also see their trip in full at any moment while navigating.

Turn-by-turn Navigation

Trip at a glance

Completion & Reward

Upon completion, users are shown the journey they had versus the journey they would have had if they used conventional navigation apps.

Upon completion, users are shown the journey they had versus the journey they would have had if they used conventional navigation apps.

If users complete the Epic Quest, they will earn a badge on their account and receive a 3D-printed commemorative item from their journey.

If users complete the Epic Quest, they will earn a badge on their account and receive a 3D-printed commemorative item from their journey.

Sidequest recap

Sadquest recap

Reward & badge

Point A to Point A

Imagine you are having a boring Sunday. The weather outside is beautiful, your kids are restless, and you need some entertainment to spend the afternoon.

Imagine you are having a boring Sunday. The weather outside is beautiful, your kids are restless, and you need some entertainment to spend the afternoon.

Instead of heading to a destination, spend your day going from Point A to Point A, where your quest will end exactly where it began.

Instead of heading to a destination, spend your day going from Point A to Point A, where your quest will end exactly where it began.

User selected "Journey ends where it began"

Epic Quest that loops users back to where they started

Learnings & Conclusion

This project forced me to think deeper about solving business needs. It allowed me to think about brand solutions that go against the current trends of navigation apps. One of my key learnings was that sometimes, the solution for a business is to go in the complete opposite direction. When everyone is zigging, sometimes you need to zag. Coming up with this solution takes MapQuest out of trying to compete with Apple and Google by creating an entirely unique experience that is only available on SideQuests.

View App Walkthrough Video

03 Process

SIDEQUESTS

SIDEQUESTS

SIDEQUESTS

DESIGN PROCESS

DESIGN PROCESS

DESIGN PROCESS

VIEW

VIEW

Ryan Schork

Product Designer

Ryan Schork

Product Designer

Ryan Schork

Product Designer

Check out my other work!

Check out my other work!

Check out my other work!

Yasumi | Travel App

UX/UI Case Study

Yasumi | Travel App

UX/UI Case Study

Yasumi | Travel App

UX/UI Case Study

Yasumi | Travel App

UX/UI Case Study

Sites of Tomorrow | 3D Landing Pages

UX/UI Case Study

Sites of Tomorrow | 3D Landing Pages

UX/UI Case Study

Sites of Tomorrow | 3D Landing Pages

UX/UI Case Study

Sites of Tomorrow | 3D Landing Pages

UX/UI Case Study

Spots by Spotify | Product Innovation

UX/UI Case Study

Spots by Spotify | Product Innovation

UX/UI Case Study

Spots by Spotify | Product Innovation

UX/UI Case Study

Spots by Spotify | Product Innovation

UX/UI Case Study