Industry

Industry

Mobility

Mobility

Client

Client

LA Metro

LA Metro

Timeline

Timeline

January - April 2023

January - April 2023

Aero

Aero

Aero

Solving Los Angeles's micro-mobility needs through e-scooters.

Solving Los Angeles's micro-mobility needs through e-scooters.

Medical B2B2C software platform
to combat the social isolation epidemic amongst seniors.

Solving Los Angeles's micro-mobility needs through e-scooters.

Redesign the future of mobility in the fast paced city of Los Angeles.

My Role

My Role

UX Researcher

UX Researcher

Product Designer

Product Designer

Interaction Designer

Interaction Designer

Graphic Designer

Graphic Designer

Team

Team

Skylar Lee

Skylar Lee

Jasmine Kim

Jasmine Kim

Tools Used

Tools Used

Figma

Figma

Miro

Miro

Overview

Overview

Project Overview

Project Overview

Developed in collaboration with Los Angeles Metro, Aero unifies e-scooters, public transit, and last-mile travel into one connected platform. The app streamlines discovery, booking, and payments while providing safety guidance and multimodal trip planning. Designed to reduce friction and build rider confidence, Aero transforms fragmented mobility services into a seamless travel experience.

Project Outcome

Project Outcome

I led the project end-to-end — driving UX, product strategy, UI design, and project management, while also shaping the marketing and branding for Aero. The result was a cohesive platform vision that integrated seamlessly with Los Angeles Metro’s mobility ecosystem, creating a unified rider experience from research through delivery.

Research

Research

Preliminary Research

Preliminary Research

At the start of the project, our goal wasn’t just to encourage more residents to use buses or trains in Los Angeles. Instead, we explored alternative possibilities by looking into the city’s micro-mobility needs. Through secondary research, we discovered that nearly 66% of commutes in Los Angeles are five miles or less, highlighting a major opportunity to address short-distance travel.

User Interviews

User Interviews

To better understand this behavior, we conducted interviews with working professionals in Koreatown and Downtown LA who regularly used e-scooters. Many participants described Los Angeles as not being a “walkable city,” and while public transportation options are plentiful, they are not widely embraced. These conversations revealed that the core issue wasn’t just access to transit — it was about creating seamless, reliable options for short trips that could bridge the gap between micro-mobility and larger transit networks.

To better understand this behavior, we conducted interviews with working professionals in Koreatown and Downtown LA who regularly used e-scooters. Many participants described Los Angeles as not being a “walkable city,” and while public transportation options are plentiful, they are not widely embraced. These conversations revealed that the core issue wasn’t just access to transit — it was about creating seamless, reliable options for short trips that could bridge the gap between micro-mobility and larger transit networks.

“Not my first or second choice of transportation.”

“Lack of infrastructure and regulations make experience challenging”

“In major cities, it’s relatively easy to find scooters everywhere with a short walk.”

Personas

Personas

I developed a primary persona centered on a young working professional living in Los Angeles, as young adults were identified as the key target group most likely to adopt and utilize micro-mobility services. This persona highlighted the need for convenient commuting options between home and work, along with access to alternative transportation methods to avoid traffic. At the same time, it revealed common pain points such as the difficulty of getting around the city without a car and the ongoing frustration of finding parking in Los Angeles. By grounding our design process in this persona, we ensured that Aero directly addressed the real mobility needs and challenges of young professionals.

I developed a primary persona centered on a young working professional living in Los Angeles, as young adults were identified as the key target group most likely to adopt and utilize micro-mobility services. This persona highlighted the need for convenient commuting options between home and work, along with access to alternative transportation methods to avoid traffic. At the same time, it revealed common pain points such as the difficulty of getting around the city without a car and the ongoing frustration of finding parking in Los Angeles. By grounding our design process in this persona, we ensured that Aero directly addressed the real mobility needs and challenges of young professionals.

Problem Statement

Problem Statement

Currently, public transportation in Los Angeles isn’t convenient for many residents. It’s rarely integrated into daily routines and is often perceived negatively, leaving people without reliable, flexible options to get around the city.

Currently, public transportation in Los Angeles isn’t convenient for many residents. It’s rarely integrated into daily routines and is often perceived negatively, leaving people without reliable, flexible options to get around the city.

Information Architecture

Information Architecture

To help create our entire system design we created a stakeholder map and service blueprint that helped us create a whole system for multiple stakeholders and the whole journey of our service from both the front end but as well as the back end.


Design Direction

Design Direction

Mission Statement

Mission Statement

We want to encourage urban residents to use public transportation with e-scooters as an aid in order for users to accomplish their day to day mobility needs in a more convenient way.

Branding System

Branding System

We created a design system that balanced clarity, mobility, and trust while maintaining a strong connection to Los Angeles Metro’s existing brand identity. The color palette was chosen to feel dynamic and energetic, reflecting movement and accessibility, while still aligning with LA Metro’s established tones to ensure familiarity and credibility. Typography focused on clean, legible fonts that could scale across digital platforms, from mobile to signage, promoting ease of use in fast-moving contexts. By blending fresh visual elements with Metro’s recognizable brand system, the design system reinforced Aero as both a new mobility solution and a natural extension of LA’s broader transit network.

We created a design system that balanced clarity, mobility, and trust while maintaining a strong connection to Los Angeles Metro’s existing brand identity. The color palette was chosen to feel dynamic and energetic, reflecting movement and accessibility, while still aligning with LA Metro’s established tones to ensure familiarity and credibility. Typography focused on clean, legible fonts that could scale across digital platforms, from mobile to signage, promoting ease of use in fast-moving contexts. By blending fresh visual elements with Metro’s recognizable brand system, the design system reinforced Aero as both a new mobility solution and a natural extension of LA’s broader transit network.

Initial Lowfi Design + Insights

Initial Lowfi Design + Insights

I designed low-fidelity wireframes centered on the map experience, making it simple for users to quickly locate and book a scooter. Our first round of user testing played a critical role in validating this approach. We wanted to see if users could easily understand how to select a scooter, interpret key details like availability and battery level, complete the payment process, and whether knowing their destination beforehand influenced their behavior. These insights were instrumental in refining the app’s core flow, ensuring that finding and booking a scooter was clear, intuitive, and aligned with real user needs.

I designed low-fidelity wireframes centered on the map experience, making it simple for users to quickly locate and book a scooter. Our first round of user testing played a critical role in validating this approach. We wanted to see if users could easily understand how to select a scooter, interpret key details like availability and battery level, complete the payment process, and whether knowing their destination beforehand influenced their behavior. These insights were instrumental in refining the app’s core flow, ensuring that finding and booking a scooter was clear, intuitive, and aligned with real user needs.

Scooter Prototype + Design

As part of envisioning a new type of scooter, we created a physical mockup to better understand ergonomics and user interaction. Using a 3D render built in Blender as a reference, we constructed a tangible model to test grip, handlebar placement, and overall usability. This hands-on approach allowed us to evaluate how riders would naturally hold and interact with the scooter, providing valuable insights that informed both the digital design and the physical form of the concept.

As part of envisioning a new type of scooter, we created a physical mockup to better understand ergonomics and user interaction. Using a 3D render built in Blender as a reference, we constructed a tangible model to test grip, handlebar placement, and overall usability. This hands-on approach allowed us to evaluate how riders would naturally hold and interact with the scooter, providing valuable insights that informed both the digital design and the physical form of the concept.

Design

Design

Physical Scooter

Physical Scooter

We also designed a physical scooter concept using Blender and Keyshot to visualize both form and function. The design explored ergonomics, durability, and a sleek aesthetic that aligned with Aero’s brand identity. To support the larger mobility ecosystem, we also created concepts for charging stations, ensuring riders had accessible and reliable options to dock and recharge scooters. Together, these designs extended Aero beyond the digital platform into a holistic mobility solution that combined software, hardware, and infrastructure.

We also designed a physical scooter concept using Blender and Keyshot to visualize both form and function. The design explored ergonomics, durability, and a sleek aesthetic that aligned with Aero’s brand identity. To support the larger mobility ecosystem, we also created concepts for charging stations, ensuring riders had accessible and reliable options to dock and recharge scooters. Together, these designs extended Aero beyond the digital platform into a holistic mobility solution that combined software, hardware, and infrastructure.

Design

Physical Scooter

We also designed a physical scooter concept using Blender and Keyshot to visualize both form and function. The design explored ergonomics, durability, and a sleek aesthetic that aligned with Aero’s brand identity. To support the larger mobility ecosystem, we also created concepts for charging stations, ensuring riders had accessible and reliable options to dock and recharge scooters. Together, these designs extended Aero beyond the digital platform into a holistic mobility solution that combined software, hardware, and infrastructure.

Aero App

Aero App

We created an app that allows users to seamlessly book scooters, check Los Angeles Metro schedules, and plan their mobility needs in one place. By integrating micro-mobility with public transit, the app helps riders move more efficiently across the city, bridging the gap between short-distance travel and larger transit networks. This unified experience makes it easier for users to discover, book, and connect their trips without the friction of switching between multiple platforms.

We created an app that allows users to seamlessly book scooters, check Los Angeles Metro schedules, and plan their mobility needs in one place. By integrating micro-mobility with public transit, the app helps riders move more efficiently across the city, bridging the gap between short-distance travel and larger transit networks. This unified experience makes it easier for users to discover, book, and connect their trips without the friction of switching between multiple platforms.

Key Takeaways

A major takeaway from this project was the importance of integrating new mobility solutions into existing systems to increase adoption and accessibility, rather than designing completely from scratch. I also gained valuable experience collaborating with stakeholders like Los Angeles Metro, where I saw firsthand how aligning with public services can amplify both the impact and feasibility of a design solution.