back
back
back

Presto

Presto

Presto

Unifying all
transit services on
one platform.
Unifying all transit services on one platform.

Unifying all transit services on one platform.

Unifying all transit services on one platform.

Servicing across all cities in the entire Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and leveraging integrated payment through existing Presto infrastructure.

2025
Independent
Feasibility Study
Independent
Study
[MaaS]
Mobility
As a Service
[MaaS]
Mobility
As a Service
Role
UX Design
User Research
/Role
UX Design
User Research
Feature Highlights
Fully Integrated
Navigation

A → B

End-to-End
All in one App

7

Total
Modes of
Transport

3

Route
Types
Complete
Integrated
Services
Fully Integrated
Navigation

A → B

End-to-End
All in one App

A → B

End-to-End
All in one App
1/ Context

The

1/ Context

The Problem?

1/ Context

The

1/ Context

The Problem?

1
Juggling Apps

Transit offerings force commuters to constantly juggle fragmented apps (navigation, micromobility, ride sharing). Constantly managing crucial real time data.

2
Too much thinking

This disconnect creates significant cognitive load leading to missed transfers, financial penalties, and crucially eroding system distrust.

3
Data ≠ practical usability

The market is dominated by data aggregators, great for planning but lacking in practice. While 67% of Metrolinx riders default to Google Maps, it fails at critical moments.

A Disconnected Journey
1
Juggling Apps

Current offerings force commuters to juggle +3 disconnected apps (maps, e-mobility, ride sharing). All to constantly manage real time data, fares, and transfers.

2
Too much thinking

This disconnect creates significant cognitive load leading to missed transfers, financial penalties, and crucially eroding system distrust.

Current offerings negatively creates a disconnect, creating significant cognitive load leading to missed transfers, financial penalties, and crucially eroding system distrust.

3
Data ≠ practical usability

The market is dominated by data aggregators, great for planning but lacking in practice. Failing at critical points: integrated routes, real time accuracy, and payment.

The market is dominated by data aggregators, great for planning at home but lacking in practice. While 67% of Metrolinx riders default to Google Maps, survey revealed it fails at critical moments: fully integrated routes, real-time accuracy, and integrated payment.

A Disconnected Journey
1
Juggling Apps

Current offerings force commuters to juggle +3 disconnected apps (maps, e-mobility, ride sharing). All to constantly manage real time data, fares, and transfers.

Current offerings negatively creates a disconnect, creating significant cognitive load leading to missed transfers, financial penalties, and crucially eroding system distrust.

2
Too much thinking

This disconnect creates significant cognitive load leading to missed transfers, financial penalties, and crucially eroding system distrust.

3
Data ≠ practical usability

The market is dominated by data aggregators, great for planning but lacking in practice. Failing at critical points: integrated routes, real time accuracy, and payment.

The market is dominated by data aggregators, great for planning at home but lacking in practice. While 67% of Metrolinx riders default to Google Maps, survey revealed it fails at critical moments: fully integrated routes, real-time accuracy, and integrated payment.

A Disconnected Journey
1
Juggling Apps

Current offerings force commuters to juggle +3 disconnected apps (maps, e-mobility, ride sharing). All to constantly manage real time data, fares, and transfers.

Current offerings negatively creates a disconnect, creating significant cognitive load leading to missed transfers, financial penalties, and crucially eroding system distrust.

2
Too much thinking

This disconnect creates significant cognitive load leading to missed transfers, financial penalties, and crucially eroding system distrust.

Current offerings negatively creates a disconnect, creating significant cognitive load leading to missed transfers, financial penalties, and crucially eroding system distrust.

3
Data ≠ practical usability

The market is dominated by data aggregators, great for planning but lacking in practice. Failing at critical points: integrated routes, real time accuracy, and payment.

The market is dominated by data aggregators, great for planning at home but lacking in practice. While 67% of Metrolinx riders default to Google Maps, survey revealed it fails at critical moments: fully integrated routes, real-time accuracy, and integrated payment.

Rider Core Insights
Demanding real-time updates
0
%
of Users
Demand
40
%
of Users
Demand
40
%
of Users
Demand
Information On Transit Delays
Info On Transit Delays
Stop Changes and Route Updates
Transit Vehicle
Tracking
Transit Vehicle Tracking

Key Decision

A clear trust
deficit in the system
A clear trust
deficit in the system

Bridging the confidence gap is paramount

Riders do not trust the system. These metrics are indicators of uncertainty - detrimental to a service expected to be reliable.

Bridging the confidence gap is paramount

Riders do not trust the system. These metrics are indicators of uncertainty - detrimental to a service expected to be reliable.

Learning
from the past
Learning from the past
Triplinx (2015 – 2025)

Confusing, poorly organized & glitchy

The now retired Metrolinx platform that was aiming for full local integration. Garnering a mediocre 63% satisfaction score, proved that simply providing information isn't enough.

The Target User?

For The Daily Commuter.

For The Daily Commuter.

For The Daily Commuter.

Defined as a user who relies on two or more distinct transit networks – prioritizing both speed and cost control.

The issue is not
a lack of options.

It's the lack of
a single tool
to rely on.

Analysis
Competitive Context
Market Gap
Market
Gap
Integration vs. Aggregation
Integration vs.
Aggregation

Competitive analysis confirmed that local existing solutions are data aggregators, and fail for full integration.

Precedence Study
3 Cases
3 Cases
Google Maps
Transit
Jelbi
Google Maps
Transit
Jelbi
Google Maps
Transit
Jelbi
Google Maps
Transit
Jelbi

Google Maps

Google

Maps

Data Aggregator
Data
Aggregator
Pros

Seamless exploration and discovery

Ubiquitously available data

Cons

No fare/transfer integration

No e-mobility integration

Opportunities

Fare integration

Unifying e-mobility

Transit

Data Aggregator
Pros

Strong real-time data

Thriving alternative to Google Maps

Cons

Poor multi agency flow

Lack of price transparency

No e-mobility integration

Opportunities

Unified route comparison balancing time & cost

Jelbi (Berlin)

Multimodal Integration
Multimodal
Integration
Pros

Deep transactional integration of 13+ modes

Cons

Requires high institutional alignment (Gov. ownership)

Opportunities

Complete transit management designed for full integration

Key Finding

Key
Finding
A Critical Gap
A Critical Gap
Local offerings cannot answer this simple question

Local offerings cannot answer this simple question

A Critical Gap

Which end-to-end route is the best balance of speed and cost, and can I pay for all parts of it right now?

Bridging the confidence gap is paramount

Riders do not trust the system. These metrics are indicators of uncertainty - detrimental to a service expected to be reliable.

2/ Develop

Approaching the problem

2/ Develop

Approaching
The problem

Developing
Feature Prioritization
The Target
The
Target
Combating Confidence Killers
Combating
Confidence Killers

Our design was engineered to directly combat the three biggest "confidence killers" identified in research: fare uncertainty, transfer anxiety, and last mile friction.

Data Backed Strategy
3 Solutions
3 Solutions
Fare Uncertainty
Transfer Anxiety
Last Mile
Google Maps
Transit
Jelbi
Fare Uncertainty
Transfer Anxiety
Last Mile
Fare Uncertainty
Transfer Anxiety
Last Mile
Solution 1
Combating Fare
Uncertainty
Solution 1
Combating Fare Uncertainty

89%

of users
of users

Demand fare information in App

Demand fare

information in App

59%

of users
of users

Desire a PRESTO wallet balance for informed decisions

Design Execution

a
Dashboard Priority - PRESTO + Fares
Dashboard Priority -
PRESTO + Fares
Dashboard Priority
- PRESTO + Fares

Wallet balance and fares on routes. A proactive answer to users top financial question.

b
Removing Financial Anxiety
Removing
Financial Anxiety

With critical info, it eliminates the need to switch to another app and instantly reduce financial anxiety.

Feature #1
Live Account Balance
Feature #2
Total Fare Cost
Solution 2
Eliminating Transfer
Anxiety
Top Priority
Real-time
Accurate Info
Previous Top Complaints

"Sometimes accurate" or "glitchy" directly erodes trust.

Design Execution

a
Prioritized for Clarity & Action
Prioritized for
Clarity & Action

Using strong hierarchy to highlight the task - reducing the cognitive load of interpreting complexity under pressure.

b
Seamless Transfers

Actionable transfer steps with real time data, transforming a moment of anxiety into a moment of calm confirmation.

c
Transfer Timer

Eliminates uncertainty with an always visible tracker.

Guiding Intent
Clear & actionable steps + real time data
Feature
Omnipresent
Transfer Timer
Solution 2
Eliminating Transfer Anxiety
Top Priority
Real-time
Accurate Info
Previous Top Complaints

"Sometimes accurate" or "glitchy" directly erodes trust.

Design Execution

a
Prioritized for Clarity & Action

Using strong hierarchy to highlight the task - reducing the cognitive load of interpreting complexity under pressure.

b
Seamless Transfers

Actionable transfer steps with real time data, transforming a moment of anxiety into a moment of calm confirmation.

c
Transfer Timer

Eliminates uncertainty with an always visible tracker.

Guiding Intent
Clear & actionable steps + real time data
Feature
Omnipresent
Transfer Timer
Solution 3
Solving the
Last Mile Friction
Popularity Surge
Personal
Mobility Services
Building Trust First

Can't plan the last mile when users can't trust the "first fifty"

While only 49% of users felt integrating e-mobility was important; this is not a lack of desire, but a symptom of the previous broken experience.


Recent surge in last mile transport popularity further supports this decision.

Design Execution

a
Trust Building

Strategically building the trust necessary to make micro mobility a viable extension.

b
Actionable Info

Instead of passive information, UI directly informs decisions, such as "3 Docks Nearby."

c
Universal Scan to Unlock UI

Allows transition from transit to mobility services to be seamless, contained entirely within the trusted ecosystem

Guiding Intent
Solving the fragmented journey between multiple services
Feature
Universal
Scan to Unlock
Solution 3
Solving the Last Mile Friction
Popularity Surge
Personal
Mobility
Services
Building Trust First

Can't plan the last mile when users can't trust the "first fifty"

While only 49% of users felt integrating e-mobility was important; this is not a lack of desire, but a symptom of the previous broken experience.


Recent surge in last mile transport popularity further supports this decision.

Design Execution

a
Trust Building

Strategically building the trust necessary to make micro mobility a viable extension.

b
Actionable Info

Instead of passive information, UI directly informs decisions, such as "3 Docks Nearby."

c
Universal Scan to Unlock UI

Allows transition from transit to mobility services to be seamless, contained entirely within the trusted ecosystem

Guiding Intent
Solving the fragmented journey between multiple services
Feature
Universal
Scan to Unlock
Project Structure
Information Architecture
IA Strategy
Prioritizing Decisions First

To combat deep menus, I flattened the hierarchy into a Decision First Model - ensuring all actions are immediately accessible.


The Dashboard acts as a persistent status indicator, prioritizing immediate data: location, wallet, and transfer, orienting the user instantly before they act.

Contextual Access

The flow prioritizes immediate mobility over administration, using a shallow depth structure to reduce interaction cost, as well as to maximize map screen real estate.

Detailed View Partition

High velocity actions (Navigation, Unlocking) remain on the surface. Low frequency admin tasks (Reloading, History) are tucked in the expandable Detailed View, ensuring the app remains a tool for movement, not management.

Scan Carousel

A swipe interaction toggles providers (Bike Share, Scooter). This keeps the critical Scan to Unlock CTA accessible in a single gesture, preserving screen space while allowing for infinite partner scalability.

Ideation
Wireframing
Dashboard Design
Dashboard Design
Balancing Context Vs. Speed

The design challenge was reconciling two competing user needs: the need for spatial orientation (Where am I?) and the need for immediate action (Unlock a bike). Early explorations swung too far in either direction before landing on a hybrid solution.

Wireframe #1 + #2
Wireframes #1 + #2
Two Initial Approaches
1

Pure Exploration (Map First)

While excellent for context, it buried the primary utility (Unlocking/Booking) inside a minimized bottom sheet, creating high interaction cost for commuters who just wanted to ride.

2

Selection

Prioritized

While accessible, it siloed the experience. It forced users to commit to a mode (ex. "Bike Share") before seeing if a bike was actually nearby, violating the "Decision First" principle.

Final Wireframe #3
Third - Hybrid State
3

Informed & Quick

Decisions

Sharp

Decisions

The final direction synthesizes the best of both worlds. It retains the live map for immediate spatial awareness but elevates the "Quick Access" row to the surface level.


It allows for an instant transportation decisions without blocking the user's view of their transfer status or location.

Key Decision

Key Decision
Minimizing Interaction
Cost with Non-Modal Design
Minimizing Interaction Cost with Non-Modal Design
Minimizing Interaction
Cost with
Non-Modal Design

Minimizing Noise

Minimizing Noise

Prioritized a non-modal architecture. Exposing "Scan to Unlock" directly on the map eliminates mode switching friction, enabling immediate action without losing spatial context.

Bridging the confidence gap is paramount

Riders do not trust the system. These metrics are indicators of uncertainty - detrimental to a service expected to be reliable.

From Theory to Practice
Developing The Approach
Refining Core Flows
Maximizing Function, Minimal Cognitive Load

Developing the hybrid model, the focus was on refining three critical points: the dashboard dynamic state, universal mobility unlocking flow, and multi-modal navigation logic.


Ensuring every transition felt continuous, reducing the cognitive friction of switching between transit modes.

Dynamic Design
Dashboard
Dashboard

Refining for a dynamic state based

Dashboard rather than a static menu.

Refining for a dynamic state based Dashboard rather than a static menu.

Quick Access
The Peek State (Screen 1)

The default view prioritizes the Quick Access options, keeping high velocity actions (unlocking a bike) immediately available.

The Expansion

Dragging up reveals the Detailed View, which houses lower frequency tasks like Reload Presto and Ride History.

Low Frequency Access
The Peek State (Screen 1)

This partition ensures the map remains the hero, preserving spatial context while allowing complex account management.

Quick Access

The default view prioritizes the Quick Access options, keeping high velocity actions (unlocking a bike) immediately available.

The Expansion

Dragging up reveals the Detailed View, which houses lower frequency tasks like Reload Presto and Ride History.

Low Frequency Access

This partition ensures the map remains the hero, preserving spatial context while allowing complex account management.

Mobility Services
Unifying the Action Layer
Unifying the
Action Layer

To integrate disparate providers (Bike Share, Lime, Bird) without fragmenting the UI, the interaction model was unified.


Regardless of the provider selected in the carousel, UI remains a consistent "Scan to Unlock".

Regardless of the provider selected in the carousel, UI remains a consistent "Scan to Unlock".

The Scan Carousel
The Scan Carousel
The Scan Carousel

Simplifies the complexity of third party services into a single, predictable behaviour.

Mobility Services

To integrate disparate providers (Bike Share, Lime, Bird) without fragmenting the UI, the interaction model was unified.

The Scan Carousel

Simplifies the complexity of third party services into a single, predictable behaviour.

Minimizing Thinking
Integrated Navigation

Multi-modal routing is complex

To prevent decision paralysis, I designed the route selection screen to expose the trade-offs explicitly. Instead of a generic list, options are categorized by critical user priority: Fastest, Cheapest, or Optimal.

Simplifying Decisions

Complex algorithmic output into a simple human decision.

Fastest / Cheapest / Optimal
"Do I have more time
or more money right now?"

Simplifying Decisions

Complex algorithmic output into a simple human decision.

Key Decision

Key Decision
Strategic Rationale Reducing Cognitive Friction
Strategic Rationale
Reducing Cognitive Friction
Strategic Rationale Reducing Cognitive Friction

Streamlining Flow

Flow
Streamlining

We integrated a dashboard state engine, standardized "Scan to Unlock" patterns, and simplified routing into clear "Time vs Cost" trade offs. This system logic ensures seamless continuity across every multi-modal transition.

Bridging the confidence gap is paramount

Riders do not trust the system. These metrics are indicators of uncertainty - detrimental to a service expected to be reliable.

3/ Execution

Final Design

3/ Execution

Final Design

Final Design
Dashboard

Dashboard

Building Trust

From a static wallet to actionable confidence

From a static wallet to actionable confidence

The existing PRESTO app functions as a passive wallet. But the daily commute's needs are not static. They are immediate, contextual, and often high anxiety. Research showed a profound trust deficit, with users top demands being reliability and real time data.


This Dashboard was strategically redesigned from the ground up to address this, shifting its core purpose from a balance checker to a end-to-end companion for your journey.

The existing PRESTO app functions as a passive wallet. But the daily commuter's primary needs are not static; they are immediate, contextual, and high-anxiety. Our research showed a profound trust deficit, with users' top demands being reliability and real-time data.


The Dashboard was strategically redesigned from the ground up to address this, shifting its core purpose from a "balance-checker" to a "confidence engine."

The existing PRESTO app functions as a passive wallet. But the daily commuter's primary needs are not static - they are immediate, contextual, and often high anxiety. Our research showed a profound trust deficit, with users top demands being reliability and real time data.


The Dashboard was strategically redesigned from the ground up to address this, shifting its core purpose from a balance checker to a end-to-end companion for your journey.

Features

/Live Transfer Timer
/PRESTO Wallet Balance
/Real Time Map view

Information
Architecture

Dashboard
Dashboard
Dashboard
Search
Search
Search
Search
Transport
Transport
Transport
Transport
Balance
Balance
Balance
Balance
Proactive
Information

The map first interface is designed to answer a user's most critical, high anxiety questions without a single tap.

Proactively presenting the three data points that ensure commuter confidence.

The map first interface is designed to answer a user's most critical, high anxiety questions without a single tap. Proactively presenting the three data points that ensure commuter confidence.

Live Wallet Balance

Directly Answers
Directly Answers

/Can I afford this ride?
/When should I reload my PRESTO?
/Can I afford this ride?
/When should I reload my PRESTO?
Live Wallet Balance

Auto Transfer Timer

Auto Transfer Timer
Directly Answers

/Am I still on my transfer?
/When does it end?
Directly Answers
/Am I still on my transfer?
/When does it end?

Real-time Route Data

Real-time
Route Data
Never miss a route again.

Delays? Early? No problem.
Never miss a route again.
Delays? Early?
No problem.
Final Design
Bike Share TO Integration

Bike Share TO Integration

Last Mile Cycling

Seamless Connection To Infrastructure

Seamless Connection To Infrastructure

The "last mile" is often the biggest barrier to transit adoption. By treating micro mobility as a core infrastructure layer rather than an external add on, we eliminated the context switching tax that plagues multi app commutes.


The interface morphs to prioritize the immediate physical action: unlocking a vehicle: closing the loop on the door-to-door journey without forcing the user to exit the PRESTO experience.

The existing PRESTO app functions as a passive wallet. But the daily commuter's primary needs are not static; they are immediate, contextual, and high-anxiety. Our research showed a profound trust deficit, with users' top demands being reliability and real-time data.


The Dashboard was strategically redesigned from the ground up to address this, shifting its core purpose from a "balance-checker" to a "confidence engine."

The existing PRESTO app functions as a passive wallet. But the daily commuter's primary needs are not static - they are immediate, contextual, and often high anxiety. Our research showed a profound trust deficit, with users top demands being reliability and real time data.


The Dashboard was strategically redesigned from the ground up to address this, shifting its core purpose from a balance checker to a end-to-end companion for your journey.

Features

/Real time Dock Stats /Integrated Unlock API /Proximity Based Context

Information
Architecture

Dashboard
Bike Share
Scan Unlock
Final Design
Last Mile Mobility

Last Mile Mobility

Standardizing Behaviours

Unifying The Disconnected Market

Unifying The Disconnected Market

The micro mobility landscape is fractured by competing operators, often forcing users to juggle multiple accounts. We prioritized a provider agnostic design, distilling the complexity of multiple APIs (Lime, Bird, etc.) into a single, consistent interface.


By normalizing the interaction into a universal "Scan to Unlock" pattern, we decoupled the utility of the ride from the specific app required to use it: shifting the user's decision metric from "Which app do I have?" to a simple "Which vehicle is closest?"

The existing PRESTO app functions as a passive wallet. But the daily commuter's primary needs are not static; they are immediate, contextual, and high-anxiety. Our research showed a profound trust deficit, with users' top demands being reliability and real-time data.


The Dashboard was strategically redesigned from the ground up to address this, shifting its core purpose from a "balance-checker" to a "confidence engine."

The existing PRESTO app functions as a passive wallet. But the daily commuter's primary needs are not static - they are immediate, contextual, and often high anxiety. Our research showed a profound trust deficit, with users top demands being reliability and real time data.


The Dashboard was strategically redesigned from the ground up to address this, shifting its core purpose from a balance checker to a end-to-end companion for your journey.

Features

/Provider Agnostic UI
/Unified Payment Layer
/Real Time Inventory

Information
Architecture

Dashboard
E-Mobility
Scan Unlock
Final Design
Public Transit Integration

Public Transit Integration

Isolating For Transit

This view renders complex transit data into a simple visual hierarchy.

Active Transit Map

Route Corridors

High contrast lines visualize the multiple transit lines for rapid service recognition.

Stop Nodes

Specific markers (ex. 97AB) surface critical transfer points.

Vehicle Tracking

Enables passive monitoring of live arrival times without requiring the friction of a destination input.

Supporting Habitual Behavior

From Data Overload
To Clear Direction

Transit maps are often paralyzed by data density. For daily commuters who need status rather than directions, I implemented a "Zero Input" transit view led by dynamic visual hierarchy.


By suppressing irrelevant data and isolating real time vehicle positions, the interface transforms from a static map into a focused real time monitor: eliminating the cognitive load of "planning" a known trip.

The existing PRESTO app functions as a passive wallet. But the daily commuter's primary needs are not static; they are immediate, contextual, and high-anxiety. Our research showed a profound trust deficit, with users' top demands being reliability and real-time data.


The Dashboard was strategically redesigned from the ground up to address this, shifting its core purpose from a "balance-checker" to a "confidence engine."

The existing PRESTO app functions as a passive wallet. But the daily commuter's primary needs are not static - they are immediate, contextual, and often high anxiety. Our research showed a profound trust deficit, with users top demands being reliability and real time data.


The Dashboard was strategically redesigned from the ground up to address this, shifting its core purpose from a balance checker to a end-to-end companion for your journey.

Features

/Active Line Isolation
/Real Time Vehicle Tracking
/Contextual Stop Data

Information
Architecture

Dashboard
Transit
Removing the noise
Isolating For Transit

This view renders complex transit data into a simple visual hierarchy.

Active Transit Map
Route Corridors

High contrast lines visualize the multiple transit lines for rapid service recognition.

Stop Nodes

Specific markers (ex. 97AB) surface critical transfer points.

Vehicle Tracking

Enables passive monitoring of live arrival times without requiring the friction of a destination input.

Final Design
Multi-Modal Navigation

Multi-Modal Navigation

Suggested routes
Algorithmic Sorting

The interface replaces raw data analysis with clear value decisions. By tagging routes as "Fastest" or "Optimal," the system instantly calculates a "Time vs Cost" ratio, allowing users to identify the best option at a glance.

Unified Integrated Services

Clear and Actionable
Decisions at a glance

Multi modal journeys are often rejected due to the cognitive effort of comparing variables, across numerous services. Research shown that users want to sort by time (84%) and fare cost (79%).


A routing engine was designed that democratizes this data. By presenting "Lowest Fare" alongside "Fastest," users are empowered to make active value based decisions, trading 10 minutes of time for $3.00 in savings - without leaving the flow.

The existing PRESTO app functions as a passive wallet. But the daily commuter's primary needs are not static; they are immediate, contextual, and high-anxiety. Our research showed a profound trust deficit, with users' top demands being reliability and real-time data.


The Dashboard was strategically redesigned from the ground up to address this, shifting its core purpose from a "balance-checker" to a "confidence engine."

The existing PRESTO app functions as a passive wallet. But the daily commuter's primary needs are not static - they are immediate, contextual, and often high anxiety. Our research showed a profound trust deficit, with users top demands being reliability and real time data.


The Dashboard was strategically redesigned from the ground up to address this, shifting its core purpose from a balance checker to a end-to-end companion for your journey.

Features

/Time vs. Cost Sorting
/Multi-Modal Stitching
/Live Step-by-Step

Information
Architecture

Dashboard
Search
Route Select
Algorithmic Sorting
Suggested Routes

The interface replaces raw data analysis with clear value decisions. By tagging routes as "Fastest" or "Optimal," the system instantly calculates a "Time vs Cost" ratio, allowing users to identify the best option at a glance.

4/ Reflection

[under construction]

Reflection Coming Soon.

Currently busy reflecting, come back shortly.

Thinking…

return home