The Challenge
The apple watch enables a new type of communication with users, and Emirates decided to take this as an opportunity to connect with their customers at a more personal level. A new device meant new basics, new rules, new device anatomy, and also new challenges. Therefore I had to learn before I could apply.
The first step in the learning process (always keeping the Emirates persona in mind) was to identify where does the watch fit within the user journey, and in which stages of the travel the app will help ease user's pain-points.
The second step was to learn about the app anatomy and define new rules to follow: the app will be template based (1 glance, 1 template); it will be not scrollable (content-specific information that fits in one screen); and it will have a single action (one tap goes to watch app appropriate screen).
The Solution
This new device allowed Emirates to become a companion throughout the user’s journey, transforming the travel experience by anticipating needs and providing context specific information, when it is needed the most. Therefore, I created an app with two main sections that complement each other: a watch native application and a glance. The native watch app provides, on a first level, access to a full list of the users upcoming trips, and on a second level, detailed flight information specific to the trip.
To complement the native app, the glance was designed to provide a ‘quick-view’ of the most relevant pice of information throughout the different stages of the travel journey. The solution aims to provide context specific data of the user’s next upcoming flight, with up-to-date information of not only the flight status, but also of the departure/arrival terminal, gate, seat, and baggage belt.
