Rideshare. Float. Engage
Rideshare. Float. Engage
Bridging Transportation Gap Through Community
Bridging Transportation Gap Through Community
ROLE
ROLE
Solo Product Designer
UX Research
Brand Designer
Solo Product Designer
UX Research
Brand Designer
TEAM
TEAM
1 Designer
1 Mentor (Xiaojun Huang)
1 Designer
1 Mentor (Xiaojun Huang)
TOOLS
TOOLS
Figma
Adobe Illustrator, Ps, InDesign
Adobe After Effects
Figma
Adobe Suite
RECOGNITION
RECOGNITION
Silver Toledo ADDY Award
Silver Toledo ADDY Award
THE IMPACT
THE IMPACT
THE PROBLEM
THE PROBLEM
Limited public transit and the absence of personal vehicles
Limited public transit and the absence of personal vehicles
Sidelines students from essential career opportunities and social connections. Transportation becomes an invisible barrier that prevents them from moving beyond survival to a true sense of belonging on campus.
Before, during, and after developing BUOY, I surveyed over 70 students across 7 universities located in isolated college towns
Sidelines students from essential career opportunities and social connections. Transportation becomes an invisible barrier that prevents them from moving beyond survival to a true sense of belonging on campus.
Before, during, and after developing BUOY, I surveyed over 70 students across 7 universities located in isolated college towns
Onsite survey
User engaged with the installation
Onsite survey
User engaged with the installation
Onsite survey prompt
Designed an engaging the participatory data collection
Onsite survey prompt
Designed an engaging the participatory data collection
Collected data
Collected data when users interacted with the installation.
Collected data
Collected data when users interacted with the installation.
Digital survey
Digital survey to capture insights among students from different universities
Digital survey
Digital survey to capture insights among students from different universities
Transportation barriers don’t just affect where students can go
Transportation barriers don’t just affect where students can go
It affects how students build community, access opportunities, and engage with campus life.
Across the surveyed institutions, transportation repeatedly emerged as a barrier to participation and opportunity. Two of the seven universities had no access to rideshare services such as Uber or Lyft, highlighting the challenges students face when mobility options are limited.
It affects how students build community, access opportunities, and engage with campus life.
Across the surveyed institutions, transportation repeatedly emerged as a barrier to participation and opportunity. Two of the seven universities had no access to rideshare services such as Uber or Lyft, highlighting the challenges students face when mobility options are limited.
Campus disconnection
Campus disconnection
Campus disconnection
The problem isn't distance, it's disconnection. Students are missing the moments on campus.
The problem isn't distance, it's disconnection. Students are missing the moments on campus.
The problem isn't distance, it's disconnection. Students are missing the moments on campus.
Transportation is the barrier
Transportation is the barrier
Transportation is the barrier
83.3% prioritized career fairs and high-stakes events, but couldn't make it due to lack of accessible transportation.
83.3% prioritized career fairs and high-stakes events, but couldn't make it due to lack of accessible transportation.
Missed opportunities
Missed opportunities
Missed opportunities
88.9% said that without a car and public transportation, they were limited in accessing opportunities beyond campus.
88.9% said that without a car and public transportation, they were limited in accessing opportunities beyond campus.
THE SOLUTION
THE SOLUTION
Community rideshare, anchored to events. I designed BUOY to flip the problem; instead of searching for a driver, students browse upcoming events and get matched with a peer already heading there. Every ride is tied to a shared destination.
Community rideshare, anchored to events. I designed BUOY to flip the problem; instead of searching for a driver, students browse upcoming events and get matched with a peer already heading there. Every ride is tied to a shared destination.
Role selection
Get Nutritional Insights
Make Your Action
Choosing between: Floatie, who needs rides and Wave, who offers rides
See exactly what’s on your plate, calories, macros, and key nutrients, all broken down in seconds.
Log it, tweak your plan, or ask AI for smarter alternatives all in one tap.
THE EXHIBITION
THE EXHIBITION
BUOY came to life as an interactive exhibition. Visitors picked a color-coded buoy matching their perceived level of impact, wrote their story, placed it in a clear capsule, and dropped it into a miniature ocean, creating a physical sea of shared experiences.
BUOY came to life as an interactive exhibition. Visitors picked a color-coded buoy matching their perceived level of impact, wrote their story, placed it in a clear capsule, and dropped it into a miniature ocean, creating a physical sea of shared experiences.
Interactive installation
Interactive installation for survey and engagement
Interactive installation
Interactive installation for survey and engagement
Full installation
Full view of the installation
Full installation
Full view of the installation
Brochure
Brochure for marketing and information
Brochure
Brochure for marketing and information
App demo
Try out BUOY app!
App demo
Try out BUOY app!
RECOGNITION
RECOGNITION
Won Silver at Toledo ADDY Awards 2025!
Won Silver at Toledo ADDY Awards 2025!
2025 ADDY Award
Me & the award
Award night
Cold weather, warm night
2025 ADDY Award
Me & the award
Award night
Cold weather, warm night
© 2025 Vy Huynh | Made with luv and gallons of oolong tea
© 2025 Vy Huynh | Made with luv and gallons of oolong tea