Balady App

The goal of redesigning Balady+ was to transform it from a functional navigation app into a frictionless, trusted, and engaging digital journey:

• Simplify complex navigation flows with immersive, context-aware maps.

• Build trust and confidence using clear alerts, official branding, and real-time feedback.

• Enhance accessibility with mobile-first layouts, scalable typography, and inclusive UI patterns.

• Create consistency by introducing a reusable design system across services and map interactions.

• Support scalability as new municipal services and smart-city features continue to expand.

Analysis & Research

What We Did

• Conducted a heuristic evaluation of the old Balady+ app using Jakob Nielsen’s 10 usability heuristics.
• Reviewed user complaints and support tickets, as well as Play Store & App Store reviews.
• Benchmarked Balady+ against global navigation apps (Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps) and government service apps.

Pain Points Found

• Navigation Overload Too much data on the map (traffic, alerts, services) without hierarchy.
• Weak Feedback Users weren’t sure if reports or applications were submitted successfully.
• Complex Service Flows Long, confusing steps for permits and licenses discouraged completion.
• Inconsistent UI Different services felt like separate apps inside one platform.
• Accessibility Issues Buttons were too small, low-contrast screens, and poor bilingual support.

Ideation

We reframed the design challenges into solution concepts:

• Guided Journeys Turn long forms and navigation tasks into simple, step-by-step flows.
• Unified Service Access Standardize entry points to municipal services.
• Trust-Centered Design Add confirmation states, security indicators, and status tracking to reassure users.
• Smart Overlays Organize data layers (traffic, weather, municipal alerts) with toggles to avoid overload.
• Design System Thinking Create reusable patterns and components to ensure consistency across 400+ services.

Wireframing

Wireframes became the blueprint for change:

• Low-Fidelity Sketches Focused on reorganizing navigation, menus, and service flows.
• Mid-Fidelity Wireframes Tested layouts for dashboards, map overlays, and service forms.

Key Improvements

• Progress indicators in service forms.
• Clearer map overlays with user-controlled toggles.
• Quick access menus for most-used municipal services.
• Service tracking dashboard showing application status.

Visual Design

The visual design focused on making Balady+ feel modern, trustworthy, and accessible:

• Design System Creation Built a reusable library of buttons, forms, cards, overlays, and map components.
• Brand Alignment Applied MOMRAH’s colors, typography, and official iconography.
• Accessibility Enhancements High-contrast palette, scalable typography, and touch-friendly targets.
• Immersive Maps Designed 3D maps with weather, traffic, and municipal service layers.
• Bilingual UI Ensured consistency between Arabic and English layouts.

Testing & Iteration

We tested prototypes with citizens, business owners, and drivers:

• Navigation Clarity Users found routes and alerts more understandable.
• Service Completion Rates Guided flows increased completion for permits and applications.
• Trust Signals Confirmation screens reassured users their actions were successful.
• Accessibility Wins Users with lower digital literacy completed tasks without assistance.

Key refinements included simplifying labels, improving error messages, and adding Save Progress to long forms.

Result write-up coming soon.