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Nov 18, 2025
Overview
Urban is a transportation platform built to improve how Nigerians travel across states.
The founder had a big, long-term vision — something that would outlive him and genuinely make travel safer, kinder, and more organized for ordinary Nigerians.
The product team before me was mostly engineers, and the apps reflected that. The design was outdated, the flows were confusing, and the experience didn’t match the heart and ambition behind the idea.
I came in to redesign both the rider and driver apps so they felt modern, simple, and safe — without breaking the complex system already in use by parks, drivers, and government partners.
The Problem
Before the redesign:
the UI looked old and disconnected
the UX was confusing, with too many unnecessary screens
trip booking didn’t follow patterns Nigerians are familiar with
the copy felt robotic and unhelpful
drivers had three separate pages just to understand their trips
important actions were hidden
there were no real safety features
the navigation made simple tasks feel stressful
The founder knew something was wrong, but he couldn’t fully name it.
He just knew the product wasn’t doing justice to his vision — and he needed help.
What I Did
Rider App
I redesigned the booking flow for trips and flights, updated the home screen, and simplified the way users view their history and upcoming schedules.
I introduced bottom sheets to show clear travel requirements, payment status, and important information people need before travelling.
Overall, I modernized the entire experience and made it feel familiar to anyone who has used apps like Bolt or Uber — but adapted to interstate travel needs.
Driver App
This side was more constrained because of business rules, but it needed clarity even more.
I consolidated three separate sections (Records, Requests, Trips) into two simple ones.
I reorganized their dashboard, redesigned the profile, and made important actions easier to find.
Because interstate travel in Nigeria carries real risks, I added:
an SOS button
a place to view vehicle documents during police checks
a hidden wallet toggle for safety during robbery situations
These were features the founder never thought about, but they were necessary for the real world.
The Result
After the redesign:
the apps became much easier to navigate
the booking and trip flow became clearer
drivers could manage work without confusion
the product looked modern and trustworthy
safety was taken seriously
redundant screens were removed
development became faster because of the components I created
Most importantly, the product finally started to look and feel like the vision the founder had in his mind.
Reflection
This project taught me a lot about designing within tight constraints and improving a system without breaking what already worked.
It also reminded me how much I enjoy helping founders translate their ideas into experiences that feel human and thoughtful.