Feature explorations for a live product
Microsoft Map Builder
I supported several features on Map Builder, a Microsoft tool designed to facilitate user contributions to OpenStreetMap (OSM) data.
Background
What is Map Builder?
Map Builder is a tool that makes it easy for everyday users to improve the OpenStreetMap database, an open-source platform for map data.
Map Builder lets contributors search for any location across the globe to edit and add map features like roads, buildings, parks, and bodies of water. Contributors can also improve accuracy by tracing roads and waterways in satellite view.
Edit Map Instructions
Multi-step task instructions were confusing with only static text and a single image for guidance.
The current instructions for tasks, such as adding a house, consisted of instructional text and an image. However, these tasks consist of multi-step interactions, which were often confusing and took trial and error.
Design Options
I explored two approaches:
1 / Static, step-by-step instructions
This version clarifies the instructions by breaking it down into individual steps, each of which are accompanied by an explanatory image.
2 / Animated GIFs
A GIF essentially serves as a short instructional video, so that users can easily understand the instructions without having to read as much.
Solution
After reviewing the options, we decided to go with the GIFs because it was simple, easy-to-understand, and added delight.
Users could now easily understand how to complete each task:
They could add a house...
Add a road...
Add a point...
...and even add a river!
Gamification
What if we provided additional motivation via gamification?
Contributors to OpenStreetMap are driven by diverse motivations, ranging from altruism to commercial interests, such as developers correcting data errors to improve their own applications.
What if we provided additional incentives to contribute to the open-source platform via gamification? We wanted to introduce a playful element of achievement and competition to encourage engagement and consistency.
After brainstorming with the product team, I provided a gamification concept exploration that blended points, leveling, streaks, and quests.
Contributors were assigned levels, which were based on points earned. Users would engage in more map activity to earn points and level up.
The streak encouraged users to build a habit of contributing to Map Builder daily.
Badges rewarded users that engaged in dynamic activities on Map Builder.
We also explored the concept of "Quests", which could be earned by completing various types of tasks. This would encourage users to explore different features and contributions that they may otherwise not engage with.