Helsinki Bus · Real-time Navigation
I pitched this self-initiated project to Helsinki Transit. It changed how they approach design for internationals.
I led Research, Design, Strategy with 3 Helsinki Transit Designers in 4 months.
Context
Helsinki wants public transit as the #1 way to get around by 2050.
But the transit system doesn’t account for everyone yet.
Internationals Fall Behind
Problem
Internationals miss buses because of language confusion.
Signage switches between 2 official languages: Finnish and Swedish. About 20% of Helsinki’s population doesn’t understand either.
Finnish
Swedish
Key Insight
But the issue isn’t translation. It’s timing.
I mapped the end-to-end service journey through field ethnography to find out where confusion happened and how the existing system communicates.
From Service Map
Opportunity
So information should adapt to where people are in their journey.
What if, instead of showing more information only the right information is shown exactly when it’s needed?
Approach
Shifting from static to real-time navigation.
Introducing a new navigation flow after people plan and select their route.
Waiting
Riding
Stop
Destination
Challenge
But real-time navigation also means real-life chaos.
Considering human factors and the not so happy path to design for realistic experiences, not ideal ones.
Low battery
Lite version via notifications
Route changes
Missed buses and new plans
Motion sickeness
Eyes-free updates
Product Thinking
And real-life implementation needs bite-sizing.
Breaking down the product into meaningful, testable steps to build a robust system.
Phasing
Handoff
I pitched this unsolicited to Helsinki Transit.
“We haven’t considered language barriers before. This is instrumental in supporting in-transit experiences.” — Helsinki Transit Designers
Research Report and Design File
Impact
Government changes halted implementation but the framework stuck.
Now, transit designers consider those who don't speak Finnish, reshaping design for 200k+ daily riders around inclusivity.
Katarina Blind
Seattle-based Product Designer
LEGO®, Y Combinator, Helsinki Transit
Please check desktop for the full portfolio
Katarina Blind
Seattle-based Product Designer
LEGO®, Y Combinator, Helsinki Transit
Please check desktop for the full portfolio