Yosemite Park Interactive Kiosk
The Yosemite Interactive Kiosk addressed a real infrastructure gap: visitors in low-connectivity environments have no reliable, accessible way to navigate trails, prepare for weather, or access emergency resources. We designed and 3D-printed a physical kiosk prototype alongside a full digital UI, which was built specifically to work offline, serve multilingual users, and meet ADA accessibility standards in rugged outdoor conditions.
ROLE
UI/UX
Interaction Design
LINK
Problem & Context
Visitors to national parks lack reliable offline navigation when cell service fails as 60% of Yosemite has zero coverage. When phones die or connectivity drops, hikers become lost, accessibility information disappears, and non-English speakers have no way to access critical safety guidelines. This forces a choice: carry wasteful paper maps or risk getting stranded.
60%
No cell coverage in park
90%
Visitors rely on phones
4M+
Annual visitors
Research & Discovery
We conducted 6 semi-structured interviews with park visitors (frequency: 0.5–1 visit per year) while combining open-ended discovery questions with structured validations. In addition, we also performed field observations at 3 locations (Coronado Beach, Slot Canyon, Pinnacles trailheads) to document existing navigation and accessibility gaps, and conducted online research analyzing industry standards, competitor systems, and academic studies on digital kiosks in outdoor environments.
Key Findings
Offline Navigation is Crucial
2 interviewees spontaneously mentioned battery failure as a hiking problem.
Design Implication
System must function without internet or continuous power. Offline architecture.
Natural Aesthetic is Non-Negotiable
5 of 6 interviewees rejected the appearance of electronics.
Design Implication
Integrate the kiosk into the landscape through natural materials. We will use wood-textured surfaces and earth-tone finishes to blend with the surroundings.
Earth Tone
Natural Accent
Kiosk BG
Wayfinding/Getting Lost is the Primary Problem
Field observation at Slot Canyon revealed lack of clear directional signage and confusing trail markers.
Design Implication
Interactive maps with real-time trail location detection. Legend-based navigation showing what can be found on each trail. Multiple entry points to access information.
Getting Lost Frequency
Average: 3.4 / 5
Range: 2/5 to 5/5
Interviewees affected: 6/6
Real-Time Updates are Essential for Safety
Field observations revealed outdated signage at all 3 locations. Users cannot access current trail status without real-time information.
Design Response
Emergency alerts for trail closures, weather changes, and hazard warnings pushed to all kiosks.
Competitive Landscape
Three competitor archetypes analyzed through field observations and online research. Each solves one problem but fails on others.
01
NPS Existing Digital Kiosks
Strengths
|
Comprehensive historical content
|
Clear safety guidelines and regulations
|
Already installed in major park locations
Weaknesses
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Can’t be updated in real-time
|
No offline capability
|
Poor accessibility
|
Requires constant power to operate
Our advantage
Real time update, offline-first design, and accessibility architecture
02
Trailhead Kiosks (Non-Digital)
Strengths
|
Natural aesthetic fit
|
Zero power requirements
|
Low maintenance and durable in weather
Weaknesses
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Can’t be updated; static info
|
No voice or audio accessibility
|
No accessibility for mobility-limited visitors
|
No real-time trail closure or hazard alerts
Our advantage
Maintains aesthetics beauty while adding digital interactivity with real-time updates
03
Smart Kiosks (Urban Tourism)
Strengths
|
Interactive touchscreen interface
|
Real-time data integration
|
Multilingual support and voice guidances
Weaknesses
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Not weatherproof for outdoor remote areas
|
High power consumption
|
Expensive ($50K+)
|
Designed for dense urban centers
Our advantage
Solar-powered outdoor durability that is low cost and designed for remote environment
Our solution combines durability of trailhead kiosks, interactivity of smart kiosks, and offline-first design for remote environments.
Design Approach
User Navigation Flow
Kiosk Prototype
Key User Screens
Welcome Screen: Entry point establishes park context with four primary navigation options to reduce cognitive load
Map Screen: List of hiking trails. Interactive map and downloadable.
Emergency Screen: List of contacts dial and SOS Signal.
Weather Screen: Current forecast and any potential hazards.
Rules Screen: General park rules that visitors must obliged by.
Outcome & Impact
User Testing Results
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2-minute task completion on primary map flow
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Users understood trail finding & location awareness
Secondary Features Scoped Out
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Trail Details and Landmark Description screens were designed but not implemented in high-fidelity
Reflection
Balancing Physical Form and Digital Complexity
Designing for a physical kiosk made me realize the constraints and my weakness when it comes to creating accessible interfaces: pack the interface with useful information (trail descriptions, landmark details, accessibility filters) or keep it so simple users wouldn't get lost. I was afraid of overwhelming someone standing at a touchscreen in a national park. This led my group members and I do remove core features that we thought was unnecessary. This came to light as users completed the primary task in two minutes but the classroom feedback said it felt bare. Moving forward, I want to test whether the features I cut actually improve the understanding or just add confusion.