An Interface Design for Urban Recreational Walking: A Practice-Based Case Study

GPS-enabled mobile maps are now commonly used to wayfind in urban locations. Though increasingly efficient and more widely available, little attention has been paid to how novel approaches to the design of the visual interface may support particular user-experiences. This article presents the results of a practice-based study focusing on the design of an interface which allows walkers to maintain an awareness of the surrounding environment as they wayfind. Through an iterative process, a mixed-fidelity working prototype was developed and tested in a field setting. Results indicate that the interface promoted a high level of awareness of the surrounding environment.