What makes for a positive transit experience? Does it vary by location? Students in Tim Clark’s Product Design Studio are asking users these questions and more. They are finding out how apps, signage, and other elements can help future users of TriMet’s Southwest Corridor. But they’re also learning from City of Portland as a living classroom.

“This is the first term these students are studying in Portland - some living in Portland for the first time,” says instructor Tim Clark. “They’re experiencing how transportation is changing with vehicle ownership diminishing and learning how to use apps to get around. They themselves are immersed as users.”

The class is one of three UO Portland-based SCYP courses in this term. In total, eleven courses are working with TriMet this fall out of an anticipated 25-30 courses over the entire academic year to prepare for TriMet's Southwest Corridor expansion.

The Product Design Studio students are working with TriMet’s lead architect, project planners, and marketing department. TriMet identified five users who represent different “habitats” along the Southwest Corridor. The students are having conversations with these users to find out what they need and want from their experience as riders.

Through these conversations, students are learning how south Portland is different from other parts of the Portland Metro area. “One question we heard from a couple of users was, ‘How do I find out where my stop is if it’s on a dark street with no landmarks?’’ says Clark. “One idea is to have an LED light with a solar panel. We’re also thinking about how we can incorporate icons and signage related to app interactivity for users.”

As the term progresses, students are developing a framework of responsive, innovative solutions to help TriMet make the Southwest Corridor user-friendly. The student-user conversations will continue as the framework comes together, and students will hand off their body of work to TriMet at the end of term. TriMet will use the students’ discoveries to guide app development and other strategies to help users get the most out of their Southwest Corridor experience.

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