SIXT SHARE - CAR RENTAL

Sixt Share is a car rental mobile app that enables users to rent cars by the hour. This case study highlights the issues with its original design and explores improvements made to enhance the user experience

(1) Challenge - Original design

The original app had several UX issues that held back user satisfaction and made it harder to complete tasks:

Navigation confusion: Users struggled to locate key features due to a poorly structured navigation system.
Visual clutter: Overloaded screens made it difficult to identify critical information.
Inconsistent UI design: Lack of a cohesive design system reduced trust and familiarity.
Limited accessibility: Suboptimal color contrast and small touch targets posed challenges for some users.

(2) Analysis - Pain points

Through user testing, the following key insights were identified:

Primary actions buried: Features like booking a car in advance or viewing map details required excessive clicks.
Overwhelming map view: A dense display of car markers with no clear differentiation made selection difficult.
Unengaging UI: Minimal personalization and outdated design patterns failed to connect with users emotionally.

(3) UI Redesign Comparison

A hamburger menu is the sole navigation element.

The search bar is placed floating in the middle of the screen.

The "TLV" label lacks relevance or actionable information.

Home screen 'Before'

Home screen 'After'

Adding branding enhances user trust and familiarity.

The search bar is anchored at the top and integrated into the app’s header.

Clear icons (car symbols) and CTAs like "Closest available car".

Bottom navigation bar to access key features quickly.

Advance reservation 'Before'

Advance reservation 'After'

The header takes up valuable space without showing key details like location and dates.

Share logo header for consistency.

Display pick-up area and time for user verification before proceeding.

Location-first approach may not align with user priorities; pricing and CTAs are hidden behind extra clicks.

Show car model and pricing details for informed decisions without changing screens

Bottom navigation bar for scanning location within the app.

UX improvements

Simplified navigation: Added a bottom navigation bar with labeled tabs for easier task prediction.
Improved map view: Cleaned up map design with distinct markers and a clear search bar.
Enhanced visual hierarchy: Used size, color, and spacing to highlight key actions like “Book now.”
Consistent UI design: Developed a unified style guide with consistent buttons, typography, and icons.
Personalization: Added a welcome screen and quick access to frequently used features.
Improved list view: Implemented a collapsible panel for car details to avoid overwhelming users.

(4) User Flow

(5) Visual Design

Further development focused on defining the typography, button styles, color scheme, and mobile grid. Maintaining consistency was key to creating a cohesive and visually appealing experience, improving upon the app's original version.

Mobile grid

4 columns

Margin 36px

Gutter 8px

Buttons State

Normal State

While pressing

Inactive