Alum Jeff Yen’s Campus Shuttle Service Project Supports Safe, Sustainable Transportation

Jeff Yen, MFA09 Web Design + New Media, created his Campus Shuttle Service project as his master's thesis. The project encompasses both a website and an iPhone app, both intended to help students efficiently use the university's transportation system.

To aid students as they navigate the Academy’s urban campus, Academy grad Jeff Yen has combined cutting-edge web and mobile technology. His Campus Shuttle Service project is attracting attention, says Yen, MFA09, and has just been recognized as a Webpick by the highly respected design publication Communication Arts.

The Campus Shuttle Service project is both a website and a prototype for an iPhone app developed as Yen’s master’s thesis in Web Design + New Media. The service provides real-time tracking of the Academy’s shuttle bus fleet, allowing students to plan for the next bus to get them to their destinations. In full iPhone dress, the app would allow students to coordinate — via mobile messaging — their personal schedules with transportation.

With classrooms and facilities in various locations around the city, the Academy operates its own network of more than 50 shuttles. The service allows students to travel safely and minimizes the use of personal cars, lessening the university’s environmental footprint and easing city traffic.

Here, Yen talks about his project’s purpose, how it was built and the challenges he faced.

Q: What is your project designed to accomplish, and what benefits would it provide to users?

The project uses technology to improve students’ ability to access the school shuttle system. The iPhone application allows them to manage their schedules anytime and anywhere. Real-time GPS means students can always get the shuttle they want. I wanted to make all this available through easy-to-read infographics.

Yen's prototype for an iPhone app would allow students to coordinate their schedules with available transportation, anywhere and anytime.

Q: How does the site work and what tools did you employ in building it?

The website is built in Flash and Actionscript 3.0. The map system is based on GoogleMaps. I integrated GoogleMaps, Flash and the most popular GPS in the prototype. My goal was to develop a smart system, so users can create their own personal schedules.

Q: What challenges did you face in this project?

The most technically challenging thing was completely integrating GoogleMaps into Flash. I learned a lot! Second most challenging was creating a user-friendly interface — this could be an application students use every day, so ease and efficiency were very important.

I have always wanted to do something for people. Some designers just focus on the thing they want. But they forget we design for people. We give people pleasure, and we design for this world, not only for ourselves.

Jeff Yen graduated from the Academy in 2009 and is now employed as a web designer at Avant Experience in San Francisco.

Q: Any further thoughts on your experience at the Academy of Art University?

I was a foreign student from Taiwan. It was really hard in the beginning, because I came to learn design in the classroom. Now I have to say I am so lucky I studied at AAU. Not only did I learn design, but I also met some very nice people. I am currently a web designer working for Avant Experience, and I am still keeping and practicing my faith, “Design for people.” AAU is a great place that provides many opportunities to people who want to become designers. Thanks AAU!

Learn more about Jeff Yen and his work at his personal website. View his AAU Shuttle Service website here; the prototype iPhone application is here.