Overview
When I first encountered the Practical Car website, I immediately recognized an opportunity to transform a functional but outdated car rental platform into a seamless, user-centered experience. The original site suffered from an overwhelming interface with a cluttered navigation system, inconsistent visual language, and a booking process that created unnecessary friction for users.
Problem Statement
After conducting a thorough analysis, I identified three critical issues that needed to be addressed:
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Complex Information Architecture: The original site buried essential information under multiple layers, with car categories, locations, and pricing scattered across different sections.
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Visual Inconsistency: Lack of a cohesive design system resulted in outdated typography, color usage, and component styling that diminished brand recognition and user trust.
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Inefficient Avalibaility Flow: The car selection process was small and unappealing to users, leading to a higher abandonment rate.
Design Solution
Streamlined Information Architecture
I reorganized the site structure around user goals rather than company departments. By implementing a task-based navigation with clear wayfinding, I reduced the primary navigation options to 5, focusing on high-priority actions like “Find a Car,” “Location,” and “FAQ.”
Unified Visual System
I developed a comprehensive design system that improved Practical Car’s brand identity while introducing a more sophisticated visual hierarchy. I selected a primary typeface (Montserrat) for headings paired with a highly readable secondary font (Open Sans) for body text, improving legibility across devices.
The color palette was refined using a signature blue as an accent rather than a dominant element, complemented by neutral tones that create breathing room and direct attention to critical UI elements. This approach reduced visual noise while maintaining brand recognition.
Reimagined Availability Experience
The most substantial transformation came from redesigning the availability flow. I implemented a quick two-stage process with real-time feedback:
- Location & Date Selection: Combined with an interactive map interface
- Vehicle Selection: Featuring filterable options with clear comparison capabilities
By incorporating contextual information and progressive disclosure principles, I reduced the required form fields and implemented inline validation to prevent errors before submission.
Responsive Implementation
I employed a mobile-first approach, designing core interactions for touch interfaces before scaling up to larger viewports. This ensured that the 70% of users accessing the site via mobile devices would have an optimized experience, with careful attention to tap target sizes and thumb-friendly navigation placement.
Outcome
This redesign demonstrates how thoughtful UX principles can transform a functional but outdated digital experience into an intuitive, efficient service that aligns with both user needs and business objectives.