...
At this point, Aly has completed the task at hand, but she could also fill out some information about herself in the profile tab (right) or browse for users with similar interests (left) to find people she might want to travel with. Note that the tagging system is used again to add interests to the profile or to refine the list of users Aly is searching for.
Analysis
Pros
- Using tags to refine search results (rather than requiring the user to enter all the information about their desired ride) allows the user to browse a broader spectrum of rides and might help them find what they want faster if they don't know exactly what they're looking for.
- The tag-based searching system is used throughout the site, providing simplicity and consistency.
- Tabbed navigation makes the purpose of each window very clear and organizes the layout nicely.
- The design provides good feedback on what the user is doing (i.e. showing the user exactly what he posted after he presses submit)
Cons
- More navigation is required in this design than the first, where basically everything happens in one window. This could be confusing to new users.
- Although the ticket metaphor looks nice, it may not be the most efficient way to convey the information about the ride to the user.
- The tagging system might slow down users who know exactly what they are searching for.