DISCOVER PROJECT
DIGIWEST
Vago Mobile App
From Blueprint to Better Living – Engineering a Daily Digital Essential for the Streets of Guarda
JANUARY 2026
— Guarda’s urban infrastructure envisioned a seamless parking solution that could serve as an essential daily companion for its citizens. The mission was to develop a vital digital tool capable of streamlining city navigation and tangibly improving the quality of life for the entire community
SERVICES
UX DESIGN, UI DESIGN, BRAND IDENTITY, LOGO DESIGN, PROTOTYPING
Project Overview
Vago is more than just a utility, it is a digital companion designed to harmonize urban mobility with the daily rhythm of our city, a vision born by the Guarda City Council knowledge of the city struggles.
In Portuguese, Vago means more than just an empty space, it represents the moment of relief when you find the perfect spot. Our mission is to make that moment happen faster.
At Digiwest, the challenge is often making complex technology invisible to the end-user. For the Guarda parking project, I acted as the bridge between Digiwest’s high-precision engineering and the final citizen experience. The result is VAGO: an application that feels simple to the user but is powered by Digiwest’s advanced wireless infrastructure
Approach
Vago logo variants
By analyzing the technical specs of our sensors and LED displays, I mapped the data flow from the street to the screen. This ensured the interface wasn't just aesthetic, but a precise reflection of the physical infrastructure’s capabilities.
To bridge the gap between "code and concrete," I maintained a constant feedback loop with the client and field technicians. Interviews with the teams installing cameras and sensors provided the technical insights needed to design realistic filters and availability views, ensuring the app accounted for every real-world limitation.
Process
With a "map-first" philosophy, the priority was established through a minimalist floating navigation bar featuring two primary modes: Map and Settings. This clean layout allowed the parking areas and custom markers to remain the focal point of the screen.
Every availability filter directly communicates with the map’s parking highlights, while the contextual cards provide the bridge between the high-level map view and specific facility details.
My design philosophy for VAGO focused on bridging the gap between technical infrastructure and human intuition, transforming complex engineering data into a seamless, accessible urban experience that feels as reliable as the city itself.
Final Design
The final interface features both light and dark modes within a highly customizable framework. Recognizing that the initial users include city council members and an older demographic, the design prioritizes high-contrast visuals and concise user flows. By minimizing the number of buttons and keeping navigation direct, the app remains inclusive for residents with varying levels of digital literacy.
To address the challenges of hand mobility and vision, I implemented horizontal scroll cards for parking locations. This allows users to browse options comfortably without the need for precise map dragging or manual searching. Combined with personalized filters—such as EV charging or disability spots—the app ensures that users only see the data they need through a streamlined, effortless interaction.
Product Images
"The project perfectly captures Guarda’s identity while exceeding every requirement. It’s a complete, high-performance solution that goes beyond the brief to truly elevate our city's digital presence." —Hélder Martins, Guarda City Council
Achievements
"The efficiency of your design led to a rare first-review approval, making the entire process seamless and giving us the necessary breathing room to ensure the technical infrastructure behind it performs flawlessly."
– Rúben Caceiro, Mobile Software Engineer at Digiwest
A major milestone was the successful design of the physical LED display templates, creating a visual bridge between the streets and the app. This cohesive ecosystem strengthens the VAGO identity, ensuring the city’s hardware and digital tools work in perfect synchronization
The project achieved a rare technical and creative win, total stakeholder buy-in on the first presentation. Despite a client known for rigorous standards and frequent revisions, the brand identity, app interface, and display templates were accepted without a single objection. Through proactive field testing, the project achieved a 75% legibility success rate by testing display templates in real-world driving conditions, such as local roundabouts. Furthermore, user testing revealed that 80% of participants felt the VAGO app would significantly simplify their search for parking.
TEMPLATE LEGIBILITY
VAGO SUCCESS RATE
