Industry: Urban Mobility and Safety
Role: UX/UI Designer
Platform: Android, iOS
Location: International
Project
Overview
Project Overview
Pedestrian safety is a major concern in many cities, affecting students, professionals, tourists, and residents. Poor lighting, inadequate surveillance, and crime-prone areas create a sense of vulnerability, especially at night or in unfamiliar locations. As a result, many people feel uneasy walking, even when it’s the most practical or eco-friendly option.
This sense of insecurity affects daily commutes, social interactions, and overall mobility. People often change their routes, avoid certain areas, or rely more on transportation to feel safe. Addressing these safety concerns is crucial for fostering a more confident, accessible, and vibrant urban experience for everyone.
The problem
Navigating unfamiliar urban areas, especially at night, can be challenging due to a lack of information on safe routes. Poor lighting and crime-prone areas create uncertainty, particularly for those new to a city. Without knowing which paths are secure, individuals often feel vulnerable, limiting their confidence and freedom to navigate and explore the city after dark.
The solution
We are developing a navigation tool to help pedestrians, especially those new to the city, find safe alternative routes. Using real-time data on lighting, surveillance, and crime rates, our solution suggests secure paths, particularly at night. With a user-friendly interface, it ensures safer, more confident navigation, allowing individuals to explore and commute with peace of mind.
Introduction
Introduction
OUR GOALS
OUR GOALS
OUR GOALS
Discover the smart way to stay safe on the streets – Securely
Discover the smart way to stay safe on the streets – Securely
Securely is a smart navigation app designed to enhance pedestrian safety. It offers personalized route suggestions based on real-time data and community insights. Beyond navigation, Securely provides safety alerts, incident reporting, and quick access to local authorities. By empowering users with reliable information, the app helps them navigate urban spaces with greater confidence and peace of mind.
Securely is a smart navigation app designed to enhance pedestrian safety. It offers personalized route suggestion based on real-time & data community insights. Beyond navigation, Securely provides safety alerts, incident reporting, and quick access to local authorities. By empowering users with reliable information, the app helps them navigate urban spaces with greater confidence and peace of mind.
Simplify Navigation
Provides seamless navigation, guiding users through the safest paths based on real-time data and community insights.
Simplify Navigation
Provides seamless navigation, guiding users through the safest paths based on real-time data and community insights.
Simplify Navigation
Provides seamless navigation, guiding users through the safest paths based on real-time data and community insights.
Simplify Navigation
Provides seamless navigation, guiding users through the safest paths based on real-time data and community insights.
Enhance Confidence
Enables users to explore unfamiliar areas without fear, reducing anxiety when navigating poorly lit streets at night.
Enhance Confidence
Enables users to explore unfamiliar areas without fear, reducing anxiety when navigating poorly lit streets at night.
Enhance Confidence
Enables users to explore unfamiliar areas without fear, reducing anxiety when navigating poorly lit streets at night.
Enhance Confidence
Enables users to explore unfamiliar areas without fear, reducing anxiety when navigating poorly lit streets at night.
Provide Flexibility
Users can choose preferred routes, adjust paths to their comfort level and receive safety alerts based on location
Provide Flexibility
Users can choose preferred routes, adjust paths to their comfort level and receive safety alerts based on location
Provide Flexibility
Users can choose preferred routes, adjust paths to their comfort level and receive safety alerts based on location
Provide Flexibility
Users can choose preferred routes, adjust paths to their comfort level and receive safety alerts based on location
Securely aims to empower pedestrians with smart, stress-free navigation, ensuring safer journeys in urban spaces.
User Research
User Research
Identifying
research goals
Identifying research goals
We set these research goals to understand the challenges pedestrians face in cities. By looking at safety concerns and navigation difficulties, we wanted to gather information that would help us create better solutions.
Identify Safety Concerns
Investigate the underlying causes of why pedestrians feel unsafe in urban area, particularly when traveling during late hours.
Identify Safety Concerns
Investigate the underlying causes of why pedestrians feel unsafe in urban area, particularly when traveling during late hours.
Identify Safety Concerns
Investigate the underlying causes of why pedestrians feel unsafe in urban area, particularly when traveling during late hours.
Identify Safety Concerns
Investigate the underlying causes of why pedestrians feel unsafe in urban area, particularly when traveling during late hours.
Understand User Behavior
Study how pedestrians make route choices and adjust their navigation patterns when they are in new or potentially unsafe areas.
Understand User Behavior
Study how pedestrians make route choices and adjust their navigation patterns when they are in new or potentially unsafe areas.
Understand User Behavior
Study how pedestrians make route choices and adjust their navigation patterns when they are in new or potentially unsafe areas.
Understand User Behavior
Study how pedestrians make route choices and adjust their navigation patterns when they are in new or potentially unsafe areas.
Assess Existing Solutions
Evaluate current navigation and safety tools to identify gaps in how they address pedestrian safety and user confidence while navigating.
Assess Existing Solutions
Evaluate current navigation and safety tools to identify gaps in how they address pedestrian safety and user confidence while navigating.
Assess Existing Solutions
Evaluate current navigation and safety tools to identify gaps in how they address pedestrian safety and user confidence while navigating.
Assess Existing Solutions
Evaluate current navigation and safety tools to identify gaps in how they address pedestrian safety and user confidence while navigating.
Our target audience are pedestrians seeking safe, stress-free navigation in unfamiliar urban spaces.
Our target audience are pedestrians seeking safe, stress-free navigation in unfamiliar urban spaces.
Research
questions
Research questions
To better understand the challenges pedestrians face, we interviewed around 30 individuals. These conversations helped us uncover their needs and concerns, guiding the development of our solution.
RESEARCH
RESEARCH
RESEARH
RESEARCH
INSIGHTS
INSIGHTS
INSIGHTS
INSIGHTS
64%
64%
64%
64%
expressed concerns
expressed concerns
Many participants expressed that they feel unsafe due to poor lighting and surveillance condition when walking at night.
Many participants expressed that they feel unsafe due to poor lighting and surveillance condition when walking at night.
43%
43%
43%
43%
had uncertainty
had uncertainty
Participants admitted they often feel unsure about their routes in unfamiliar areas and wish they had more information on safe paths.
Participants admitted they often feel unsure about their routes in unfamiliar areas and wish they had more information on safe paths.
71%
71%
71%
71%
frustrated by current tools
frustrated by current tools
People expressed frustration with existing navigation tools, saying they lacked real-time route adjustments based on security.
People expressed frustration with existing navigation tools, saying they lacked real-time route adjustments based on security.
People expressed frustration with existing navigation tools, saying they lacked real-time route adjustments based on security.
The interviews highlighted the real challenges pedestrians face when walking in new areas. They helped me understand both the safety issues and the emotional effects of navigating uncertain places. The feedback was crucial for developing a user-centered approach. It highlighted the need for a solution that improves navigation and provides a sense of security. This understanding will help design features that allow users to make safer and more confident choices during their journeys.
The interviews highlighted the real challenges pedestrians face when walking in new areas. They helped me understand both the safety issues and the emotional effects of navigating uncertain places. The feedback was crucial for developing a user-centered approach. It highlighted the need for a solution that improves navigation and provides a sense of security. This understanding will help design features that allow users to make safer and more confident choices during their journeys.
Mary Thompson
Working Professional
Mary Thompson is a marketing professional, recently relocated for work. She works long hours and commutes late, enjoying walks to unwind but feeling uneasy navigating unfamiliar routes at night. She seeks a navigation app that prioritizes her safety and boosts her confidence when walking after dark.
Job Title
Marketing
Location
Liverpool
Status
Single
Age
28
"I don’t mind walking home after work, but I wish my app could tell me which routes are safer, especially when it’s dark."
Painpoints
1. Mary often walks home after work but feels unsafe navigating poorly lit or unfamiliar streets.
2. She feels anxious during walks because existing navigation apps lack information on lighting, crime rates, and surveillance.
Goals
1. Mary wants a reliable navigation tool that helps her safely commute home, particularly during late hours.
2. She wants to feel more confident and secure while walking in the city, even when she’s unfamiliar with the area.
Mary Thompson
Working Professional
Mary Thompson is a marketing professional, recently relocated for work. She works long hours and commutes late, enjoying walks to unwind but feeling uneasy navigating unfamiliar routes at night. She seeks a navigation app that prioritizes her safety and boosts her confidence when walking after dark.
Job Title
Marketing
Location
Liverpool
Status
Single
Age
28
"I don’t mind walking home after work, but I wish my app could tell me which routes are safer, especially when it’s dark."
Painpoints
1. Mary often walks home after work but feels unsafe navigating poorly lit or unfamiliar streets.
2. She feels anxious during walks because existing navigation apps lack information on lighting, crime rates, and surveillance.
Goals
1. Mary wants a reliable navigation tool that helps her safely commute home, particularly during late hours.
2. She wants to feel more confident and secure while walking in the city, even when she’s unfamiliar with the area.
Mary Thompson
Working Professional
Mary Thompson is a marketing professional, recently relocated for work. She works long hours and commutes late, enjoying walks to unwind but feeling uneasy navigating unfamiliar routes at night. She seeks a navigation app that prioritizes her safety and boosts her confidence when walking after dark.
Job Title
Marketing
Location
Liverpool
Status
Single
Age
28
"I don’t mind walking home after work, but I wish my app could tell me which routes are safer, especially when it’s dark."
Painpoints
1. Mary often walks home after work but feels unsafe navigating poorly lit or unfamiliar streets.
2. She feels anxious during walks because existing navigation apps lack information on lighting, crime rates, and surveillance.
Goals
1. Mary wants a reliable navigation tool that helps her safely commute home, particularly during late hours.
2. She wants to feel more confident and secure while walking in the city, even when she’s unfamiliar with the area.
Mary Thompson
Working Professional
Mary Thompson is a marketing professional, recently relocated for work. She works long hours and commutes late, enjoying walks to unwind but feeling uneasy navigating unfamiliar routes at night. She seeks a navigation app that prioritizes her safety and boosts her confidence when walking after dark.
Job Title
Marketing
Location
Liverpool
Status
Single
Age
28
"I don’t mind walking home after work, but I wish my app could tell me which routes are safer, especially when it’s dark."
Painpoints
1. Mary often walks home after work but feels unsafe navigating poorly lit or unfamiliar streets.
2. She feels anxious during walks because existing navigation apps lack information on lighting, crime rates, and surveillance.
Goals
1. Mary wants a reliable navigation tool that helps her safely commute home, particularly during late hours.
2. She wants to feel more confident and secure while walking in the city, even when she’s unfamiliar with the area.
James Carter
Student
James Carter is a university student who recently moved to a new city for his studies. He often commutes late at night after classes or study sessions and feels uneasy walking alone in unfamiliar areas. James is looking for a navigation app that prioritizes safety in route suggestions.
Job Title
Student
Location
Bristol
Status
Single
Age
22
"I often have to rush home after class, and I wish I could quickly find a safe route without worrying about the area or getting lost."
Painpoints
1. James often relies on navigation apps for safe routes due to his busy schedule, but they lack sufficient safety information.
2. As he’s still unfamiliar with his new neighborhood, James feels anxious about walking in areas he doesn't know well, especially after dark.
Goals
1. He wants to feel safer walking home at night by taking well-lit and monitored routes.
2. Easily navigate the city without having to second-guess whether the route he’s taking is safe or not.
James Carter
Student
James Carter is a university student who recently moved to a new city for his studies. He often commutes late at night after classes or study sessions and feels uneasy walking alone in unfamiliar areas. James is looking for a navigation app that prioritizes safety in route suggestions.
Job Title
Student
Location
Bristol
Status
Single
Age
22
"I often have to rush home after class, and I wish I could quickly find a safe route without worrying about the area or getting lost."
Painpoints
1. James often relies on navigation apps for safe routes due to his busy schedule, but they lack sufficient safety information.
2. As he’s still unfamiliar with his new neighborhood, James feels anxious about walking in areas he doesn't know well, especially after dark.
Goals
1. He wants to feel safer walking home at night by taking well-lit and monitored routes.
2. Easily navigate the city without having to second-guess whether the route he’s taking is safe or not.
James Carter
Student
James Carter is a university student who recently moved to a new city for his studies. He often commutes late at night after classes or study sessions and feels uneasy walking alone in unfamiliar areas. James is looking for a navigation app that prioritizes safety in route suggestions.
Job Title
Student
Location
Bristol
Status
Single
Age
22
"I often have to rush home after class, and I wish I could quickly find a safe route without worrying about the area or getting lost."
Painpoints
1. James often relies on navigation apps for safe routes due to his busy schedule, but they lack sufficient safety information.
2. As he’s still unfamiliar with his new neighborhood, James feels anxious about walking in areas he doesn't know well, especially after dark.
Goals
1. He wants to feel safer walking home at night by taking well-lit and monitored routes.
2. Easily navigate the city without having to second-guess whether the route he’s taking is safe or not.
James Carter
Student
James Carter is a university student who recently moved to a new city for his studies. He often commutes late at night after classes or study sessions and feels uneasy walking alone in unfamiliar areas. James is looking for a navigation app that prioritizes safety in route suggestions.
Job Title
Student
Location
Bristol
Status
Single
Age
22
"I often have to rush home after class, and I wish I could quickly find a safe route without worrying about the area or getting lost."
Painpoints
1. James often relies on navigation apps for safe routes due to his busy schedule, but they lack sufficient safety information.
2. As he’s still unfamiliar with his new neighborhood, James feels anxious about walking in areas he doesn't know well, especially after dark.
Goals
1. He wants to feel safer walking home at night by taking well-lit and monitored routes.
2. Easily navigate the city without having to second-guess whether the route he’s taking is safe or not.
Understanding
the competition
Understanding the
competition
I analyzed key competitors to understand their strengths and limitations. This helped identify successful features and gaps, providing insights to better position our app and meet user needs with an innovative, user-centered solution.
Google Maps
Google Maps is a popular navigation tool that offers directions, real-time traffic data, and satellite imagery for various modes of transportation.
Pros
Covers global locations with detailed maps for almost every city and country.
Offers live updates about traffic, road closures, and accidents to avoid congestion.
Simple and easy to use, with clear directions and integrated search features for finding places.
Cons
The app does not provide details about route safety, such as well-lit streets or crime-prone areas.
Requires a stable internet connection to provide accurate and up-to-date information.
Focuses more on drivers and less on pedestrian-specific concerns, such as walkability or pedestrian-friendly routes.
Google Maps
Google Maps is a popular navigation tool that offers directions, real-time traffic data, and satellite imagery for various modes of transportation.
Pros
Covers global locations with detailed maps for almost every city and country.
Offers live updates about traffic, road closures, and accidents to avoid congestion.
Simple and easy to use, with clear directions and integrated search features for finding places.
Cons
The app does not provide details about route safety, such as well-lit streets or crime-prone areas.
Requires a stable internet connection to provide accurate and up-to-date information.
Focuses more on drivers and less on pedestrian-specific concerns, such as walkability or pedestrian-friendly routes.
Google Maps
Google Maps is a popular navigation tool that offers directions, real-time traffic data, and satellite imagery for various modes of transportation.
Pros
Covers global locations with detailed maps for almost every city and country.
Offers live updates about traffic, road closures, and accidents to avoid congestion.
Simple and easy to use, with clear directions and integrated search features for finding places.
Cons
The app does not provide details about route safety, such as well-lit streets or crime-prone areas.
Requires a stable internet connection to provide accurate and up-to-date information.
Focuses more on drivers and less on pedestrian-specific concerns, such as walkability or pedestrian-friendly routes.
Google Maps
Google Maps is a popular navigation tool that offers directions, real-time traffic data, and satellite imagery for various modes of transportation.
Pros
Covers global locations with detailed maps for almost every city and country.
Offers live updates about traffic, road closures, and accidents to avoid congestion.
Simple and easy to use, with clear directions and integrated search features for finding places.
Cons
The app does not provide details about route safety, such as well-lit streets or crime-prone areas.
Requires a stable internet connection to provide accurate and up-to-date information.
Focuses more on drivers and less on pedestrian-specific concerns, such as walkability or pedestrian-friendly routes.
Waze
Waze is a GPS app that provides real-time traffic updates and alerts, using user-generated data about hazards to enhance navigation accuracy.
Pros
The app provides real-time updates based on user reports to help avoid accidents and roadblocks.
The app offers community features that people use to post alerts which get real time updated.
Notifies users about potential hazards like potholes, accidents, or police presence on the road.
Cons
Waze is predominantly focused on driving, with limited features tailored to pedestrians.
The app can feel cluttered due to the constant flow of user-generated alerts.
While thre app provides traffic alerts, it does not include crucial safety data such as lighting or crime rates for pedestrians.
Waze
Waze is a GPS app that provides real-time traffic updates and alerts, using user-generated data about hazards to enhance navigation accuracy.
Pros
The app provides real-time updates based on user reports to help avoid accidents and roadblocks.
The app offers community features that people use to post alerts which get real time updated.
Notifies users about potential hazards like potholes, accidents, or police presence on the road.
Cons
Waze is predominantly focused on driving, with limited features tailored to pedestrians.
The app can feel cluttered due to the constant flow of user-generated alerts.
While thre app provides traffic alerts, it does not include crucial safety data such as lighting or crime rates for pedestrians.
Waze
Waze is a GPS app that provides real-time traffic updates and alerts, using user-generated data about hazards to enhance navigation accuracy.
Pros
The app provides real-time updates based on user reports to help avoid accidents and roadblocks.
The app offers community features that people use to post alerts which get real time updated.
Notifies users about potential hazards like potholes, accidents, or police presence on the road.
Cons
Waze is predominantly focused on driving, with limited features tailored to pedestrians.
The app can feel cluttered due to the constant flow of user-generated alerts.
While thre app provides traffic alerts, it does not include crucial safety data such as lighting or crime rates for pedestrians.
Waze
Waze is a GPS app that provides real-time traffic updates and alerts, using user-generated data about hazards to enhance navigation accuracy.
Pros
The app provides real-time updates based on user reports to help avoid accidents and roadblocks.
The app offers community features that people use to post alerts which get real time updated.
Notifies users about potential hazards like potholes, accidents, or police presence on the road.
Cons
Unlike prepared meal services, HelloFresh requires users to cook the meals.
The app can feel cluttered due to the constant flow of user-generated alerts.
While thre app provides traffic alerts, it does not include crucial safety data such as lighting or crime rates for pedestrians.
UI Design
UI Design
Low fidelity
wireframe
Low fidelity wireframe
We developed low-fidelity designs to quickly outline Securely's key features and navigation. These early drafts helped us prioritize user flow and functionality, enabling rapid feedback and iterative improvements. By keeping the design simple, we could focus on refining the user experience before moving to more detailed versions.
Sign-up and
personalization
Sign up and personalization
For the sign-up and personalization screens, our focus was on minimizing friction while ensuring a seamless and user-friendly experience. We designed these screens to be straightforward, guiding users through account creation and setup in just a few simple steps, making the process quick and intuitive from the very beginning.
Home navigation
Home navigation
The home screen offers quick access to essential navigation features, including an emergency button for contacting local authorities. Users can search for destinations, view saved places, and track recent routes. Additionally, a color-coded system green, yellow, and red indicates the safety level of the current location to aid informed decision-making.
The home screen offers quick access to essential navigation features, including an emergency button for contacting local authorities. Users can search for destinations, view saved places, and track recent routes. Additionally, a color-coded system green, yellow, and red indicates the safety level of the current location to aid informed decision-making.
Main Features
Main Features
Emergency Button
Emergency Button
Destination Search
Destination Search
Saved Places
Saved Places
Safety Indicator
Safety Indicator
Search destination
Search destination
The search screen provides a personalized navigation experience, allowing users to choose their destination, transportation mode, and preferred route based on lighting, crowds, or distance. It offers estimated arrival times and the best routes. Users can share their location for real-time tracking and activate the SOS feature manually or by shaking the phone for safety.
The search screen provides a personalized navigation experience, allowing users to choose their destination, transportation mode, and preferred route based on lighting, crowds, or distance. It offers estimated arrival times and the best routes. Users can share their location for real-time tracking and activate the SOS feature manually or by shaking the phone for safety.
Main Features
Main Features
Customize Route
Customize Route
Travel Time Estimate
Travel Time Estimate
Location Sharing
Location Sharing
SOS Activation
SOS Activation
Community connection
The community screen enables users to share real-time updates, status changes, and pictures, which are validated before being posted. Users can report unsafe encounters or risky areas, contributing to a collaborative effort in improving safety. This user-generated feedback helps the app refine its route suggestions, making navigation smarter and safer for everyone.
The community screen enables users to share real-time updates, status changes, and pictures, which are validated before being posted. Users can report unsafe encounters or risky areas, contributing to a collaborative effort in improving safety. This user-generated feedback helps the app refine its route suggestions, making navigation smarter and safer for everyone.
Main Features
Main Features
Safety Reporting
Safety Reporting
Real-Time Updates
Real-Time Updates
User Interaction
User Interaction
Route Improvement
Route Improvement
More sneak peak into
additional screens
More sneak peak into
additional screens
For the additional screens, we aimed to improve user engagement by creating clear, accessible sections for profile management, notifications, and save routes. These screens were designed to offer users quick access to important features while maintaining a consistent and easy-to-navigate interface.
Critical Reflection
Critical Reflection
Challenges faced during
the project
Biases in User Research
Incorporating diverse perspectives in the research was challenging. I needed to ensure the feedback reflected various user's experiences without bias from one group.
Biases in User Research
Incorporating diverse perspectives in the research was challenging. I needed to ensure the feedback reflected various user's experiences without bias from one group.
Biases in User Research
Incorporating diverse perspectives in the research was challenging. I needed to ensure the feedback reflected various user's experiences without bias from one group.
Biases in User Research
Incorporating diverse perspectives in the research was challenging. I needed to ensure the feedback reflected various user's experiences without bias from one group.
Designing a Simple Interface
Balancing a clear and efficient UI with features like route preferences, emergency buttons, and community updates was challenging without overwhelming users.
Designing a Simple Interface
Balancing a clear and efficient UI with features like route preferences, emergency buttons, and community updates was challenging without overwhelming users.
Designing a Simple Interface
Balancing a clear and efficient UI with features like route preferences, emergency buttons, and community updates was challenging without overwhelming users.
Designing a Simple Interface
Balancing a clear and efficient UI with features like route preferences, emergency buttons, and community updates was challenging without overwhelming users.
Creating a Clear Navigation
A key challenge was ensuring users could navigate the app's multiple features easily. Constant iteration was required to maintain an intuitive flow.
Creating a Clear Navigation
A key challenge was ensuring users could navigate the app's multiple features easily. Constant iteration was required to maintain an intuitive flow.
Creating a Clear Navigation
A key challenge was ensuring users could navigate the app's multiple features easily. Constant iteration was required to maintain an intuitive flow.
Creating a Clear Navigation
A key challenge was ensuring users could navigate the app's multiple features easily. Constant iteration was required to maintain an intuitive flow.
Future work
Future work
Future work
In the future we will focus on refining the UI, improving real-time data validation, and enhancing community-driven updates. We will also explore integrating local safety networks, personalized safety alerts, and advanced route optimization features to further improve the user experience.
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