Spot App
Introducing Spot App: your mobile guardian for ultimate security and peace of mind. With Spot, you're never alone. Access cutting-edge technology for a sense of control and instant connection to your trusted circle.
Tool: Figma and UX Metrics
Timeline: January 2024 - April 2024
Roles: UX Researcher / Designer
Summary
To directly combat the issue of personal safety for individuals traveling alone, we propose Spot, a mobile application meticulously designed to address the safety challenges individuals face, such as walking alone at night or traveling in unfamiliar areas. Spot represents a breakthrough in personal security by combining innovative features with user-friendly design, ensuring safety is accessible and proactive.
Challenges
There is an inadequate sense of security among people, particularly young adult females, when traveling alone, which can lead to avoidance of certain activities, locations, or times of day, thereby limiting their experiences.
Current safety applications and devices are either too generic, difficult to use during stressful situations, or fail to offer a proactive approach to safety, leaving users still feeling unprotected and anxious.
Research
Safety statistics
Violence Against Women: The National Institute of Justice reports that nearly 1 in 4 women (23.1%) have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime
Sexual Assault: The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) states that 1 in 6 women have experienced sexual assault in their lifetime
Fear of Walking Alone: A national survey revealed 64% of women felt unsafe walking alone at night, even in their own neighborhoods
Understand User Needs and Concerns
Evaluate Effective Safety Features
Analyze Existing Solutions
Validate App Design and Functionality
Addresses the specific safety concerns of young adult women.
Provides innovative and practical features to increase user safety and confidence.
Offers functionalities that fill the gaps identified within existing safety apps.
Research goal
Analyzed some of the most popular safety app out there and conducted a competitive analysis chart.
Precedent research
User flow
App user flow
Features user flow
Mid-fidelity prototype
Concept & Usability testing
I conducted 5 usability tests on my mid-fidelity wireframes and received professional feedback from 2 UX designers. The main findings were:
UI was simple but not intuitive
Emergency settings were easy to understand
The report function is missing
Should have a real phone call simulation screen
The burger menu was unnecessary
Features should be on the navigation bar and not on the other feature’s screen
Concerns about redlining and how to prevent that.
Mid-fidelity usability testing
Conducting my initial usability test proved invaluable in identifying key issues, their underlying causes, and potential solutions for refinement. Being able to conduct these interviews and to understand and empathize with the users more was helpful progress. After the first round of usability testing, I decided to iterate my designs into a high-fidelity prototype with more pages for a better flow and understanding of the app.
Iteration process
High-fidelity user testing
Onboarding screens lack helpful information.
More information or feedback is needed regarding hazardous areas.
All buttons should be consistently placed and easily clickable with your thumb (in a thumbable position on phones).
Navigation requires indications of the current page.
Pain points
Allow users to set up their accounts and allow settings within the onboarding process.
Created icons according to the crime so users would know what to expect.
Consistently place buttons in a thumbable position.
Allow users to recognize which page they’re on.
Design updates
User Verification: Requires users to complete a verification process upon sign-up to authenticate their identity, reducing anonymity and accountability.
Privacy Controls: Implement robust privacy controls that allow users to control who sees their reports and location data, protecting user privacy and deterring malicious use.
User Reporting: Allow users to report misuse, including false reports or inappropriate content, which moderators can then review.
Legal Disclaimer and Guidelines: Provide clear guidelines on what constitutes appropriate use of the app and the legal implications of misuse.
Future redlining prevention
Final product
Future plan
Reflection
Moving forward, my focus will be on further refining Spot's safety features to ensure they align with evolving user needs and technological advancements. This entails conducting in-depth research on redlining and implementing measures to mitigate its potential impact within the app's framework. Additionally, I will delve deeper into enhancing the app's security protocols, recognizing the importance of terms and conditions in safeguarding user trust. Collaborating with potential investors will be instrumental in securing the necessary funding to propel Spot from a prototype to a fully functional and widely accessible platform. Through strategic partnerships and user feedback, Spot will continue evolving as a reliable and indispensable tool for enhancing personal safety in an increasingly dynamic world.
Reflecting on my journey as the UX/UI designer for Spot has been incredibly rewarding. Creating an app from scratch was not only fun but deeply fulfilling, driven by my genuine concern for safety and the desire to make a positive impact. Tackling real-life problems like personal safety was thrilling, and the process of designing solutions that could potentially save lives was truly exciting. As I worked on Spot, I found immense satisfaction in crafting user-friendly and centered prototypes, honing my skills, and solidifying my commitment to creating products that prioritize user needs above all else. This experience has been instrumental in my journey as a UX/UI designer, reinforcing the importance of empathy-driven design and fueling my passion for promoting safety through technology.