Safely
Safely
A personal safety app that helps users walk with confidence
A personal safety app that helps users walk with confidence
Challenge
Challenge
Many peoplefeel unsafe when walking alone at night or in unfamiliar areas. Anxiety increases when they have to check maps or navigate their route without any support.
Many peoplefeel unsafe when walking alone at night or in unfamiliar areas. Anxiety increases when they have to check maps or navigate their route without any support.
Opportunity
Opportunity
Design an app that enhances personal safety by providing personalized safe routes, real-time location sharing, community-driven safety updates to help users feel more secure and connected.
Design an app that enhances personal safety by providing personalized safe routes, real-time location sharing, community-driven safety updates to help users feel more secure and connected.
Type
Type
Team Project
Team Project
Role
Role
User Research
User Experience Design
Prototyping
Design System
User Research
User Experience Design
Prototyping
Design System
Tools
Tools
Figma
Figma
Timeline
Timeline
May 2024 (2 Weeks)
May 2024
(2 Weeks)
May 2024 (2 Weeks)
Safely, what is it about?
Safely, what is it about?
The challenge
The challenge
🤨
Why should simply walking around make us feel anxious?
Why should simply walking around make us feel anxious?
• According to the group’s survey research, at least 88% of Canadian women have been harassed on the street before turning 18.
• Only less than 4 in 10 women (38%) and nearly two-thirds (64%) of men reported feeling very safe walking alone in their neighborhood after dark.
• According to the group’s survey research, at least 88% of Canadian women have been harassed on the street before turning 18.
• Only less than 4 in 10 women (38%) and nearly two-thirds (64%) of men reported feeling very safe walking alone in their neighborhood after dark.
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
How might we enable users to stay connected with others and feel secure while navigating alone at night?
How might we enable users to stay connected with others and feel secure while navigating alone at night?
Customized User Walking Journey
Plan a route that fits your needs and choose the most recommended route depending on your preferences.
Record Real-Time Incidents & Community-Driven Safety Updates
Store proof of incidents using your camera and
contribute to community safety by sharing real-time updates.
Real-Time Location Sharing & Solo Walker Interaction
Share your real-time location with trusted contacts and connect with other solo walkers nearby through the app, feeling a sense of companionship even when walking alone.
Solution
Solution
Let’s walk SAFELY together.
Let’s walk SAFELY together.
Safely is a platform designed for personal safety. Whether it’s a trip to your favorite grocer, a late night bar crawl, or when you’re just going home, you deserve to feel confident every step of the way.
Safely is a platform designed for personal safety. Whether it’s a trip to your favorite grocer, a late night bar crawl, or when you’re just going home, you deserve to feel confident every step of the way.
Customized User Walking Journey
Plan a route that fits your needs and choose the most recommended route depending on your preferences.
Record Real-Time Incidents & Community-Driven Safety Updates
Record Real-Time Incidents & Community-Driven Safety Updates
Store proof of incidents using your camera and
contribute to community safety by sharing real-time updates.
Store proof of incidents using your camera and
contribute to community safety by sharing real-time updates.
Real-Time Location Sharing & Solo Walker Interaction
Share your real-time location with trusted contacts and connect with other solo walkers nearby through the app, feeling a sense of companionship even when walking alone.
Let’s dive into the problem.
Let’s dive into the problem.
Project background
Project background
Understanding the current state: Majority of Canadians feel unsafe walking late, and crime reports are continuously increasing
Understanding the current state: Majority of Canadians feel unsafe walking late, and crime reports are continuously increasing
According to Statistics Canada, 62% of women feel unsafe walking alone at night with 36% of men. Additionally, Canada’s Crime Severity Index (CSI) has risen for three consecutive years, with over 20,000 police-reported incidents and a 5,375 crime rate per 100,000 people.
These statistics highlight the growing concerns about personal safety in Canada, especially when walking home alone at night. The rising crime rates and increasing sense of vulnerability show the need for solutions that enhance safety during daily commutes.
According to Statistics Canada, 62% of women feel unsafe walking alone at night with 36% of men. Additionally, Canada’s Crime Severity Index (CSI) has risen for three consecutive years, with over 20,000 police-reported incidents and a 5,375 crime rate per 100,000 people.
These statistics highlight the growing concerns about personal safety in Canada, especially when walking home alone at night. The rising crime rates and increasing sense of vulnerability show the need for solutions that enhance safety during daily commutes.
88%
88%
of canadian women have experienced street harassment before turning 18.
of canadian women have experienced street harassment before turning 18.
2M+
2M+
police-reported Criminal Code incidents in Canada.
police-reported Criminal Code incidents in Canada.
<6
<6
in 10 women reported feeling unsafe walking alone after dark.
in 10 women reported feeling unsafe walking alone after dark.
User nterview
User nterview
What we discovered through user interviews
What we discovered through user interviews
After conducting desk research, we decided to interview users to better understand their experiences walking alone at night.
After conducting desk research, we decided to interview users to better understand their experiences walking alone at night.
Key Findings
Key Findings
✅ 80% of interviewees answered feeling anxious when walking alone at night.
✅ 80% of interviewees answered feeling anxious when walking alone at night.
✅ More than half of the respondents expressed anxiety about unfamiliar places, especially when traveling or visiting new areas.
✅ More than half of the respondents expressed anxiety about unfamiliar places, especially when traveling or visiting new areas.
✅ 60% found that interacting with friends or family helped ease their fear when they felt unsafe.
✅ 60% found that interacting with friends or family helped ease their fear when they felt unsafe.
User nterview
User nterview
Refining our assumption based on user interviews
Refining our assumption based on user interviews
We initially formed our assumption based on desk research findings. However, after conducting user interviews, our focus shifted slightly to better define the problem by identifying users' real concerns.
We initially formed our assumption based on desk research findings. However, after conducting user interviews, our focus shifted slightly to better define the problem by identifying users' real concerns.
Initial assumption
💡 People feel anxious even when walking alone in their own neighborhood at night.
💡 Interacting with others (friends or family) helps mitigate this vulnerability.
💡 People feel anxious even when walking alone in their own neighborhood at night.
💡 Interacting with others (friends or family) helps mitigate this vulnerability.
Refined insight
✅ Refined insight: Users especially feel anxious in unfamiliar areas.
❌ Overlooked issue: While interacting with others helps, checking maps frequently during these moments actually disrupts reducing anxiety.
✅ Refined insight: Users especially feel anxious in unfamiliar areas.
❌ Overlooked issue: While interacting with others helps, checking maps frequently during these moments actually disrupts reducing anxiety.
Problem Definition
Problem Definition
How might we enable users to stay connected with others and feel secure while navigating alone at night?
How might we enable users to stay connected with others and feel secure while navigating alone at night?
Persona
Persona
Understanding our targeted users and their needs
Understanding our targeted users and their needs
Our target users are busy individuals, aged 25 to 40, who often walk alone at night but feel uneasy about their safety. They value their independence, but need features that help them feel more connected and secure, ensuring peace of mind during late-night walks.
Our target users are busy individuals, aged 25 to 40, who often walk alone at night but feel uneasy about their safety. They value their independence, but need features that help them feel more connected and secure, ensuring peace of mind during late-night walks.
Competitive Analysis
Competitive Analysis
Analyzing safety services and user satisfaction of those
Analyzing safety services and user satisfaction of those
We conducted a competitive analysis to evaluate existing safety apps and services, identifying their strengths and weaknesses.
We conducted a competitive analysis to evaluate existing safety apps and services, identifying their strengths and weaknesses.
Wireframe
Wireframe
Translating the proposed solutions into visual elements
Translating the proposed solutions into visual elements
After finalizing the task flow, we translated the user journey into wireframes to establish the foundation for the platform's design.
After finalizing the task flow, we translated the user journey into wireframes to establish the foundation for the platform's design.
Now, let’s see the result.
Now, let’s see the result.
Prototype
Prototype
A mobile app designed to ensure a safe walking experience
A mobile app designed to ensure a safe walking experience
After conducting user testing involving five participants and three feedback sessions with industry experts, we could have significant design improvements.
Outcome:
our team received Honorable Mentions in both UX Design and Informative Design at the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) 2024 Student Awards.
Honorable Mentions in both UX Design and Informative Design at the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) 2024 Student Awards.
Honorable Mentions in both UX Design and Informative Design at the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) 2024 Student Awards.
How can I improve next time?
How can I improve next time?
Reflection
Reflection
What are key takeaways?
What are key takeaways?
• Realized that clear communication is key in teamwork, as each team member may have different perspectives.
• Discovered that it is crucial to listen to interviewee' experiences without having my bias.
• Framing ideas from the listener’s perspective makes it easier to gain support and drive productive discussions.
• Realized that clear communication is key in teamwork, as each team member may have different perspectives.
• Discovered that it is crucial to listen to interviewee' experiences without having my bias.
• Framing ideas from the listener’s perspective makes it easier to gain support and drive productive discussions.
Conslusion
Conslusion
What will be the next steps?
What will be the next steps?
Conduct usability tests to refine the user flow and enhance the user satisfaction and reutemtion.
Revise the comprehensive process to eliminate unnecessary steps and focus on ease of use.
Launch a pilot program in different environments to observe how users interact with the app in various contexts.
Use the feedback to improve the product, focusing on usability, feature effectiveness, and overall user satisfaction.
Conduct usability tests to refine the user flow and enhance the user satisfaction and reutemtion.
Revise the comprehensive process to eliminate unnecessary steps and focus on ease of use.
Launch a pilot program in different environments to observe how users interact with the app in various contexts.
Use the feedback to improve the product, focusing on usability, feature effectiveness, and overall user satisfaction.