PROTOTYPE
ABOUT THE PROJECT
This UX/UI research and design case study focuses on developing an app to improve the safety of women traveling alone on the subway. This is a combination of quantitative and qualitative analyses, the study uncovers user preferences, challenges, and expectations, guiding the iterative design and refinement of the app. .
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Many women who travel alone feel unsafe while traveling on the metro. Existing safety measures aren't enough to make them feel secure. We need a new solution to help women connect with each other while traveling, using technology to communicate and support each other in real time. This way, they can feel safer and more confident using the metro and other public transport options.
TARGET AUDIANCE
Women of all age who travels alone in metro.
HOW?
Research | UX
-
Explore - Literature and Analytics Review
-
Observe - User Surveys, User and Expert Interviews
-
Iterate - Heuristic Analysis
-
Verify - Usability Testing​
Design | UI
-
Logo
-
Color Palette
-
Typography
-
Iconography
-
Hi - Fidelity Screens​
1.RESEARCH (UXR)
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
RESEARCH FRAMEWORK
-
To explore women's experiences traveling solo on the NYC subway and determine their preferences regarding solo versus accompanied travel.
-
Specific target audience, target audience travel preference, and app usability. Find it out by using different research methods like qualitative, quantitative, and heuristic methods.
-
Through the research, I'm aiming to find women's perspectives on solo traveling and propose a solution for women who don't want to travel alone.
WHY THE APP?
Majority of crimes happening in the metro/subway is focused on women who travel alone. Below are few news i've mentioned to validate my idea.
Woman pleads with fellow NYC subway passengers to intervene as thug randomly assaults her.
Attacker pummels 60-year-old woman in NYC subway 50 times over 2 minutes with her own cane in shocking, caught-on-video beating.
Woman speaks out after violent attack on Manhattan subway platform.
Crime and Enforcement Activity in New York City (Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2022)
USER INTERVIEWS
-
This exercise was conducted in-person and over zoom.
​ -
To obtain firsthand insights from potential users, observe their behavior and thoughts regarding reading and writing, and gather additional information about their overall experience with stories.
3 Participants - 2 Users and 1 Expert Interview
Are there any specific problems or bad memories in the metro?
“I don't think I have anything specific personally, I know it (terrible crimes) happens via news but haven't seen it in real. I'm a white woman, I understand that I come up, and I show up in a different way. People have Preconceived notions in general, I don't know this may be one of the reasons why I haven't had personal experience happen to me in NYC”.
​
Do you think this incident has to do anything with your ethnicity??
"I'm not sure, but it could've been because he didn't go to others. I don't know whether he came to me because I was alone, because I am an Indian, or because I was nervous about the unfamiliar routes".
​
What are the features you want the app to have? Anything specific?
“I would like to chat with my companion without sharing my real number, see their photos and details before connecting”
USER SURVEY
-
This exercise was conducted using google forms (unmoderated).​
-
To collect information from a vast majority to know whether will this app be used by them or not.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Every participants wants a companion for safer rides
The majority will connect via the app. Few with preferences.
66.7% felt unsafe sometimes and 73.4% felt unsafe while traveling alone in total
2.DESIGN(UI)
LOGO
COLOR PALETTE
TYPOGRAPHY
ICONOGRAPHY
ICONS8-MATERIAL OUTLINED | 24 x 24 px
HI-FI WIREFRAMES
Sign-In
Past Trip
Home
Current Trip
Companion Recommendation
Request Sent
Companion Profile
Book Trip
HEURISTIC EVALUATION
-
This exercise was conducted in-person with 2 users who are 100% aware of the 10 heuristic laws.
-
My objective was to check whether my app checks off all the heuristic laws for better usability.
-
To understand if the designed screens are following the Usability Heuristics for UI from an expert to provide a seamless and accessible user experience.
​
Heuristic law 3- User Freedom
No option to undo and Cancel the trip.
​
Heuristic law 5- Error Prevention
No confirmation button when sending request.
USABILITY TESTING
-
This exercise was conducted in-person and online.
-
To assess the feasibility of accessibility and user-friendliness of the designed screens for potential users, ensuring they can effectively utilize the application.
-
To check whether the app reached the end goal of what the user felt needs to be in the app and how the feel using the app.
Tasks:
-
Schedule a ride with friend (ANNA)
-
Check trip activities
-
Chat with ANNA
-
Review or report your companion
-
Match/ Add friend (companion)
-
In-Person
-
Online: Lookback.io
-
Average time taken: 4mins
