This app was inspired by a discussion based around travel and traveling alone. Amidst this conversation, I realized that safety was a concern for most of the people I interviewed. Understanding why & what people did to provide themselves with a sense of security, became the driving force behind this design.
Overview
As a class, we asked each other about the logistics of travel and received a vast amount of different answers. However, when we asked about our feelings amidst travel and transit, the answers were all a form of apprehensive, nervous, or unsafe.
As a researcher, I want to better understand how our users make choices that help them feel secure while they travel.
Problem
To make an application that will help our users navigate and explore new cities in a way that feels safe and informed. With location-based tips, tricks, and notifications providing information about the places they are exploring.
Solution
Figma, Illustrator,
google drive, Zoom
Tools
UI UX Researcher & designer
(Individual Project)
My Role
3 weeks
Timeline
UX/UI Design
Wireframing & Prototyping
User Research & Usability Testing
Ux Techniques
User Research
User interviews will be conducted for the collection of qualitative data from our participants. Physical interviews will be conducted and recorded in person. Data collection will last for about a week.Our ideal participant is someone who travels consistently and has concerns about personal safety while exploring new places.
Research questions :
What tools can we provide to help travelers feel safer?
What elements do we need to provide tips and tricks?
What type of people will use this application?
How do we provide security notifications?
Research Plan
Methodology:
User interviews will be conducted for the collection of qualitative data from our participants. Physical interviews will be conducted and recorded person. Data collection will last for about a week.
Participants:
Our ideal participant is someone who travels consistently and has concerns about personal safety while exploring new places.
Research questions :
What tools can we provide to help travelers feel safer?
What elements do we need to provide tips and tricks?
What type of people will use this application?
How do we provide security notifications?
User Persona
Age: 32 years
Occupation: Nurse
Status: Engaged
Location: Chicago, IL
Kathrine Bruni
Behavioral Demographics:
Stay in reputable hotel chains
Uses transport she's confident will get her where she need to go - (like the Black Cabs in London)
She wears one headphone out always
all her bags have zippers
Checks in with friends upon arrival
Goals and Needs:
Find the best times to go out during the day
Know that the fun new spot is safe
Move through a new city without fear
Pain Points:
People make me nervous
I don't have time to cross check all of my plans
I don't know the city i’m in
I must stay vigilant always
Affinity Diagram
Definition & Synthesis
In addressing the critical safety and information needs of solo travelers from Women and LGBTQIA+ communities, our user research identified significant gaps in existing travel resources. Solo travelers often encounter unreliable or inconsistent data, which exacerbates safety concerns and hinders informed decision-making. To tackle this, we propose developing a travel app that prioritizes user-generated content and expert-curated information to provide trustworthy, up-to-date, and inclusive insights.
Problem Statement
Women and LGBTQIA+ individuals Traveling solo lack access to reliable and consistent information regarding their destinations , leading to heightened concerns about safety and a lack of informed decision-making while exploring unfamiliar cities.
Story Board
Kat is visiting friends for a destination wedding and has built time in to her trip to visit the city after.
Now that the wedding is over she is off to explore the city. But, She needs to check the map to see that the places she wants to check out are in safe ares.
Next she checks so see what Tips and Notifications are suggested for her time there. The app says that in the afternoon musicians fill the park in the Square. And the Latin Quarter has a fun book store hidden amidst the shops.
She finds a restaurant by the promenade that she wants to try. But what's the best way to get there?
The app suggests a reliable taxi service that has been in the town for several years.
She arrives at the restaurant just in time to watch the sunset over the water while she waits for her table.
User Scenario
Katherine Bruni, Age 32
Occupation: Nurse
Location: Chicago, IL
Katherine travels frequently, alone and with friends. She loves to experience new Foods and explore new cities. She chooses her excursions and adventures by “what feels like a good time”.
User / Persona
User / Scenario
Katherine is traveling to meet friends for a destination wedding in Ireland but plans to use the opportunity to make a few stops After the wedding.
Goals
Find the best times to go out during the day
Know that the fun new spot is safe
Move through a new city without fear
Risks / Emotions
Wants to explore new places and try new food
What are the best times to explore the city
How do I get where I’m going safely
Kathrine is in a new City looking to explore the sites
“Tourist Incognito” shows her Tips to get around the city and safe new restaurants
Kathrine finds fun things things to do and safe ways to do them
Success!
Ideation
During the ideation phase, we brainstormed features that would directly address these concerns. Key features include Safety Ratings: User-generated safety ratings and reviews of neighborhoods, accommodations, and attractions, specifically focusing on experiences of Women and LGBTQIA+ travelers. Real-Time Alerts: Location-based safety alerts and updates to inform users of potential risks or changes in their surroundings. Community Support: A built-in community forum where users can connect, share experiences, and provide recommendations to fellow travelers. Verified Resources: Curated lists of LGBTQIA+ friendly and women-focused businesses, services, and emergency contacts vetted by local experts. Personalized Itineraries: Customizable travel itineraries based on user preferences and safety considerations. By leveraging both technology and community insights, our app aims to empower solo travelers with the information they need to explore new destinations confidently and safely.
Feature Prioritization Matrix
Sharing Location with friends and family
Tips about the local culture
Suggestions of the safest transit options
Maps marked with the safest parts of town
Notifications about large scale security risk (like a protest or terror threat )
Location and contact info for U.S. consulates
Info about city events (like festivals )
Complexity
High
Low
Impact / Priority
High
Low
Delete this?
Must-Have
Reconsider
Easy Win
1
4
5
3
2
2
6
7
Site Map
Competitor Analysis
Company Name
My Safe Travel
Live Safe
Tripwhistle global SOS
City mapper
NoonLight
Feature list
Strengths
Link
Possible Improvements
Alerts : updates on travel risks in 220 countries
City safety: essential guidance to navigate city specific threats
Check-in: check in at near by locations & your emergency contacts will receive a note
Vault: Store photos of important documents or items and lock them with a pass code
Notifications: stay updated never miss an important event
Country profile : provides an overall risk rating and reasoning
Health: list of names and numbers for emergency medical assistance
Calendar: lists city events ( parades , protests, celebrations, marathons)
Shows your location while on a call
Call emergency numbers directly from app
Shows latitude and longitude of exact position
Have all emergency numbers in the world
Overview menu to find emergency numbers
Coordinates are written in degrees
Call emergency numbers directly from the today view
See emergency numbers on watch from the apple watch app
Call emergency numbers directly from your home screen with quick touch actions
Share your location with friends
Request a safe ride
Location sharing
Access to safety resources and phone numbers
Safety map with key safety locations locations
Virtually walk your friends home with safe walk
Direct and discreet two-way communication with community safety officials using text picture video and audio
Public Transit options and routs ( bus, rail, L / subway , cabs , e bikes & e scooter)
Reported issues with monitored transit
Maps of train routs
Track your co2 emissions from travel
Silently summon help
Save details on time line (who , what , where, when)
Add contacts to safety network
Add noon light to other apps
Award winning travel alert system that is provided for free
Direct line to safety officials
Shows address and coordinates while on an emergency call
Provides all the best options for gettin around the city
Immediately summon help in an emergency situation
The getting around feature only provides a list of options and some prices but has no links & visuals
Live safe can only be used by people who work for companies who pay for the app
Has no function other than gps and emergency phone call
Missing suggestion of safest option for travel in your area
The buttoned to call the police is easy to accidentally trigger
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tripwhistle-global-sos-international-emergency-phone/id839654331
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/livesafe/id653666211
https://www.mysafetravel.com/
https://noonlight.com/
https://citymapper.com/
Prototyping
In developing a travel app that addresses the unique safety and information needs of Women and LGBTQIA+ solo travelers, our prototyping process plays a crucial role in ensuring the app's usability and effectiveness. We created interactive prototypes to visualize and refine key features, incorporating user feedback at each stage.
By focusing on a user-centered prototyping process, we ensured that the travel app is intuitive, responsive, and meets the specific needs of Women and LGBTQIA+ solo travelers. This iterative approach not only refined the app's design but also validated its functionality and effectiveness, laying a strong foundation for the development phase.
Sketches
Wireframe
HI-FI Prototype
User Testing
When testing the app we were testing to see how the users moved through the app and if the UI design created any unnecessary difficulty. the testing results came back with small visual changes but with a mostly positive response and a general appreciation for the concept.
Testing
Goals/Objectives:
The Test is designed to see to see if movement through the prototype is understandable and users can navigate it without confusion or need of assistance.
With this test we hope to learn if the UI design has created unnecessary difficulty for the users.
Task Number and Name:
1. New Adventure.
In this task the users are adding a new “trip profile” to the adventures page and returning to the home page
2. Guide Tip
In this task users are adding a new “ guide tip” to the adventures page and return to the home page
3.Go to
In this task the user is to look for directions to The kings head
Goal/Outputs:
Scenario/Steps:
Assumptions:
Success Criteria:
Users will have added a new “trip profile” to the adventures page and returned to the home page.
Users will know the task is complete by reaching a completion pop-up.
Users can click on the adventure details button
The users already have an account
The users already have an account
The users already have an account
1.click adventure button
2. Go to start a new
3.fill info
4.add trip
5. Go back to home
Did the user successfully add an adventure?
Users will have added a new “Guide Tip” to the adventures page and returned to the home page.
Users will know the task is complete by seeing a corresponding button added to the “Ireland trip”
Users can click on the tip button to view its details
1.click tip button
2. Go to salthill promenade
3.add to my adventure
4. Click out of notification
5. Go back to home
Did the user successfully add “guide tip” to adventure?
Users will have searched and started the navigation to the Kings head.
Users will know the task is complete when the proceed to route page comes up
The icon on the walking button will change to teal
1. click Transit button
2. Search the kings head
3.click the walking button
4. choose yes
5. Go back to home
Did the user successfully start navigation to the kings head?
Results
Task
New Adventure
Guide Tip
Go To
Success Rate
Participant Chris
Participant Dulce
Participant Brian
Participant Abby
Participant Michelle
60%
1
1
1
0
0
60%
1
1
1
0
0
60%
1
1
1
0
0
Task Completion Table
Notes & Quotes
Change Needs
Quotes and Suggestions
Text consistency
Size of text in buttons is different
Phrasing is inconsistent
Better visibility / more contrast
Hard to see the home screen buttons (“its distracting”)
Visible button actions
“I want to see the button do something when I click it”
Coaching Screens when opening a new function
Users had difficulty understanding the use of some buttons and the purpose of the pages
Better Button labels
Some of the buttons were mistaken for page labels
Home page symbols
Move search bar
the location of the search bar on the transit main screen was confusing for some users
Change the location of the permission screens
Permission screens can be changed to pop up when entering specific app functions to not dissuade users from finishing the on boarding process.
Change the Structure of task 1
Task one needs to have the locations flipped so that the new trip added is the one being used as context.
Iterations
Labels added to Icons & more contrast added to background
Icon, prompt to action & route highlighted
Buttons changed for clarity and aesthetics
Coaching screens placed before entrance to feature
Conclusion
With this being my first solo project, I am proud of the concept and the potential of the app and think that with a few changes, it could be a very useful tool for the solo traveler. a potential change may be to add a subscription-based paywall to generate income and provide the users with a feeling of exclusivity.
