COmmuter
A female-only mobile APP on women's travel safety aims to allow users to find other female users to travel together on their commute to work
or school. Additionally, the APP features a friend circle, enabling users to call their friends to go out together.
COmmuter
A female-only mobile APP on women's travel safety aims to allow users to find other female users to travel together on their commute to work
or school. Additionally, the APP features a friend circle, enabling users to call their friends to go out together.
COmmuter
A female-only mobile APP on women's travel safety aims to allow users to find other female users to travel together on their commute to work
or school. Additionally, the APP features a friend circle, enabling users to call their friends to go out together.
Scope
Problem framing
Concept development
Validation
User testing
Duration
My role
Scope
Problem framing
Concept development
Validation
User testing
Duration
My role
Scope
Problem framing
Concept development
Validation
User testing
Duration
My role
WHAT'S THE CONTEXT?
This project was originally for Google's UX design certification, and the task was to design an app focused on creating social good.
Recent headlines about deadly violence and sexual harassment of women traveling alone raise concerns about the risks women face in public spaces when traveling solo.
WHAT'S THE CONTEXT?
This project was originally for Google's UX design certification, and the task was to design an app focused on creating social good.
Recent headlines about deadly violence and sexual harassment of women traveling alone raise concerns about the risks women face in public spaces when traveling solo.
WHAT'S THE CONTEXT?
This project was originally for Google's UX design certification, and the task was to design an app focused on creating social good.
Recent headlines about deadly violence and sexual harassment of women traveling alone raise concerns about the risks women face in public spaces when traveling solo.
THE CHALLENGE
• Consider the location of the users when designing the app to cater to their specific safety conditions.
• Decide whether to design the app specifically for women or make it gender-neutral.
• Decide whether to include transgender women in the user group and do so respectfully.
• Implement safety measures to prevent the app from being used by criminals for malicious purposes.
• Determine the app's monetization strategy, such as integrating it into an existing app or developing it separately.
THE CHALLENGE
• Consider the location of the users when designing the app to cater to their specific safety conditions.
• Decide whether to design the app specifically for women or make it gender-neutral.
• Decide whether to include transgender women in the user group and do so respectfully.
• Implement safety measures to prevent the app from being used by criminals for malicious purposes.
• Determine the app's monetization strategy, such as integrating it into an existing app or developing it separately.
THE CHALLENGE
• Consider the location of the users when designing the app to cater to their specific safety conditions.
• Decide whether to design the app specifically for women or make it gender-neutral.
• Decide whether to include transgender women in the user group and do so respectfully.
• Implement safety measures to prevent the app from being used by criminals for malicious purposes.
• Determine the app's monetization strategy, such as integrating it into an existing app or developing it separately.
PROBLEM MAPPING
To narrow down the specific problem we are addressing, we created a problem map that lists problems, the current situation, and solutions.
PROBLEM MAPPING
To narrow down the specific problem we are addressing, we created a problem map that lists problems, the current situation, and solutions.
PROBLEM MAPPING
To narrow down the specific problem we are addressing, we created a problem map that lists problems, the current situation, and solutions.
WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM?
Our team conducted desk research on the current state of women's travel safety worldwide, including UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Mainland China, Taiwan, and The U.S.
• Women often use more affordable travel methods and rely more on walking or public transportation.
As women are far more likely than men to live on low incomes, work part-time, live in poverty and to undertake unpaid work in the home and the community, poor quality, unreliable and expensive public transport has a far bigger impact on their lives than it does on the lives of men.
• Public transportation is a common location for violence.
34% felt worried on public transport in the past three months and 8% of Londoners overall were completely or temporarily deterred from using public transport due to a worrying incident(Q1 April - June 22/23).
• Men are typically the perpetrators of safety incidents.
The most commonly cited worrying incidents on the bus/underground network include threatening behaviour of other passengers, youth/school-related ASB, passengers pushing/shoving each other, and drunkenness.
And over 40% of crime or antisocial behaviour on public transport 'youth related'.
Our competitor analysis revealed four types of women's safety products on the market： real-time location sharing, simulator virtual boyfriend, built-in emergency contact features, and an early warning system.
PERSONA
To have a deep understanding of users' needs and concerns while traveling, we conducted 11 semi-structured 1-on-1 interviews. Our screening variables included:
Gender
Age
Living status (living alone or together)
Occupation (whether they have to commute or not)
Disability status
The interviews revealed that:
Women who live in cities have more or less experienced security risks when going out alone, especially when they live in a hybrid and chaotic neighborhood in a foreign country.
Elder women and those with restricted eyesight are more concerned about traffic accidents and the risk of falling on the road.
Current solutions include:
Location-sharing with family and friends
Going out in a group with friends
Taking a taxi rather than public transportation
Based on these findings, we developed four personas to represent the different user groups identified in the interviews.
PERSONA
To have a deep understanding of users' needs and concerns while traveling, we conducted 11 semi-structured 1-on-1 interviews. Our screening variables included:
Gender
Age
Living status (living alone or together)
Occupation (whether they have to commute or not)
Disability status
The interviews revealed that:
Women who live in cities have more or less experienced security risks when going out alone, especially when they live in a hybrid and chaotic neighborhood in a foreign country.
Elder women and those with restricted eyesight are more concerned about traffic accidents and the risk of falling on the road.
Current solutions include:
Location-sharing with family and friends
Going out in a group with friends
Taking a taxi rather than public transportation
Based on these findings, we developed four personas to represent the different user groups identified in the interviews.
PERSONA
To have a deep understanding of users' needs and concerns while traveling, we conducted 11 semi-structured 1-on-1 interviews. Our screening variables included:
Gender
Age
Living status (living alone or together)
Occupation (whether they have to commute or not)
Disability status
The interviews revealed that:
Women who live in cities have more or less experienced security risks when going out alone, especially when they live in a hybrid and chaotic neighborhood in a foreign country.
Elder women and those with restricted eyesight are more concerned about traffic accidents and the risk of falling on the road.
Current solutions include:
Location-sharing with family and friends
Going out in a group with friends
Taking a taxi rather than public transportation
Based on these findings, we developed four personas to represent the different user groups identified in the interviews.
USER INSIGHTS
User Needs
A sense of security during travel
Protection against potential violent crimes
Assurance of arriving home safely
Safe travel options
Avoidance of rowdy groups and sketchy buildings
Accessible transportation
Navigation assistance for vision impairment
User Needs
A sense of security during travel
Protection against potential violent crimes
Assurance of arriving home safely
Safe travel options
Avoidance of rowdy groups and sketchy buildings
Accessible transportation
Navigation assistance for vision impairment
User Needs
A sense of security during travel
Protection against potential violent crimes
Assurance of arriving home safely
Safe travel options
Avoidance of rowdy groups and sketchy buildings
Accessible transportation
Navigation assistance for vision impairment
To address the problem of feeling insecure during the "last mile" of travel, we developed the idea of introducing a buddy system.
To address the problem of feeling insecure during the "last mile" of travel, we developed the idea of introducing a buddy system.
User Goals
Easily access a buddy system for added security during travel
Feel more secure and confident during night travel
Easily locate safe and convenient transportation options
Complete daily commutes without encountering rowdy groups or sketchy buildings
Enjoy greater independence and mobility despite limited physical abilities
Easily navigate unfamiliar areas with limited vision
User Goals
Easily access a buddy system for added security during travel
Feel more secure and confident during night travel
Easily locate safe and convenient transportation options
Complete daily commutes without encountering rowdy groups or sketchy buildings
Enjoy greater independence and mobility despite limited physical abilities
Easily navigate unfamiliar areas with limited vision
User Goals
Easily access a buddy system for added security during travel
Feel more secure and confident during night travel
Easily locate safe and convenient transportation options
Complete daily commutes without encountering rowdy groups or sketchy buildings
Enjoy greater independence and mobility despite limited physical abilities
Easily navigate unfamiliar areas with limited vision
To address the problem of feeling insecure during the "last mile" of travel, we developed the idea of introducing a buddy system.
To address the problem of feeling insecure during the "last mile" of travel, we developed the idea of introducing a buddy system.
Opportunity
How might we design a buddy system that enhances the safety of women during the final leg of their travel?
Opportunity
How might we design a buddy system that enhances the safety of women during the final leg of their travel?
Opportunity
How might we design a buddy system that enhances the safety of women during the final leg of their travel?
THE SOLUTION
Based on user insights, we ideated various solutions and evaluated each of them using four dimensions: feasibility, relevancy, uniqueness, and impact.
THE SOLUTION
Based on user insights, we ideated various solutions and evaluated each of them using four dimensions: feasibility, relevancy, uniqueness, and impact.
THE SOLUTION
Based on user insights, we ideated various solutions and evaluated each of them using four dimensions: feasibility, relevancy, uniqueness, and impact.
In the end, we decided to prioritize features that scored highly, such as supporting female users to travel in groups with other females or within their circle of friends and family.
In the end, we decided to prioritize features that scored highly, such as supporting female users to travel in groups with other females or within their circle of friends and family.
In the end, we decided to prioritize features that scored highly, such as supporting female users to travel in groups with other females or within their circle of friends and family.
USER FLOW
USER FLOW
USER FLOW
DESIGN EXPLORATION+
Heading 2，Semibold 22px
Body, regular 16px
Auxiliary Text , regular 12px
Button , regular 18px
Secondary Text ，regular 14px
Emphasized Text , Semibold 16px
Button , Bold 20px
Button , Semibold 10px
Body Semibold 18px
The name “COmmuter”, is a play on words, combining 'co-commute' with 'commuter'.
We integrated the theme colour, women, traveling together, and other elements to design the logo.
SF Pro
Heading 3，Medium 20px
Text input box，regular 16px
Text：
Heading 1 , Bold 28px
Text input box，regular 16px
Auxiliary Text , regular 12px
We integrated the theme colour, women, traveling together, and other elements to design the logo.
The name “COmmuter”, is a play on words, combining 'co-commute' with 'commuter'.
LOGO Iteration
DESIGN EXPLORATION+
Heading 2，Semibold 22px
Body, regular 16px
Auxiliary Text , regular 12px
Button , regular 18px
Secondary Text ，regular 14px
Emphasized Text , Semibold 16px
Button , Bold 20px
Button , Semibold 10px
Body Semibold 18px
The name “COmmuter”, is a play on words, combining 'co-commute' with 'commuter'.
We integrated the theme colour, women, traveling together, and other elements to design the logo.
SF Pro
Heading 3，Medium 20px
Text input box，regular 16px
Text：
Heading 1 , Bold 28px
Text input box，regular 16px
Auxiliary Text , regular 12px
We integrated the theme colour, women, traveling together, and other elements to design the logo.
The name “COmmuter”, is a play on words, combining 'co-commute' with 'commuter'.
LOGO Iteration
DESIGN EXPLORATION+
Heading 2，Semibold 22px
Body, regular 16px
Auxiliary Text , regular 12px
Button , regular 18px
Secondary Text ，regular 14px
Emphasized Text , Semibold 16px
Button , Bold 20px
Button , Semibold 10px
Body Semibold 18px
The name “COmmuter”, is a play on words, combining 'co-commute' with 'commuter'.
We integrated the theme colour, women, traveling together, and other elements to design the logo.
SF Pro
Heading 3，Medium 20px
Text input box，regular 16px
Text：
Heading 1 , Bold 28px
Text input box，regular 16px
Auxiliary Text , regular 12px
We integrated the theme colour, women, traveling together, and other elements to design the logo.
The name “COmmuter”, is a play on words, combining 'co-commute' with 'commuter'.
LOGO Iteration
THE SOLUTION
Onboarding
Convenient login with social media accounts
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
THE SOLUTION
Onboarding
Convenient login with social media accounts
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
THE SOLUTION
Onboarding
Convenient login with social media accounts
Building trust with our users
Our mission to empower safe and easy co-commuting
ID Verification + Facial Verification
To prevent unauthorized access and avoid the risk of someone else using your phone if it's lost.
Ensure that no suspicious individuals use fake IDs to infiltrate the community.
Ensure that every user is a real person.
ID Verification + Facial Verification
To prevent unauthorized access and avoid the risk of someone else using your phone if it's lost.
Ensure that no suspicious individuals use fake IDs to infiltrate the community.
Ensure that every user is a real person.
ID Verification + Facial Verification
To prevent unauthorized access and avoid the risk of someone else using your phone if it's lost.
Ensure that no suspicious individuals use fake IDs to infiltrate the community.
Ensure that every user is a real person.
Draggable Emergency Widget:
• Can be moved for quick access during emergencies.
Floats on main pages or stays visible across screens.
Draggable Emergency Widget:
• Can be moved for quick access during emergencies.
Floats on main pages or stays visible across screens.
Draggable Emergency Widget:
• Can be moved for quick access during emergencies.
Floats on main pages or stays visible across screens.
Home Page
Users can see immediately upcoming travel reminders when they open the app
"Most Used Co-travel routes" allows users to quickly select the most frequently used routes.
"Start your next safe trip" button is placed in the most eye-catching position of the interface, which is convenient for users to quickly start a new journey of customization.
Home Page
Users can see immediately upcoming travel reminders when they open the app
"Most Used Co-travel routes" allows users to quickly select the most frequently used routes.
"Start your next safe trip" button is placed in the most eye-catching position of the interface, which is convenient for users to quickly start a new journey of customization.
Home Page
Users can see immediately upcoming travel reminders when they open the app
"Most Used Co-travel routes" allows users to quickly select the most frequently used routes.
"Start your next safe trip" button is placed in the most eye-catching position of the interface, which is convenient for users to quickly start a new journey of customization.
Join the group - Public Circle
The "Public Circle" flow allows our users to join in short-distance travel groups with strangers.
Join the group - Public Circle
The "Public Circle" flow allows our users to join in short-distance travel groups with strangers.
Join the group - Public Circle
The "Public Circle" flow allows our users to join in short-distance travel groups with strangers.
Friends & Family Circle
Key features:
Add friends via group/search/invite
Start a new travel group among your friends
Send a travel request to a friend
Friends & Family Circle
Key features:
Add friends via group/search/invite
Start a new travel group among your friends
Send a travel request to a friend
Friends & Family Circle
Key features:
Add friends via group/search/invite
Start a new travel group among your friends
Send a travel request to a friend
RESULTS OF MODERATED STUDY
We conducted moderated usability studies with 5 women volunteers to test the low-fidelity prototype. Aimming at getting feedback on how users could complete user flows, any parts need to be optimized, and what kind of feelings users have when using other similar types of apps. We worked out seven prompts as well as two main flows, including 'start your commute group' and 'get a ride from your friends'.
Things we learn from the moderated usability study are as follows:
a.We should focus on users. Their tones, facial expressions, feelings, actions, perceptions, etc. are all valuable assets for usability analysis.
b.Users have their own interacting habits, the way they intercted with the app might not be the same as we predicted. Therefore, we, as UX designers, need to conduct multiple usability tests and create designs that suitable for users' interacting habits.
c.We should also set clear and specific prompts, so that volunteers can understand our instructions accurately and efficiently.
d.By adding some reliable indexes (i.e. overall user ratings, peer reviews, the punctuality of users etc.) to enhance security and realiability.
e.Users think the function of 'get a ride from your friends' in the 'commute buddy' app is unconvenient and inefficient, and they would rather use other social message app (i.e. WhatsApp, Wechat) than this one. Therefore, we decided to delete this function of 'get a ride from your friends' . It is necessary to iterate our design promoptly based on users' real needs.
RESULTS OF MODERATED STUDY
We conducted moderated usability studies with 5 women volunteers to test the low-fidelity prototype. Aimming at getting feedback on how users could complete user flows, any parts need to be optimized, and what kind of feelings users have when using other similar types of apps. We worked out seven prompts as well as two main flows, including 'start your commute group' and 'get a ride from your friends'.
Things we learn from the moderated usability study are as follows:
a.We should focus on users. Their tones, facial expressions, feelings, actions, perceptions, etc. are all valuable assets for usability analysis.
b.Users have their own interacting habits, the way they intercted with the app might not be the same as we predicted. Therefore, we, as UX designers, need to conduct multiple usability tests and create designs that suitable for users' interacting habits.
c.We should also set clear and specific prompts, so that volunteers can understand our instructions accurately and efficiently.
d.By adding some reliable indexes (i.e. overall user ratings, peer reviews, the punctuality of users etc.) to enhance security and realiability.
e.Users think the function of 'get a ride from your friends' in the 'commute buddy' app is unconvenient and inefficient, and they would rather use other social message app (i.e. WhatsApp, Wechat) than this one. Therefore, we decided to delete this function of 'get a ride from your friends' . It is necessary to iterate our design promoptly based on users' real needs.
RESULTS OF MODERATED STUDY
We conducted moderated usability studies with 5 women volunteers to test the low-fidelity prototype. Aimming at getting feedback on how users could complete user flows, any parts need to be optimized, and what kind of feelings users have when using other similar types of apps. We worked out seven prompts as well as two main flows, including 'start your commute group' and 'get a ride from your friends'.
Things we learn from the moderated usability study are as follows:
a.We should focus on users. Their tones, facial expressions, feelings, actions, perceptions, etc. are all valuable assets for usability analysis.
b.Users have their own interacting habits, the way they intercted with the app might not be the same as we predicted. Therefore, we, as UX designers, need to conduct multiple usability tests and create designs that suitable for users' interacting habits.
c.We should also set clear and specific prompts, so that volunteers can understand our instructions accurately and efficiently.
d.By adding some reliable indexes (i.e. overall user ratings, peer reviews, the punctuality of users etc.) to enhance security and realiability.
e.Users think the function of 'get a ride from your friends' in the 'commute buddy' app is unconvenient and inefficient, and they would rather use other social message app (i.e. WhatsApp, Wechat) than this one. Therefore, we decided to delete this function of 'get a ride from your friends' . It is necessary to iterate our design promoptly based on users' real needs.
THE CORE VALUE COMPARED WITH COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS:
We conducted market research and collected some secondary data about different types of women safety products. Based on the competitive audits for 'commute buddy' app, we found four types of compatible products in the market:
a.'real-time location sharing' product
b.'simulator virtual boyfriend' product
c.'the built-in features of emergency contact' product
d.an early dangerous warning system
Our 'Commute buddy' application is a female-only mobile app on women's commute safety, which allows users to share their travel needs to find a commute group or group a freind circle to travel together. Our potential users are college students and collegues.
The core value of 'commute buddy' is that users can easily find commute buddies via strict ID verification system in the app.
THE CORE VALUE COMPARED WITH COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS:
We conducted market research and collected some secondary data about different types of women safety products. Based on the competitive audits for 'commute buddy' app, we found four types of compatible products in the market:
a.'real-time location sharing' product
b.'simulator virtual boyfriend' product
c.'the built-in features of emergency contact' product
d.an early dangerous warning system
Our 'Commute buddy' application is a female-only mobile app on women's commute safety, which allows users to share their travel needs to find a commute group or group a freind circle to travel together. Our potential users are college students and collegues.
The core value of 'commute buddy' is that users can easily find commute buddies via strict ID verification system in the app.
THE CORE VALUE COMPARED WITH COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS:
We conducted market research and collected some secondary data about different types of women safety products. Based on the competitive audits for 'commute buddy' app, we found four types of compatible products in the market:
a.'real-time location sharing' product
b.'simulator virtual boyfriend' product
c.'the built-in features of emergency contact' product
d.an early dangerous warning system
Our 'Commute buddy' application is a female-only mobile app on women's commute safety, which allows users to share their travel needs to find a commute group or group a freind circle to travel together. Our potential users are college students and collegues.
The core value of 'commute buddy' is that users can easily find commute buddies via strict ID verification system in the app.
FUTURE STEPS
What can be done better:
a. In order to guarantee travel safety and prevent potential risks, we are considering optimizing user identification and evaluation systems.
b. Add 'Sign Up,' 'Log In,' and 'Introduction About Us' interfaces.
c. Set up a user rating system and a route rating system.
d. Due to the scope and limited time, our product is still not well-developed for people with disabilities or sexual minorities.
We can add some assistive technology designs in the future.
e. The design system should be defined before the design flow starts to avoid repeated changes.
f. Incorporate sprints for future tasks.
What went well:
a. A practical approach to addressing the pain points of women's travel in today's society.
b. The scope of the project is clear, giving us a good idea of the priority and time commitment for each task in the project.
c. The division of labor among team members and the project schedule are well-managed.
FUTURE STEPS
What can be done better:
a. In order to guarantee travel safety and prevent potential risks, we are considering optimizing user identification and evaluation systems.
b. Add 'Sign Up,' 'Log In,' and 'Introduction About Us' interfaces.
c. Set up a user rating system and a route rating system.
d. Due to the scope and limited time, our product is still not well-developed for people with disabilities or sexual minorities.
We can add some assistive technology designs in the future.
e. The design system should be defined before the design flow starts to avoid repeated changes.
f. Incorporate sprints for future tasks.
What went well:
a. A practical approach to addressing the pain points of women's travel in today's society.
b. The scope of the project is clear, giving us a good idea of the priority and time commitment for each task in the project.
c. The division of labor among team members and the project schedule are well-managed.
FUTURE STEPS
What can be done better:
a. In order to guarantee travel safety and prevent potential risks, we are considering optimizing user identification and evaluation systems.
b. Add 'Sign Up,' 'Log In,' and 'Introduction About Us' interfaces.
c. Set up a user rating system and a route rating system.
d. Due to the scope and limited time, our product is still not well-developed for people with disabilities or sexual minorities.
We can add some assistive technology designs in the future.
e. The design system should be defined before the design flow starts to avoid repeated changes.
f. Incorporate sprints for future tasks.
What went well:
a. A practical approach to addressing the pain points of women's travel in today's society.
b. The scope of the project is clear, giving us a good idea of the priority and time commitment for each task in the project.
c. The division of labor among team members and the project schedule are well-managed.