1. Empathy First, Always

This project reminded me that the best design comes from listening. Through user interviews, I realised how common it is to feel unsafe while walking — especially at night — and how rarely digital tools account for that. Designing for emotional safety became just as important as designing for functionality.

2. Usability ≠ Usefulness

One major finding from usability testing was that users weren’t just looking for pretty interfaces — they needed meaningful, actionable features. The SOS button, safe zones, and simplified hazard reporting had more value to users than flashy animations or micro-interactions.

3. Real-time Context Matters

Designing a product that responds to real-time data (like live reports and safety alerts) challenged me to think beyond static screens. It pushed me to explore how interface elements change based on time, location, and urgency, especially during stressful moments for the user.

4. Crowdsourcing Builds Trust

When users feel they can contribute to their own and others’ safety, engagement increases. Building features that support community participation, like hazard reporting and validation, helped foster a sense of collective responsibility, and that became a core principle of the app.

5. Designing for Calm in Crisis

The emergency flow was a critical learning area. I had to consider what a user might feel during moments of fear or panic, and how to make the design not only intuitive, but comforting and clear. Colour, spacing, and iconography took on new weight in these scenarios.