Overview
SafeWalk addresses NYU students' safety concerns during NYC commutes. This GPS navigation app delivers real-time threat alerts in the user's vicinity and enables instant incident reporting, promoting confidence in every journey. 


︎ Go to Hi-Fi Prototype

Tools
Figma

Timeline
April-May 2023 (Updated September 2024)

Problem Statement

The main problem NYU students face is having to navigate the city alone late at night due to late classes and meetings, and being exposed to risks of theft, assault, and violence. Their current options, such as FaceTiming friends or using NYU shuttles, are not always reliable. Rising Asian hate crimes and NYC's increasing crime rate amplify these safety concerns.

20.1%

of NY residents feel ‘very unsafe’ when walking alone at night

61.3%

of NY residents perceive negatively about pedestrian safety

37.1%

of NY residents don’t feel positive about public safety

10298

crimes were reported in New York during December 2024

A mobile app that sends a preset message to six contacts with just one click to ensure the safety of college students. 

Strengths: Simple functionality
Weaknesses: Outdated design theme
Opportunities: Only developed as a project idea, unavailable on the App Store
Threats: High efficiency and punctuality

A mobile app that estimates arrival time, triggers an alarm if not deactivated by the ETA, enables real-time texting with campus safety, and allows location sharing.

Strengths: Configured by the universities the user is associated with
Weaknesses: Limit availability to certain universities
Opportunities: Complex usability, confusing instructions
Threats: Direct links to important university resources

Name: Jane Lee
Age: 21
Occupation: College student at NYU

Jane is a sophomore who often spends long hours in the library and attends evening extracurricular activities.

Goals

• To feel safe and secure while walking around NYC alone, especially at night
  

Priorities

• Safety is her top priority, especially when walking at night after studying or attending events on campus

Needs & Expectations

• Service that is available 24/7
  
• Fast safety alerts to react quickly to any potential dangers

Pains

• Fear of facing racism, violence, and harassment while walking
  
• Insufficient NYU shuttle bus service as it isn't always available

Solution Statement

Amid rising crime rates, NYU students face growing safety concerns when walking alone at night. A navigation app with real-time updates on NYPD locations and potential threats would enhance their sense of security. This community-driven app allows students, faculty, staff, and Campus Safety to report incidents, effectively alerting others and improving safety

Round 1 Findings

1. Users find saving locations like home and library to be convenient since their routes don’t vary much
2. Users feel that the process of setting the destination and current location is confusing
3. Users find a pastel color for a ‘Report’ button to be misleading
   

Round 2 Findings

1. An excess of warning signs may overwhelm users
   
2. Users wish to see the remaining time and distance while navigating
   
3. Many international users favor the metric system over the imperial system

︎ Go to Hi-Fi Prototype
︎ Go to Figma Design Board

Impact

This app boosts users' confidence and sense of safety when walking alone in the city. Many expressed interest in using it if developed.

One peer shared,
"I’d definitely use this app, as I often feel uneasy walking back to my dorm after witnessing situations I’d rather avoid."

What I Learned

I learned that user-centered design is key. Understanding the needs and concerns of the target users guided every design decision which eventually led to a successful project. 

I also learned that gathering user insights is essential because they can offer new perspectives including both metric and imperial systems for distance, making the app more inclusive.

The designs for screen size variation included tablets and desktops.
I optimized the designs to fit the specific user needs of each device and screen size.

︎ Go to Hi-Fi Prototype
︎ Go to Figma Design Board