Citymapper: Safer Navigation
Team
Year
2024
Project
Mobile Design
UI/UX
Software
Figma, Ilustrator
Overview
Safer navigation is a feature designed to help users feel safer by enabling them to customise their route based on their selected criteria.
Problem Statement
Traveling around London is essential, but for many women, navigating the city alone at night can feel unsafe.
Navigating London at night requires careful consideration of factors like well-lit streets, high foot traffic, and safe areas. I began to wonder: how can we make this process safer and easier for women traveling alone?
Final Design
Introducing the Safer Routing Power in Citymapper, a feature that lets users customise navigation routes based on safety preferences to boost their confidence and sense of security when traveling through the city.
95% of users successfully used the new feature without any prompts
100% of users expressed a strong desire for this feature in the Citymapper app
Research Process
What are the gaps between existing solutions and the actual safety precautions women takes?
With this question in mind, I conducted analysis on existing solutions and interviews with women living in London to gain insight into their experiences and discover ways in which the night navigation process could be improved, main problems include:
Lack of Preventive Options
Existing safety solutions focus on reacting to risky situations rather than preventing them, offering support only when users are already vulnerable
Precautionary Gaps
Women often rely on precautionary actions to stay safe, yet few tools cater to these proactive measures, leaving a gap in preventive solutions.
User Interview
I found that safety perception is subjective—there's no universal solution. Hence, to achieve a safer route would necessitates personalisation, tailored to each individual's perception of safety.
Environmental
is the geographical elements that influence an individual's perception, experience, and behaviour within a specific environment or urban setting.
Situational
is temporary and context-dependent, meaning they can vary based on the situation or context in which they occur.
What is the most used navigation tool in London?
I decided to conduct an online ethnography to find out which navigation application is popular in London. Citymapper's popularity in London offers a trusted platform to introduce safety features, leveraging its existing user base and familiarity to ensure seamless adoption.
Design Process
Design System
I've identified important design elements utilised in Citymapper, including icons, colours, fonts, buttons, tags, and labels to guide my extended feature.
Design Process
Onboarding
The onboarding page provides a step-by-step guide to help users navigate the new filter preferences.
Design Process
Safer Preference Page
The safer preference page allows users to select their safety options, enabling them to customise routes based on their preferences.
Branding
Why Safer?
The shield icon was selected as it is commonly associated with protection, aligning with the preventive nature of the feature.
Reflection
From multiple user journey redesigns, I leaned that straightforward designs are most effective. Providing instructions before the task ensures users can retain the information and apply it immediately, resulting in reduced confusion and enhanced clarity.
