HMW Question
How might we help people stay calm, whenever they have to go out at night?
The Research Process
Research Activities
Online Survey
Secondary Research
User Interviews
Onsite Observation
To gain a deep understanding of the dangers associated with night walking, we gathered data from a variety of sources. This included designing and administering surveys and conducting in-depth interviews with students. Participants were asked to share their personal experiences with night walking and the safety products they used. They were also probed on what makes them feel unsafe, the strategies they use to stay safe, and what helps them overcome fears.
This map reveals the high risk of walking outside at night in Savannah, with red areas being more dangerous and green being the safest.
This slide summaries the key findings we have from our research
Key Insights
92.5% of respondents feel more safe when someone accompanies them outside at night.
90% of respondents agree that good lighting can help them feel safe.
Darkness and strangers are the key factors that make people feel less safe outside.
A crime occurs every 52 seconds (on average) in Savannah.
Quotes from User Interviews
"...scared, and sometimes in danger, and always in a hurry, I don’t like to be alone at night."
"I feel like I am constantly at risk."
Design & Prototype
We sketched out the design and the potential features of the product on paper and we explored different shapes and forms.
Our Design Principles
Engaging Interactivity
Enhance the user experience with interactive features.
Non-Harming
Ensure the product does not have any harmful functions and does not promote violence.
Illuminating Design
Utilize lighting effectively to achieve practical and emotional benefits.
Personalized Safety
Assist users in creating a private, secure, and comfortable environment.
Why lighting
Rationales behind the decision
To See the Surrounding
People can better see what is happening in the dark area our surroundings
To Stay Calm
Colors can change our emotions. The warm color can help people feel more comfortable while the cool color can help us to stay calm
To Be Seen
The lighting can alert other people which could be very helpful especially when people need to across the road
Final Deliverable
Here are some mockups from our final presentation.
Takeaways
Taking Initiative
At the start, our team faced some communication challenges that caused a bit of a mix-up in our work and coordination, leading to not-so-consistent results. I wasn't too sure at first, but after hearing some feedback during the mid-term presentation, I knew I had to tackle the problem head-on. Turns out, the rest of the team had noticed the same issue but didn't speak up about it. This whole situation really highlighted how crucial honesty is within a team. From now on, I'm all in on being proactive when it comes to sorting out any team hiccups.