AlertTj App

ROLE/SERVICES

UX/UI Design

LOCATION

México

YEAR

2022

Project Overview

THE PROBLEM

Provide a tool where community problemns within the city of Tijuana Can be reported and they can be heard, related to potholes in the streets, public lighting, buidings in poor condition, among other prob- lems that usualy happen in said city.

THE GOAL

Design an app for AlertTJ that allows the community of the city of Tijuana to report problenms that affect their daily lives.

Help the community of the city to be heard so that organizations, in- stitutions, etc, Can đct to solve problems.

THE PRODUCT

AlertTJ App is an application that is intended for the community that dives in the city of Tijuana. Offering a wide variety of options tO report problems that happen in the city where the authorities can know about these problems quickły.

MY ROLE

UX designer designing an an app forAlertTJ from conception to delivery.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Conducting interviews, paper and digital wireframing, low and high-fidelity prototyping, conducting usability studies, accounting for accessibility, and iterating on designs.

PROJECT DURATION

December 2021 to January 2022

Understanding the user

I conducted interviews and created empathy maps to understand the users I am designing for and their needs. A main group of users identified through the research were Tijuana residents who are concerned about staying informed and safe in the city.

This group of users confirmed initial assumptions about AlertTj’s audience, but the investigation also revealed that receiving timely and accurate information wasn’t the only concern they had.

Other user problems include challenges in accessing real-time alerts, difficulties in distinguishing reliable information from rumors, and a lack of customizable alert options tailored to their location or preferences.

PERSONA AND PROBLEM STATEMENT

Carlos López

Carlos López, 32 years old and an employee at a utility company in Tijuana, cares about the well-being of his community and wants to help improve the quality of life in the city. He is looking for an easy and quick way to report problems in his neighborhood, such as potholes or lighting failures, and values that his voice is heard by authorities. He gets frustrated when trying to report issues, as he feels his complaints are not addressed or that the process is complicated. Sometimes he doesn’t know who to turn to, which makes him feel powerless. His goal is to find an app that allows him to report problems simply, receiving updates on their status and management. As he says, "I want my city to improve, and I need an easy way to report the problems I see every day."

Starting the design

DIGITAL WIREFRAMES

As the initial design phase continued, I made sure to base screen designs on feedback and findings from the user research

LOW-FIDILITY PROTOTYPE

Using the completed set of digital wireframes, I created a low-fidelity prototype. The primary user flow I connected was finding an item and placing it in the cart, so the prototype could be used in a usability study.

Usability study: Findings

I conducted two rounds of usability studies. Findings from the first study helped guide the designs from wireframes to mockups. The second study used a high-fidelity prototype and revealed what aspects of the mockups needed refining.

Study type:

Unmoderated usability study

Location:

Mexico, TJ, remote

Participants:

5 participants

Length:

10-30 minutes

MAP

For most users, it was not very clear if there were other forms of payment

MAP

For most users, it was unclear if they were adding the products to the shopping cart

MAP

For most users, they did not know if they had purchased the product

Report problems in Tijuana quickly and directly.

Going Forward

TAKEAWAYS

IMPACT

AlertTJ App provides Tijuana residents with an effective platform to report community issues such as potholes, street lighting and dilapidated buildings. The app facilitates direct communication with authorities, improving the response to these problems and fostering a safer and well-maintained urban environment.

One user comment: “AlertTJ has made it much easier to report problems in my neighborhood. I now know that the authorities get my report right away, and the app is very easy to use.”

WHAT I LEARNED

Developing the AlertTJ app showed that simplicity and accessibility are essential to ensure that citizens can report problems quickly and efficiently. The key is to create an intuitive interface that minimizes friction and maximizes the efficiency of problem reporting and resolution.

Conducted usability studies and peer feedback helped understand ho users interact with designs.

NEXT STEPS

1.- IMPROVING THE USER INTERFACE FOR REPORTS

Redesign the user interface for report forms, making the creation of a report even more intuitive. This may include quick selection options, predefined templates for different types of issues, and a simplified report flow.

2.- IMPLEMENTATION OF GEOLOCATION FUNCTIONS

Add advanced geolocation functionalities so that users can report exact problems on the map and provide precise coordinates. This will improve the accuracy of reports and facilitate resolution by authorities.

3.- CREATION OF A FEEDBACK SYSTEM

Develop a feedback system that allows users to receive updates on the status of their reports and provide comments on the resolution process. This system will help keep citizens informed and engaged in following up on their reports.