In June 2024, a tech professional, while intoxicated, posted a rant on Facebook blaming UI/UX designers for issues in his company. This incident highlighted a common problem: people making regrettable actions while under the influence of alcohol, such as posting inappropriate content on social media or sending rude messages.
Design a mobile application that enhances users' well-being by preventing regrettable actions while intoxicated. The app should track users' intoxication levels and provide proactive measures to ensure they do not post inappropriate content on social media or send regrettable messages.
Safe Steps is an innovative app designed to help users avoid making regrettable actions while intoxicated. The app tracks intoxication levels using a combination of wearable devices and behavioral cues and restricts access to social media and messaging functions when the user is deemed to be intoxicated. This proactive measure helps to mitigate the risks associated with impaired judgment due to alcohol consumption, ensuring users maintain their social and professional integrity.
This is a project I undertook alone over the course of 2 weeks. The project involved researching the problem, designing the user interface, and developing the functionality of the Safe Steps app.
I delved deeply into the UX design thinking process by applying the Double Diamond Methodology, which focuses on four stages: discover, define, develop, and deliver. This approach helped me prioritize solutions effectively and prevented me from starting with preconceived notions and building a product without first testing its validity.
By tracking intoxication levels through wearable devices and behavioral cues, the app proactively restricts access to social media and messaging functions when the user is deemed impaired. This feature significantly reduces the likelihood of users posting or sending inappropriate content that could harm their personal or professional reputation. Beyond preventing social media blunders, Safe Steps promotes responsible drinking habits by increasing user awareness of their intoxication levels and offering safety measures like alerting trusted contacts in critical situations. The app could also provide valuable data-driven insights into individual drinking patterns, helping users make more informed decisions and potentially integrating with wellness programs to further support mental health and well-being.
Working on the Safe Steps project was a great learning experience, as it allowed me to dive deep into designing a user-centric solution for personal safety. The challenge was to create an app that provides users with an intuitive way to ensure their well-being while staying simple and easy to use. From crafting features like emergency alerts to building a clean, responsive interface, this project taught me the importance of balancing functionality with user trust. It was a reminder that thoughtful design can truly make a difference in people's lives.
