Amika fills in a critical gap in women's safety by delivering immediate, reliable support when it matters most
- Client
- Concept
- My Role
- Product Designer
- Timeline
- Jan - May 2024
- Team
- Solo Project
Overview
Reimagining Women's Safety
Amika addresses a critical gap in women’s safety, where existing apps often fail to provide immediate, reliable support in moments of real danger.
Drawing from survey responses from 47 women and 3 in-depth interviews across Carnegie Mellon and the wider Pittsburgh community, my research revealed that current services and digital products break down when quick action is most needed.
Problem Framing
The Reality of Safety
Most safety apps are built like regular apps, not emergency tools, which leads to critical failures when users need speed, clarity, and trust.
How might we design a public safety tool for women in urban spaces that provides real-time support and uses a simplified, emergency-ready interface?
Final Solution
Amika
A real-time public safety app for women in urban spaces that connects users to immediate human support through a simplified, stress-proof interface designed for quick, reliable action in emergencies.
01
Stay Infromed
Amika offers an emergency - first interface for rapid access to services, with real-time, location-based updates on reported assaults and suspicious activity.
02
Stay Aware
Users can immediately send an SOS for police and emergency personnel to monitor their situation. At the same time, the user’s pre-selected safety circle receives instant notifications with live tracking, enabling friends or family to follow the situation.
03
Stay Prepared
Within the app, users can immediately call police and emergency services through a dedicated one-tap emergency button. Once activated, the app dials the nearest dispatch center automatically while also transmitting the user’s live location, profile details, and any preset medical information
Reflection
Designing with Care
Amika taught me how important it is to really listen to the problems users are facing, especially when designing around something as personal as safety. Rather than designing from assumptions, I learned to let those concerns directly shape the product and its features.
It reminded me that good UX isn’t just about making something easy to use, but making sure what you’re designing actually responds to what people need.