UX Case Study · 2024

Global Bridge

Where Safety Meets Discovery

A mobile app improving safety for international students through shared experiences and peer connection.

Where Safety
Meets Discovery

Know who's around
you, instantly

Where Safety Meets Discovery

UX Case Study · 2024

The brief said:
build a safety app.

A mobile app improving safety for international students through shared experiences and reviews.

RoleLead UX Designer

Timeline12 Weeks

PlatformiOS · Android

StatusDeployed

01 — Context

Personal safety is top of mind
on college campuses.

Deep desk research revealed a startling reality: current safety tools fail at the exact moment they're needed most.

82%

of students have experienced or witnessed a safety incident on campus

55%

Students often hesitate to call for help to avoid social judgment.

02 — The Catalyst

The incident that changed everything.

One interview session changed the entire design direction.

"There were a bunch of dudes or you know, middle aged teenagers, if I could put it that way. Who kicked me around from the back and you know, I fell on the ground and they threw a few punches and everything but I don't know what their intention was till they said that's one thing that's haunting me till now."

— Graduate student, Thomas Jefferson University

Every design decision after that moment was filtered through one question: Would this have helped him?

03 — Process

Thinking on paper before
touching Figma.

Four phases. No skipping steps.

Discover

User interviews, surveys, competitive audit of 6 safety apps

Define

Journey mapping, pain point synthesis, HMW framing

Ideate

Paper wireframes, crazy-8s, solution matrix

Test

3 rounds of usability testing, 12+ participants

04 — Journey Map

Mapping an international student's journey
through the city alone.

Every touchpoint. Every emotion. Every missed chance to help.

	Leaving Class	Walking Alone	Phone Dies	High Anxiety	Arrives Home
Action	Packs bag, checks battery (22%)	Walks fast, avoids eye contact	No way to reach anyone	Considers asking a stranger	Locks door, texts roommate
Feeling	Uneasy	Anxious	Panicked	Helpless	Relieved
Gap	✕ No safety check-in	✕ No route sharing	✕ Completely cut off	✕ No emergency protocol	✓ Safe — by luck

05 — Solutions

Two problems.
One solution.

Solution 01

Safety Assistance

Students can quickly alert friends and nearby app users if they feel unsafe, with real-time location updates.

Solution 02

Review System

Students can share and review local places based on safety, helping others make informed decisions.

06 — Differentiation

Features that make
Global Bridge unique.

Peer Connect

Students connect with peers who share similar interests, fostering a supportive community among international students.

Siri Design

Voice-activated Siri commands ensure discreet, hands-free emergency alerts that automatically notify three pre-set contacts.

iWatch Design

Apple Watch interface triggers an alert to three pre-selected contacts, bypassing the need for a phone entirely.

07 — Iteration

What broke.
What we fixed.

Round 1

Lack of Feature Clarity & Discovery

Integrated onboarding for every feature ensuring first-time users receive an immediate guided walkthrough.

Fixed

Round 2

Streamlined Connection Logic

Simplified 'Add Location Sharing' by allowing users to connect using familiar names instead of campus keys.

Redesigned

Round 3

Information Architecture Optimization

Reorganized navigation to clearly distinguish between 'Settings' and 'Edit Profile.'

Validated

08 — Launch

From thesis to deployment.

Thomas Jefferson University is integrating it into its ecosystem.

Executive Directors provided unanimous approval.

Testing Cycles to isolate friction points.

100%

Critical Path Resolution for Jefferson students.

09 — Screens

From wireframe to final design.

Every screen went through at least 3 iterations.

Global Bridge

The brief said:build a safety app.

Personal safety is top of mindon college campuses.