Dark Knight Dispatch
Crime reporting and safety app designed to keep the citizens of Gotham City connected to Batman
Overview
In major cities like Gotham, residents frequently report crimes without receiving timely responses from authorities. This ongoing issue fosters feelings of frustration, insecurity, and vulnerability among citizens in densely populated areas. This case study examines our efforts to develop a product aimed at enhancing the safety and security of large urban communities.
Problem
In a city with a population of 8 to 9 million, it is unrealistic for Batman alone to ensure the safety of every citizen. Inefficiencies and corruption within the Gotham Police Dept. have led to an increase in unregulated vigilante activity. Consequently, it is essential for citizens and communities to collaborate and support one another in maintaining public safety.
Goals
Increase community safety
Streamline communication between agencies
Link citizens directly with Batman
Role
UX/UI Design
Timeline
1 Month, January 2025
Skills
User Research
Wireframing and prototyping
User testing
Style guide and design system dev
Component design
Identify the primary safety and security pain points of Gotham City citizens.
Analyze citizen preferences for different crime reporting and communication channels.
Interviews (in-person, phone and virtual)
Surveys
Observations
Data analysis
Competitor analysis
19 participants ages 13+ from diverse backgrounds. Participants were recruited through methods, including guerilla testing, email invitations and peer-to-peer referrals.
Interviewing users to uncover pain points - Qualitative Data
We interviewed 7 users within the allotted timeframe, focusing on uncovering public safety pain points relevant to urban residents. Although the context was hypothetical, participants were encouraged to draw from their real-world experiences in their responses.
What are your biggest concerns about personal safety in a city like Gotham?
What factors contribute to your level of trust in law enforcement (including Batman)?
What factors contribute to a feeling of safety in your neighborhood?
Quantitative Data
52.6%
Crime Reporting App
42.1%
Phone / Text
5.3%
In-person
47.4%
Social Media
5.3%
Newspaper / TV
15.8%
Websites
31.6%
News Apps
What technology do you use to to stay informed and connected to your community?
47.4% of participants prefer using Social Media to stay informed and connected
Include news items on home screen (or somewhere easily accessible/visible)
Create social media pages and include links to social media pages within the app
How likely are you to report a crime to Batman?
People don’t know who to rely on (Police or Batman) - 9/19 voted 8 and above 10/19 voted 5 or less
10 participants answered 5 or below. 9 participants answered 6 or above. We need to accommodate both user groups (people who prefer Batman/people who prefer police)
People who are fans of Batman are more likely to report to him
People need guidance on when/where/who to report to
How Much Trust do you have in Batman to keep you safe?
People need more trust in Batman. This app could help build trust and rapport with Batman.
People have moderate trust in Batman
Batman isn’t invincible
“Villains seem to be at large with their scheming and their plots. It affects a wide range of people and there's little to no heads up.” - TS
Citizens need to be…
Informed
aware of their proximity to safety threats
Secure
feel a sense of safety
Connected
open lines of communication
We believe empowering the citizens of Gotham to effectively track and report crime will increase their feeling of safety and freedom by creating a more secure community.
Behavioral Archetype
Name: Jane Martinez
Age: 42
Occupation: Retail Associate
Background: Jane is a single mother working full-time at a retail store located across town. She relies on public transportation for her daily commute, taking the bus five days a week.
Context & Environment: Jane typically leaves work after dark and must walk alone to the bus stop, which presents safety challenges. Recently, she experienced an assault and robbery during her commute home, resulting in heightened anxiety about her personal safety in the city at night.
Goals:
Ensure safe and secure travel during evening commutes
Access tools or services that enhance personal safety in urban environments
Balance work responsibilities with caregiving duties
Frustrations & Pain Points:
Lack of timely assistance and protection while commuting after dark
Feeling vulnerable when alone in public spaces at night
Limited access to reliable safety resources tailored to urban transit users
Motivations:
Desire for peace of mind and confidence during evening travel
Need for community support and trustworthy safety solutions
Improving overall sense of security for herself and her family
Technological Comfort: Moderate; uses smartphone regularly and is open to safety apps or services that are easy to navigate and responsive in emergencies.
Turning pain points into targeted opportunity areas
1
How might we empower citizens to report, discuss and track crime in their community?
2
How might we utilize technology to track villains in real time?
3
How might we organize reports by priority so that crime is dealt with more efficiently?
Defining Core Features
Using the MoSCoW prioritization technique alongside Creative Matrices, the team engaged in structured brainstorming sessions to identify 4 to 5 key features. These insights informed the initial design of user flows based on the user journey for crime tracking, reporting, and locating safe routes.
User Journey
To illustrate the practical application of this app, I created a user journey map that visualizes the phases a user might experience in a real-world context, emphasizing key touchpoints, actions, and emotional responses throughout the process. This narrative centers on Jane, a representative user, as she navigates the challenge of traveling home safely.
User Flow
By analyzing the user journey, I designed user flows that guide users through key actions such as reporting a crime and checking for updates on crime reports.
Competitor Analysis
We conducted a comparative analysis of five apps with similar functionality to identify opportunities for enhancing mapping, reporting, and communication features. The objective was to assess existing solutions critically and inform potential improvements for our product.
Strengths
✔️ Dashboard views with real-time updates and information
✔️ Task automation
✔️ Safety analytics
✔️ Connection to community through discussion forum and messaging
Weaknesses
🅇 No direct connection to authorities
🅇 Limited map capability
🅇 No safeguard for validity
Insights
Live maps help users understand their proximity to key locations and people.
Discussion forum and direct messaging options keep users up-to-date and connected.
Having the ability to post photos cuts down on descriptive legwork.
Low Fidelity Wireframe
Low Fidelity Prototype
Taking cues from apple SOS and competitors, I worked with a partner to create low fidelity wireframes for the initial screens. I was responsible for assembling and linking the interactive prototype to ensure it was fully functional and ready for user testing.
Usability Testing
Track user flow efficiency in the following tasks.
Report an incident - Post Bat Alert
View map - Identify last known location of criminals.
TESTING DATA HERE****
Mid-Fidelity Prototype
The subsequent iteration incorporated an enhanced map feature that provides safe routes, informed by user feedback and testing results.
*insert Gif of prototype or link to figma prototype
Takeaways
UX is messy, strategic and almost invisible. UX design isn’t a product. It’s a process. You don’t “see” good UX. You experience it. It's really hard to determine the quality of the UX without extensive testing or being a user yourself.
Research uncovered problems that were different from what we initially hypothesized. Insights uncovered during user interviews really shaped our design journey.
Next Steps
Iterative Design
Based on user feedback, iterate on the design and functionality of the app.
Data Analysis
Analyze user behavior data to identify areas for improvement and optimize the user experience.Functionality
Design pop-up notifications to keep users updated about threats in real time.Security
Prioritize security measures to protect user data and prevent unauthorized access.