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FEATURED PROJECT / 2026
Heira
A safety-focused mobile experience designed to help people feel more supported while moving through public spaces.
THE PROJECT
Designing for reassurance.
How can a digital product help people feel safer without constantly reminding them that something could go wrong?
Heira started as my bachelor project around perceived safety in public spaces. The goal was to create an experience that gives users reassurance and control without making the experience itself feel alarming.
The project began as group research and later became individual. From the mid-fidelity phase onwards, I continued Heira independently through UX/UI design, testing and development.
01 / RESEARCH
Understanding when people feel unsafe.
entries
interviews
mid-fi testing
user tests
Research before interface.
We explored when and why people feel uncomfortable in public spaces through diary studies, expert interviews and user testing.
The research showed that perceived safety depends on context. Things such as lighting, unfamiliar environments and nearby groups could influence how comfortable someone felt.
02 / DESIGN
From research to interface.
01
Designing the first solution
Research insights were translated into user flows, wireframes and eventually a mid-fidelity prototype.
The first individual version of Heira looked quite different from the final interface. Testing made it clear that several flows could be simplified and important actions needed to be easier to discover.
02
Test. Learn. Redesign.
Instead of continuing with my first solution, I revisited the structure and redesigned several parts of the app.
I then tested the high-fidelity prototype again and used the feedback to improve hierarchy, consistency and usability.
03 / THE SOLUTION
One experience. Multiple ways to feel supported.
Safety-focused routes
Route options designed around contextual information that can help users make more informed choices.
Live location
Users can share their live location with emergency contacts when they want additional reassurance.
Safespaces
Discover places that can offer a point of support while travelling through public spaces.
Community
Community features allow people to connect around destinations, events and shared journeys.
04 / DEVELOPMENT
Taking Heira beyond the prototype.
I didn't want Heira to end as just another Figma prototype.
After completing the main UX/UI design, I started translating Heira into a real mobile application using React Native and Expo.
The application is still in development, but its navigation, structure and several core functionalities are already working.
Try Heira ↗
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REFLECTION
“The best solution isn't always the first one.”
Heira taught me not to become too attached to my first design. Research and user testing made me question decisions that initially seemed logical and showed me where the experience could be improved.
It also allowed me to work through the complete product process — from research and UX/UI design to testing and development.