Dwelas is an innovative mobile application designed to combat increasing levels of insecurity, accidents, and emergencies in Nigeria. The name is derived from the word 'Dwell', emphasizing its focus on creating safer living spaces. Dwelas leverages the power of community to provide real-time updates about potentially threatening events in users' vicinities, allowing them to take action to avoid or intervene in situations effectively.

Dwelas (Safety App Startup)

March 2021 - April 2021

As the Lead Product Designer and Team Lead for Dwelas, I spearheaded the design process, working alongside two Visual Designers, Dipo Apelehin and Christopher Emoghor. My responsibilities included:

• Client Communication: Served as the primary point of contact, gathering project requirements and translating them into deliverables.
• UX Research: Conducted comprehensive user research and market validation.
• UI Design: Created the majority of high-fidelity UI designs.
• Team Leadership: Established the design direction and delegated tasks to team members.
• Quality Assurance: Oversaw the creation of UI elements, components, and high-fidelity designs for all screens.

Nigeria, like many rapidly developing countries, has been experiencing a significant increase in insecurity. This has led to growing concerns among citizens about their safety. With law enforcement agencies often stretched thin, there's a pressing need for individuals to take proactive measures to protect themselves and their communities.

Key challenges included:

• Rising crime rates and safety concerns in urban and suburban areas
• Limited capacity of law enforcement to respond effectively to all emergencies
• Instances of individuals being unlawfully stopped by impersonators of law enforcement
• Lack of a centralized, real-time system for community safety alerts

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The Dwelas Solution

Dwelas is designed as a community-powered platform that enables users to:

1. Call for help in times of distress
2. Act as whistleblowers for brewing troubles or unrest
3. Report incidents in real-time
4. Raise awareness about potential dangers
5. Check on the safety of friends and family
6. Create and respond to emergency alerts

By fostering a network of vigilant community members, Dwelas aims to prevent local areas from descending into high-crime zones, promoting a "community watch" approach for the digital age.

We conducted in-depth user research to ensure our product aligned with the needs of our target audience. Our methods included:

1. In-person interviews with 10 young adults (6 men, 4 women) aged 18-30
2. Competitive analysis of similar safety and community apps
3. Review of user feedback on existing solutions

Key Interview Questions

1. What is your typical day like in your city?
2. Have you experienced any recent security risks in your area?
3. How often do you encounter incidents during your daily commute?
4. Do you have an emergency contact system set up?
5. How do you keep in touch with friends?
6. Would you be open to receiving notifications about friends' safety or local high-risk situations?

Key Insights

1. Security Concerns:
   • Many participants had experienced or witnessed security risks in their areas.
   • There was a strong desire for a way to quickly alert others or get help in emergencies.
2. Community Engagement:
   • Users were generally willing to receive and share information about safety risks in their area.
   • There was interest in features that would allow checking on friends' safety.
3. Emergency Preparedness:
   • Many users lacked a formal emergency contact system.
   • There was a need for quick and easy ways to call for help or report incidents.
4. App Features:
   • Users expressed interest in features like live broadcasting, friend location tracking, and incident reporting.
   • There was a desire for an app that could function effectively in Nigeria, unlike some existing solutions limited to other countries.
5. Notification Management:
   • While users wanted to stay informed, there were concerns about potentially overwhelming notifications.

Competitive Analysis

We analyzed several applications with features similar to our planned functionality for Dwelas:

1. Citizen (USA-only)
2. Nextdoor
3. Zello
4. Noonlight

Key findings:

• Most existing solutions were region-specific
• Users appreciated real-time alerts but often felt overwhelmed by the volume
• Community engagement features were highly valued
• Privacy concerns were a significant factor in app adoption

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User Persona & Emphaty Map

Based on our research, we developed a primary user persona to guide our design decisions:

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Using the "How Might We" (HMW) technique, we brainstormed potential solutions:

1. HMW make reporting incidents quick and effortless?
2. HMW ensure users feel safe without feeling constantly alarmed?
3. HMW leverage community knowledge to enhance safety?
4. HMW integrate with existing emergency services?
5. HMW verify the authenticity of reported incidents?

Based on the research findings, the following key considerations informed the information architecture and initial design concepts:

• Quick Incident Reporting: Design an easily accessible button for reporting incidents or calling for emergency help.
• Real-Time Feed: Create a feed showing recent incidents and updates in the user's area.
• Friend Safety Check: Implement a feature allowing users to check on and share their safety status with friends.
• Map View: Design a map interface showing incident locations and friend locations (with appropriate privacy controls).
• Emergency Contacts: Create a system for users to set up and quickly contact emergency numbers.
• Verification System: Implement a feature to help users verify the authenticity of law enforcement officers.
• Community Engagement: Design features encouraging users to share safety tips and support their community.
• Notification Settings: Create detailed notification settings to prevent information overload.

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Here is a Prototype you can click through:

We conducted usability testing with 5 participants (4 men, 1 woman) aged 20-30. Each session lasted 15 minutes and was recorded with user consent.

Key Findings

1. Users found the incident reporting process intuitive and quick
2. The map interface was well-received, but some users requested more filtering options
3. The friend safety check-in feature was highly appreciated
4. Some users expressed concern about potential notification overload

Improvements Based on Feedback

1. Added a tutorial for the emergency alert long-press feature
2. Implemented more granular notification settings
3. Enhanced map filtering options for different types of incidents
4. Introduced a "quiet hours" feature for non-critical alerts

Final Outcome

The final Dwelas app design incorporates all the learnings from our research and testing phases. Key features include:

1. Quick incident reporting with categorization
2. Real-time incident map with filtering options
3. Friend safety check-in system
4. Customizable alert settings with "quiet hours"
5. Emergency services integration
6. Community forum for non-urgent safety discussions

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The Dwelas app project demonstrates the power of user-centered design in creating a solution to address real-world safety concerns in Nigeria. By prioritizing user needs, conducting thorough research, and iterating based on user feedback, we developed an intuitive interface that empowers users to enhance their personal and community safety.

Key achievements include:

• A streamlined incident reporting system
• Real-time safety updates for local areas
• Community engagement features to promote collective safety efforts
• User-friendly emergency alert system
• Balanced notification system to keep users informed without overwhelming them

As Dwelas moves towards launch, continued user testing and refinement will be crucial to ensure its effectiveness in addressing safety concerns across Nigeria. This project underscores the importance of understanding local context and user needs when designing solutions for specific regional challenges.

Future considerations include partnering with local law enforcement agencies, expanding the verification system for official responders, and developing AI-powered risk assessment features to help predict and prevent potential incidents.