Problem
Students who travel around campus late at night often feel unsafe. Fewer buses, long SafeRide waits and dark walks make getting home stressful, and transportation information is scattered across different apps.
WorkUX Design
GoSafe
GoSafe is a nighttime safety and transportation app that helps Iowa State students plan their way home and feel confident on the journey, especially when they travel alone or don’t have a car.
Solution
GoSafe brings every travel option into one place, plans the best route, and quietly checks in when something seems off. With one tap, students can tell their emergency contact they’re safe or ask for help.
User Research
I interviewed three Iowa State students about how they get around campus at night, when they choose buses, SafeRide, cars or friends, and what makes a trip feel safe or unsafe.
“I’m usually pretty scared to walk around campus at night.”
ISU STUDENT
Feeling safe comes first.
Students would rather wait longer or change plans than walk alone.
One trip, many apps.
They jump between MyState, Apple Maps and SafeRide to piece together a trip.
Long waits feel longer at night.
Waiting alone raises anxiety, especially when plans are uncertain.
Meet Maya
Maya is a 20-year-old full-time student with evening classes. She uses SafeRide and wants to get home before midnight, avoiding dark or quiet areas whenever she can.
Her story helped keep the design grounded in the real decisions students make when traveling at night.
KEY INSIGHT
Students are willing to wait longer, change plans or call someone they trust just to avoid walking alone. Feeling safe matters more than getting there quickly.
How might we help ISU students plan nighttime transportation without the frustration, and feel less uncomfortable during the journey?
Designing for safer journeys
Behavior design helped turn the research into small, timely moments of support throughout a trip.
Make choices easier.
See every travel option in one place, with a recommended journey ready to go.
Check in at the right moment.
A gentle “Are you safe?” prompt appears when the app notices a long stop.
Make the next trip better.
Rate and review each journey to help improve future recommendations.
From sketches to a tested flow
I started with paper sketches, tested the layouts, then combined the clearest ideas into a low-fidelity prototype. Testing showed that navigation, visible emergency contacts and working buttons mattered most.
The user flow
A calm visual language
I chose a dark, calm palette that’s easy on the eyes at night. Deep navy sets a quiet base, blue guides each action, green confirms safety, and red is saved for moments that need help.
Night
#0B1220
#0B1220
Surface
#151F32
#151F32
Action
#3B82F6
#3B82F6
Safe
#3BA776
#3BA776
Sky
#60A5FA
#60A5FA
Alert
#F59E0B
#F59E0B
Help
#EF4444
#EF4444
Small details, safer choices
Choose a way to travel
Travel options appear as simple cards, making it easier to compare and decide.
Are you safe?
Large, clear “I’m Safe” and “I Need Help” actions are easy to reach.
Safety setup
Students can choose a saved emergency contact during setup.
The GoSafe experience
From choosing a route to letting someone know you made it, each screen keeps the next step clear.
What I learned
The best solution isn’t always the fastest one.
Students cared more about feeling safe than getting home quickly, so I designed for that feeling first. Testing at every stage, from paper to high fidelity, showed me how small changes like bigger buttons, clearer navigation and fewer choices matter most in stressful moments.
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