In Spring of 2023, I took the course "Mobile Apps: Design/Prototype", a foundational course that walked through the creative process of identifying a problem, conducting research, and designing and prototyping a mobile application of our choice.
The purpose of Wheelmate is to give the disabled community a space to embrace who they are by locating the most accessible bathrooms and finding a community with others who share the same lifestyle.
Duration: January-May 2023
Tools used: Figma
• Problem Overview
Physically disabled individuals face daily challenges when it comes to clean and accessible bathrooms, and
it is difficult to find a community of people to freely share their struggles and relate to each other.
it is difficult to find a community of people to freely share their struggles and relate to each other.
How might we create an inclusive and supportive digital platform that addresses the daily
challenges physically disabled users face in accessing clean and accessible bathrooms?
challenges physically disabled users face in accessing clean and accessible bathrooms?
• Solution
Have key information about each bathroom
• Location, address, and multiple, scrollable images of the
bathroom is available
bathroom is available
• Shows distance from current location via wheelchair
• Detailed list of equipment that may be beneficial to the individual
Be able to track your information
• Manage important information, like trips, to-do lists, and goals, at one glance
• Each note is customizable
• Keep every note in one space
• Keep every note in one space
Become a part of a safe space + community
• Like-minded individuals who may struggle with the same thing can
freely be themselves
freely be themselves
• Close-knit community space where questions, encouragement, and
advice can be shared
advice can be shared
• Community space, articles, and chats are available as resources
• Research and Ideation
My initial idea was to create a general app to help people find clean bathrooms in the area they were staying in. I understand the challenge of being in a new or even familiar place and not knowing where you can find clean bathrooms. I utilized a SWOT analysis to help narrow down my ideas and define goals for Wheelmate.
Research began with an overview of similar mobile applications, like Flush, Toilet Finder, and Poop Map.
While these apps were helpful (and humorous) for finding bathrooms nearby, they were missing something.
What about individuals who depend on wheelchair accessibility? What about those who need specific facilities, such as wide doorways, sensor lights, and grab bars?
While these apps were helpful (and humorous) for finding bathrooms nearby, they were missing something.
What about individuals who depend on wheelchair accessibility? What about those who need specific facilities, such as wide doorways, sensor lights, and grab bars?
These questions laid the foundation for the development of Wheelmate, recognizing the significance of not just finding any restroom but one that is tailored to physically disabled individuals. Wheelmate is more than just a restroom locator; it is a solution to ensure that accessibility is not merely for convenience but a fundamental right for everyone.
• User Types
To further narrow down my target audience for Wheelmate, I defined my user types as:
1. Physically disabled users
2. Friends and family of those who are physically disabled
3. Caregivers
These three user types would most likely find Wheelmate beneficial due to personal relevance, an enhanced understanding of the challenges faced by physically disabled individuals, and practical assistance. Defining these user types allowed this app to go a specific route, assisting a specific audience rather than a general audience.
• User Interview and Affinity Mapping
I decided to interview Amanda, a Temple University undergraduate who has used a wheelchair since she was young due to an amputation. She shared with me the struggles in her daily life of being physically disabled, and I focused on these three main questions:
1. In navigating the city, what specific challenges have you encountered regarding accessibility?
2. How has your experience been with using public restrooms? How have you adapted your bathroom at home to accommodate your mobility needs?
3. What is your favorite app at the moment, and why?
Findings:
• It is inconvenient to navigate around the city of Philadelphia, as sidewalks, streets, and buildings have limited accessibility.
• Many public restrooms in Philadelphia are not handicap-accessible; therefore, it takes extra work to make sure she can get through her day without a doubt in mind.
• There is a lack of a safe space for disabled individuals to share what is on their minds.
• Low-fidelity Wireframes
To get an idea of what Wheelmate may look like, I started with the basic wireframes for each screen. My goal is to make sure the user can easily flow and navigate through the app to achieve their goal of finding clean and accessible bathrooms.
• Final Prototype
