V-MAT App Case Study
UX/UI Design
Methods: User Interviews/Surveys, User, Wireframing, Prototyping
Tools: Figma, Google Docs, Google Slides
Overview
First things first!
As auto burglary rates rise in cities, young adults often feel uneasy leaving their cars unattended in high-risk areas. This app is tailored to their needs, providing real-time alerts, safe parking suggestions, and incident reporting for added confidence when they’re not in their car.
Challenge
With safety as a priority.
Developing a digital safety application that helps young adults protect their vehicles in high-risk areas by offering real-time alerts, safe parking recommendations, and incident reporting. This solution empowers users with proactive security insights, ensuring peace of mind when their cars are unattended.
Problem Statements
Breaking Down the Problem.
"With safety as a priority, young adults need a reliable way to protect their vehicles in high-risk areas. However, existing parking solutions do not provide real-time security insights, leaving drivers unaware of potential threats and vulnerable to auto burglary."
Who is affected? → Young adults in urban areas
What is the issue? → Rising auto burglary rates and lack of security information
Why does it matter? → Drivers feel uneasy and lack the tools to make informed parking decisions
What’s missing? → Real-time alerts, safe parking recommendations, and incident reporting
Research
Exploring User Perceptions and Data-Driven Insights
Qualitative Questions
What’s the driver’s initial reaction and response to auto burglary?
What do they think when parking their car? Do they worry about robbers?
How do auto burglary offenders rationalize their actions, and what factors contribute to their decision-making process?
How do auto burglary incidents affect the sense of safety and security in a community?
What do they think when parking their car? Do they worry about robbers?
How do auto burglary offenders rationalize their actions, and what factors contribute to their decision-making process?
How do auto burglary incidents affect the sense of safety and security in a community?
Quantitative Questions
What are the most common types of cars being broken into?
What are the most common times and places where car break-ins happen?
What is the most common method of breaking into cars?
What is the effectiveness of different security measures in preventing auto burglaries, such as car alarms, steering wheel locks, and GPS tracking devices?
What are the most common types of cars being broken into?
What are the most common times and places where car break-ins happen?
What is the most common method of breaking into cars?
What is the effectiveness of different security measures in preventing auto burglaries, such as car alarms, steering wheel locks, and GPS tracking devices?
User Insights
User Stories: Insights Through Key Quotes
Multiple Break-Ins at Once
“We looked around to see if other cars were broken into, and other cars got broken into. We saw many windows broken and glass everywhere.” – Connie, 4th-year Neurobiology student
“We looked around to see if other cars were broken into, and other cars got broken into. We saw many windows broken and glass everywhere.” – Connie, 4th-year Neurobiology student
Being Aware of Unsafe Areas
“If I know that a place is sketchy, I would rather not go. Not because I'm scared my car would be broken into. But if it's unsafe, and I don't want to get robbed or something.” – Ben, 22-year-old Computer Science student
“If I know that a place is sketchy, I would rather not go. Not because I'm scared my car would be broken into. But if it's unsafe, and I don't want to get robbed or something.” – Ben, 22-year-old Computer Science student
Past Experiences
“I had my entire school backpack stolen with my laptop, notes, wallet, etc. Ever since then, I make sure I lock my car at least 3 times.” – Mark, 4th-year Marketing student
“I had my entire school backpack stolen with my laptop, notes, wallet, etc. Ever since then, I make sure I lock my car at least 3 times.” – Mark, 4th-year Marketing student
Trauma from Break-Ins
“Even though it wasn’t my car, the experience was scary enough that parking becomes something I get worried about, especially in sketchy places.” – Anderson, 4th-year Psychology student
“Even though it wasn’t my car, the experience was scary enough that parking becomes something I get worried about, especially in sketchy places.” – Anderson, 4th-year Psychology student
The quotes show how car break-ins cause fear and worry, not just about losing items but about safety in general. People take extra precautions, like locking their cars multiple times or avoiding certain areas. Solutions should focus on reducing anxiety and enhancing personal safety, addressing both the emotional consequences and the physical protection of vehicles.
The Discovery Presentation communicates our research and insights on vehicle break-ins, focusing on how this modern danger affects car owners in high-crime areas. It helped us define the problem, understand user behaviors, and explore how technology could offer design solutions. The presentation also allowed us to identify opportunities for improving safety and set the foundation for developing effective design interventions.
Solutions
Lock in safety, unlock comfort.
Discover the ultimate car safety app designed to keep you and your vehicle secure. Get real-time alerts, track your car’s location, find the safest parking spots, and access essential security features—all in one place. Stay protected and drive with confidence, knowing your safety is always a priority.
StoryBoards
These concepts provide tools to reduce this anxiety by offering real-time crime data, empowering community reporting, and enabling automatic monitoring of suspicious activity. Together, they aim to help drivers make informed decisions, feel more secure, and take action when needed, ultimately making parking in high-risk areas safer and more manageable.
App feature Concept Proposal
Product Map
Created a product map that illustrates the elements that make up the system of your proposed concept.
Visual Design Inspiration
We wanted to ensure the design was clean and friendly, as it creates a calming and approachable feel. By incorporating simple maps and icons, we crafted a user interface that is both welcoming and easy to navigate, aligning with our goal of providing safety and peace of mind.
Wireframes
Using wireframes to plan the layout and structure of the user interface (UI) before adding design details, colors, or features. They help us focus on where key elements like buttons and menus go, ensuring the user experience works well before refining the design.
Thumbnails
Thumbnails represent the key screens of the app this helps us visualize and communicate the overall design direction for the app, so we are able to compare and evaluate various designs.
Style Variations
Created multiple style variations to explore different design approaches and ensure we selected the one that best meets the needs of the users while aligning with the overall vision for the application.
Final Design
Style Guide
Rearview Mirror Camera
V-MAT's Rear View Mirror Camera is a wide-view mirror with a hidden camera designed to enhance security by providing a broader view of the surroundings while maintaining a discreet appearance. The hidden camera stores video recordings through the V-MAT app, allowing users to access footage remotely. The system is motion-censored, the camera activates when it detects movement, ensuring it captures any suspicious activity without the need for constant monitoring. This setup combines convenience, security, and privacy to help users stay informed and protect their property.
FINAL Design Presentaion
Interactive Prototype