Modernizing Neighborhood Watch: A Digital Approach

In today's connected world, the sense of community and safety within neighborhoods often feels fragmented. This case study delves into how we tackled this challenge by developing the Digital Neighborhood Watch® app.

Overview

The Digital Neighborhood Watch® app was conceived to address the growing concerns of neighborhood safety and community disconnection. By integrating market-standard wearable technology, smoke detectors, and home alarms, the app provides real-time alerts and fosters a sense of unity among neighbors.

My role

As the lead designer on the project, I guided the design process through several key stages, including insight work, ideation, prototype design, and quality control. I led the user research phase to gather insights and identify the core issues faced by community members. Using these insights, I designed a user-friendly interface that enhances user engagement and ensures seamless navigation.

Profiling Surveys & Interviews

The user research phase involved profiling residents in major urban areas in Sweden, aged 23 and above, through both interviews and surveys. We conducted six in-depth interviews and gathered data from 112 survey respondents to understand their sense of community, primary safety concerns, and interest in increasing neighborhood security.

This research revealed key insights into user behaviors, pain points, and needs, which informed the design and functionality of the Digital Neighborhood Watch® app.

Visual Design

The visual design system focused on clarity and accessibility. The design ensured that emergency alerts are easily noticeable. The app had to be immediately understandable in an emergency, while feeling inviting to explore and connect with neighbors.

Feature: Emergency

An Emergency in Digital Neighborhood Watch® is a temporary app state in which neighbors and relatives can coordinate with heightened focus during a crisis. An Emergency can be a fire, an accident, a natural disaster, a home break-in or a medical problem.

The Emergency feature can be triggered automatically from a house alarm or smoke detector, while simultaneously alerting authorities, or manually via connected wearable technology. In case of an emergency, an alert is immediately sent to the Digital Neighborhood Watch® app of all neighbors in the Local Group.

The screen displays the name and photo of the neighbor in need. Upon opting to assist, the user is directed to a screen showing the real-time status of the emergency, including the elapsed time since the alert was signaled. A map indicates the location of the individual in need, and the user can choose to navigate to the individual or contact relatives and other neighbors for coordinated assistance. A notification bar confirms that authorities is on the way.

Once the situation is resolved, a "Safe" status is displayed. The community chat allows neighbors to coordinate around the incident and share important information.

Marketing campaign & landing page

During the launch phase of the Digital Neighborhood Watch® project, we implemented a campaign that included targeted advertisements and a dedicated landing page. The ads were designed to highlight the app's key features, such as enhanced neighborhood safety and community connectivity, using engaging visuals and relatable scenarios.

The landing page served as the central hub, providing information about the service and its app. This campaign aimed to maximize awareness, drive user engagement, and encourage app adoption within communities.