Project: App Redesign & Development
Role: Lead UI/UX Designer
SafeCycle is a mobile app designed to help urban cyclists ride more safely by offering real-time tracking, hazard alerts, and cycling-friendly routes. I first built this during my second semester. It was our first time creating something meant to solve a real-world problem.
I took on both the design and development side of the project, from branding and UI to coding and integrating APIs. It was a big step, and I learned a lot — especially after going back and realizing how much more it could do.
When we first created SafeCycle, we wanted to help cyclists, but we didn’t really know what they needed. So we assumed. The features we came up with sounded helpful but weren’t grounded in real research. In the end, the app felt like a slightly safer version of Google Maps: generic design, vague features, and not actually tailored to cyclists.
Once I looked at it with fresh eyes, I knew I could do better — and that meant starting with real insights from real cyclists.
I revisited the project with a new mindset. One focused on listening, learning, and designing for actual needs:
SafeCycle taught me a lot about what it really means to design for people — not just for the sake of building an app. When we first made it, we jumped straight into features we thought sounded useful. But looking back, I realized we had missed the mark.
Revisiting the project helped me understand how important it is to listen, research, and challenge your own assumptions. It also showed me how much a product can change when you actually focus on the real needs of a community. I didn’t just redesign the app — I rethought how I approach design altogether.