．Date: Nov 2025
．Role: UX Designer
The Challenge of Modern Rescue
While many disaster response systems exist today, we still face recurring issues: delays in dispatch, inappropriate resource allocation, and calls for help going unanswered.
To identify the gaps in current solutions, I conducted a competitive audit of two prominent systems: Ushahidi and Facebook Crisis Response.
How Might We bridge the gap between urgent requests and local aid, creating a system that is faster than official dispatch but more structured and private than social media?
From Research to Insights
Centralized verification creates unavoidable delays. To find a decentralized solution that empowers immediate action, I analyzed historical disaster data and uncovered three critical realities:
These findings lead to one conclusion: Mutual Assistance of Neighbors is Essential. This insight refined the core challenge:
How Might We instantly connect victims with nearby neighbors, and empower survivors to switch roles and help others once safe?
Finally, I defined the goal statement for WeHere:
A hyper-local rescue network that connects victims with neighbors instantly—functioning like an Uber for disaster relief.
The core strategy is to lower the psychological and technical entry barriers for both victims and volunteers.
Structuring the User Flow
To align with WeHere's core strategy, I defined three key Personas representing the distinct roles in a rescue scenario:
Guided by these personas and their specific contexts, I constructed the comprehensive User Flow. The diagram below details the interaction between roles, the data exchange, and the underlying system logic.
Key Considerations of the Flow
Victim: User-Centric Flow
Volunteer: Edge Cases
The Rescue Journey Rarely Follows the "Happy Path".
Although the rescue execution is decentralized, synchronizing on-ground data back to the system is critical.
When volunteers report obstacles (e.g., blocked roads), they act as Live Sensors—allowing the commander to update the global map and re-route resources instantly.
System: Human-AI Collaboration
Design Execution
Homepage: Intuitive Entry Point
Through Crazy 8s brainstorming, I distilled the homepage design down to three visual pillars:
Hands, Action Buttons, and Directional Flow.
This combination integrates three strategic UX considerations:
High Affordance & Self-Declaration:
Huge buttons allow for intuitive interaction.
The explicit self-declaration text helps both roles confirm their status immediately.Accessibility via Sliding:
The full-width sliding mechanism creates a massive touch target.
This is critical for injured or panicked users who may be operating the phone with a single hand.Directional Metaphor:
The visuals dictate the action:
A hand reaching Down invites users to "Help", while a hand reaching Up signals a "Need" for rescue.
Design Trade-offs
Validating safety status upfront Reduces Friction.
It ensures users don't invest effort in completing a profile if they are currently ineligible for deployment.
In a rescue scenario, getting there matters most. I redesigned the layout to prioritize the Navigation view, ensuring the Route is the first thing users see.
Mission details are accessible but secondary. Using Gestalt Principles, I organized the UI so that "Where to go" and "What to do" are visually distinct but logically connected.
By replacing dry mission data with a human-centric Group Photo, the design offers a powerful sense of closure. This visual contrast sublimates the experience into a "Hero's Journey," validating the volunteer's effort.
Ultimately, this feature supports WeHere's deeper goal:
Empowering Survivors to Heal Through Altruism and Break Free from Guilt.
Design System
Aref Ruqua Ink
A friendly serif with a soft, handwritten touch.
Selected for Emotive Headings and Self-Declaration icons to establish a comforting, human tone.
A rounded sans-serif with a proportionate structure.
Applied to Body Text and UI Details to ensure high legibility while maintaining warmth and approachability.
In chaotic rescue environments, accidental triggers are a constant risk. The Sliding Bar requires a deliberate gesture, acting as a Physical Safety Lock.
It ensures that Critical and Irreversible Decisions are only sent when the user acts with full intent.
A calming Green Palette reduces tension in high-stress situations for both roles.
Victims start in Dark Mode—a strategic choice to save OLED battery life while waiting. As the rescue progresses, the screen brightens to Grass Green, acting as a beacon of hope.
Volunteers start in Light Mode for clarity. However, when the mission succeeds, their screen also turns to Grass Green. This transition visually Bridges the Connection between the rescuer and the survivor in a shared moment of safety.
Product Demos
Interactive Hi-Fidelity Prototype (App)
System Dashboard Mockup (Website)
From "I" to "Everywhere"
This project began with a core challenge:
How might we bridge the gap between a cry for help and a helping hand?
Through the design process, I realized the answer wasn't just about speed, but about Designing Trust. I moved beyond a simple "Uber for Rescue" by introducing intentional friction—like the Match Code—to build a secure infrastructure. By empowering "Victims" to evolve into "Volunteers," I aimed to transform a scattered group of survivors into a Resilient, Self-healing Ecosystem.
While this framework is grounded in historical data, I humbly acknowledge that the true test lies in the unpredictable reality of a crisis. Yet, the vision behind WeHere stands firm: technology’s role is to awaken the resilience already present in our communities. It is a promise that no one has to wait alone in the dark.
Because We're Here, Hope is Everywhere.
