Tinkl

An app that is designed to help gender nonconforming and transgender people find safe, inclusive restrooms near them at any time, without the fear of harassment or discrimination. It aims to provide a reliable, accessible solution for individuals seeking safe spaces in public facilities.

The goal of this project was to collaboratively identify areas for improvement within the app. As a team, we aimed to evaluate its current features and functionality to enhance the user experience and better meet the needs of gender nonconforming and transgender individuals seeking safe restroom options.

Team: 4 designers

Role User Researcher /Note Taker/Prototype

Timeline Duration 5 Days

Methods Heuristic Analysis Deliverables: High fidelity Wireframes

Prototyping

Problem

Many transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals face significant safety concerns when using public restrooms due to the fear of harassment, assault, or discrimination. Without prior knowledge of the environment or culture of a given establishment, many individuals feel uncomfortable using any bathroom, increasing their anxiety and sense of vulnerability in public spaces.

Results

Key Findings:

  • The app was already in development before I began collaborating with a group of UX designers to enhance its usability.

  • The application is designed to help individuals find restrooms that cater to their specific needs, with a focus on accessibility for transgender and gender-nonconforming people.

  • Tailored to support minority demographics, the app aims to provide a reliable resource for finding safe, inclusive bathrooms, helping users feel more secure and confident when using public facilities.

Process:

Initial Researcher

This project was created by a recent Fullstack graduate from Prime Digital Academy, who sought improvements for their gender-nonconforming bathroom app from the perspective of UX designers.

As a team, we employed the think-aloud protocol and heuristic evaluation methods to assess and enhance the app’s existing screens, focusing on improving usability and ensuring a more user-friendly experience.

Usability Testing

To gain a deeper understanding of the app’s usability, we conducted an interview with a transgender individual who was familiar with the app. This interview provided valuable insights into the key aspects and benefits of the application, helping us understand what features are most important and how the app can best support users in finding safe, inclusive restrooms.

Usability Testing Tasks

Participants were asked to complete five tasks using the think-aloud protocol, allowing us to observe their thought process as they interacted with the app:

  1. Find a bathroom near a specific location.

  2. View nearby bathrooms either as a list or on a map.

  3. View detailed information about a selected bathroom.

  4. Mark a bathroom they’ve used as "visited."

  5. Provide feedback on the overall ease of use and clarity of the app’s features.

Solutions:

High-Fidelity Screens

These are the high-fidelity screens I developed after conducting user interviews and gathering feedback on the key features that needed to be included. The updates were designed to enhance usability and better meet the needs of users, ensuring the app provides a more intuitive and efficient experience for finding safe, accessible restrooms.

Walkthrough Example:

In this video, Oscar uses the Tinkl app to find a gender-neutral bathroom nearby. Here’s how the process works:

  1. Login: Oscar logs into the app.

  2. Find Bathroom: He presses the "Find Bathroom" button at the top of the screen to search for available restrooms in his area.

  3. Use the Bathroom: After using the bathroom, Oscar clicks the "I Pee'd Here" button to mark the location as used.

You can explore the full prototype through the following link: [Prototype Link]

Recommendations:

  1. Add a Donation Option: Include a donation feature either at the top of the home screen or on the final screen. This would allow users to easily contribute to the app's ongoing development and maintenance, helping ensure its sustainability.

  2. Save Safe Locations: Introduce a "Save" option on the last screen, enabling users to bookmark restrooms they’ve visited and found safe. This would make it easier for users to quickly access trusted locations in the future, enhancing the app's convenience and reliability.

What I Learned:

There is a significant need for inclusive, accessible bathrooms in this city. Participants expressed how a mobile app dedicated to this purpose could greatly reduce the risks of violence and harassment. It was incredibly rewarding to be part of a team focused on improving the lives of others by enhancing the design and functionality of this app, making it more user-friendly and supportive for those who need it most.