Bus Bella: Safety Shelter

Overview

Bus Bella is the bus stop of the future - and what we need in the present. It is a smart bus shelter equipped with physical and digital features to create a safe and positive travel experience. My team and I developed this through Blender, a 3D modelling software to create the most realistic representation of how it would look in real-life setting.

My Role

3D design, research (Team of 3)

Timeline

February - March 2022

Achievements

Best 3D Modelling result in the cohort!

Problem Area

Problem Area

In the status quo, Sydney bus stops are far from 'safety'.

Every time we wait for the bus late at night, we feel anxious and scared because..

It's dim

It wasn’t even completely dark yet in the first photo. The last photo was taken with the iPhone night mode, which automatically brightens the photo. 

It's dim

It wasn’t even completely dark yet in the first photo. The last photo was taken with the iPhone night mode, which automatically brightens the photo. 

Bus stop sign is ellegible

Because of such poor lighting in bus stops, bus passengers often don't know where to get off, since there's no stop announcements in Sydney.

Bus stop sign is ellegible

Because of such poor lighting in bus stops, bus passengers often don't know where to get off, since there's no stop announcements in Sydney.

It's mostly empty

How could passengers seek help if someone approaches them in the dark? The bus stops are mostly empty late at night, yet there's no safety measures.

It's mostly empty

How could passengers seek help if someone approaches them in the dark? The bus stops are mostly empty late at night, yet there's no safety measures.

Research Insights

By conducting surveys with 60 participants who reside in Sydney, we found out that..

3.5x

Females feel 3.5x more unsafe than males at the bus stop.

3.5x

Females feel 3.5x more unsafe than males at the bus stop.

17%

Females feel safe waiting at the bus stop late at night.

17%

Females feel safe waiting at the bus stop late at night.

60%

Males feel safe when waiting at the bus stop late at night

60%

Males feel safe when waiting at the bus stop late at night

Persona development

Then, we created a persona to better understand the users and the problems they face.

Ideation

Ideation

Benchmarking Design Precedents

We started to do more research into the design precedents we have seen in our everyday lives. We found out that the following technologies in which we could incorporate are available:

Prototype

Prototype

Safety Shelter

To address the frustrations and the needs of our persona, Aisha, we created the Safety Shelter. We used Figma to develop the interfaces of the digital components of the shelter, and used Blender to develop the 3D bus shelter environment.

The Safety Shelter is a smart bus shelter equipped with physical and digital features to create a safe and positive travel experience.

Bright bus stop sign

Bright and lit up bus stop sign name, that allows bus passengers to easily know when to get off.

Bright bus stop sign

Bright and lit up bus stop sign name, that allows bus passengers to easily know when to get off.

Emergency button

Emergency buttons connects to 24/7 helpline video call and auto records the incident when it's pressed.

Emergency button

Emergency buttons connects to 24/7 helpline video call and auto records the incident when it's pressed.

Wireless charging & announcements

In-built speaker announce systems that lets users know when the bus is soon to arrive.

Wireless charging & announcements

In-built speaker announce systems that lets users know when the bus is soon to arrive.

Bus Bella (AI Assistant)

To further help users feel safe, we created Bus Bella: a digital companion on a late night out. She is a virtual assistant found in every Safety Shelter in Sydney. Her purpose is to make sure you’re comfortable at the bus stop and getting home. 

1) Bus Schedule Screen

Bus Bella informs you a safety alert, when the bus is arriving, and the capacity. Aisha feels reassured knowing that her bus arrives in 4 minutes.

1) Bus Schedule Screen

Bus Bella informs you a safety alert, when the bus is arriving, and the capacity. Aisha feels reassured knowing that her bus arrives in 4 minutes.

2) AI Chat Screen

Chat with Bus Bella AI or a Bus Buddy, another person at a nearby bus stop. Users can ask specific questions such as “Which bus goes to USYD?”

2) AI Chat Screen

Chat with Bus Bella AI or a Bus Buddy, another person at a nearby bus stop. Users can ask specific questions such as “Which bus goes to USYD?”

3) Games Screen

Aisha feel vulnerable alone at the bust stop, and plays Sudoku to prevent her from feeling scared. She stays alert, as the live tracker at the bottom and the speaker system announce helps her track bus arrival. 

3) Games Screen

Aisha feel vulnerable alone at the bust stop, and plays Sudoku to prevent her from feeling scared. She stays alert, as the live tracker at the bottom and the speaker system announce helps her track bus arrival. 

4) Emergency

Aisha also feels secure seeing the emergency buttons around the shelter and discreetly underneath the seats. She can press and hold, or say “Bus Bella, I need help” to connect to a 24/7 helpline. The two-way video call immediately records the situation. 

4) Emergency

Aisha also feels secure seeing the emergency buttons around the shelter and discreetly underneath the seats. She can press and hold, or say “Bus Bella, I need help” to connect to a 24/7 helpline. The two-way video call immediately records the situation. 

Accessibility

Safety Shelter is for everyone. The inclusive design of the accessibility function allows every user of Safety Shelter to feel welcomed.

Blindness and Low-vision

  • Resizable sans serif font

  • Zoom in function

  • Voice control option

  • Braille on emergency button

Blindness and Low-vision

  • Resizable sans serif font

  • Zoom in function

  • Voice control option

  • Braille on emergency button

Physical disabilities

  • Wheelchair and pram parking area

  • Leaning seats

  • Auto sliding doors

  • No steps to enter the shelter

Physical disabilities

  • Wheelchair and pram parking area

  • Leaning seats

  • Auto sliding doors

  • No steps to enter the shelter

Dyslexia and non-English speakers, Epilepsy

  • Short, clear langugae with icons to support text

  • No flashing text

Dyslexia and non-English speakers, Epilepsy

  • Short, clear langugae with icons to support text

  • No flashing text

Results

Results

100% reduced anxiety

We sent a questionnaire (n = 15) to learn young people’s attitudes and perspective to Bus Bella and the Safety Shelter. Previously, 53% did not feel safe waiting at their usual bus stop when late at night. Now, 100% believed they feel safer with our Safety Shelter and Bus Bella.

Top most valued features were:

Bench with emergency buttons underneath, as they would feel safer.

Bench with emergency buttons underneath, as they would feel safer.

Phone charging ports, as it would prevent unwanted situations where phone dies.

Phone charging ports, as it would prevent unwanted situations where phone dies.

Speaker system that announces bus arrival, as users won't have to check Google Maps constantly.

Speaker system that announces bus arrival, as users won't have to check Google Maps constantly.

Digital bus timetable and capacity indicator to be informed about the bus schedule real-time.

Digital bus timetable and capacity indicator to be informed about the bus schedule real-time.

Digital bus timetable and capacity indicator to be informed about the bus schedule real-time.

Digital bus timetable and capacity indicator to be informed about the bus schedule real-time.

Personal Reflection

Personal Reflection

What makes Bus Bella: Safety Shelter Special?

User-Centric Approach with Real-Life Scenarios

This project was deeply rooted in empathy, starting with relatable and vivid storytelling that captured the anxiety and discomfort of late-night bus users. By incorporating personas like Aisha and data-driven insights about female safety concerns, the design focused on addressing genuine user needs.

User-Centric Approach with Real-Life Scenarios

This project was deeply rooted in empathy, starting with relatable and vivid storytelling that captured the anxiety and discomfort of late-night bus users. By incorporating personas like Aisha and data-driven insights about female safety concerns, the design focused on addressing genuine user needs.

User-Centric Approach with Real-Life Scenarios

This project was deeply rooted in empathy, starting with relatable and vivid storytelling that captured the anxiety and discomfort of late-night bus users. By incorporating personas like Aisha and data-driven insights about female safety concerns, the design focused on addressing genuine user needs.

Integration of Innovative Physical and Digital Features

The Safety Shelter combined physical infrastructure improvements (e.g., heated pods, lighting, weatherproofing) with cutting-edge digital solutions like Bus Bella, a virtual assistant. This holistic integration created an all-encompassing solution to elevate both safety and convenience for users.

Integration of Innovative Physical and Digital Features

The Safety Shelter combined physical infrastructure improvements (e.g., heated pods, lighting, weatherproofing) with cutting-edge digital solutions like Bus Bella, a virtual assistant. This holistic integration created an all-encompassing solution to elevate both safety and convenience for users.

Multidisciplinary Design Process

The project went beyond traditional UI/UX design by incorporating 3D modelling and systems thinking. This allowed for realistic visualisations of the Safety Shelter, enabling stakeholders to envision the concept's potential in real-world applications.

Multidisciplinary Design Process

The project went beyond traditional UI/UX design by incorporating 3D modelling and systems thinking. This allowed for realistic visualisations of the Safety Shelter, enabling stakeholders to envision the concept's potential in real-world applications.

What did I learn through this project?

Empathy as a Design Foundation

I learned how crucial it is to understand the user's emotional journey by immersing myself in their perspective. Developing personas and mapping scenarios helped highlight pain points and opportunities for innovation, making the final solution both impactful and relevant.

Empathy as a Design Foundation

I learned how crucial it is to understand the user's emotional journey by immersing myself in their perspective. Developing personas and mapping scenarios helped highlight pain points and opportunities for innovation, making the final solution both impactful and relevant.

The Power of Multimodal Design

Blending UI/UX principles with physical design and 3D modelling taught me how to create cohesive solutions that cater to both digital and environmental contexts. This multidisciplinary approach broadened my perspective on how design can address complex, real-world challenges.

The Power of Multimodal Design

Blending UI/UX principles with physical design and 3D modelling taught me how to create cohesive solutions that cater to both digital and environmental contexts. This multidisciplinary approach broadened my perspective on how design can address complex, real-world challenges.

The Power of Multimodal Design

Blending UI/UX principles with physical design and 3D modelling taught me how to create cohesive solutions that cater to both digital and environmental contexts. This multidisciplinary approach broadened my perspective on how design can address complex, real-world challenges.

Balancing Functionality and Inclusivity

Designing features like emergency help buttons, accessibility functions, and live audio announcements made me appreciate the importance of inclusivity. I learned to create solutions that cater to diverse user needs while ensuring they remain intuitive and user-friendly for everyone.

Balancing Functionality and Inclusivity

Designing features like emergency help buttons, accessibility functions, and live audio announcements made me appreciate the importance of inclusivity. I learned to create solutions that cater to diverse user needs while ensuring they remain intuitive and user-friendly for everyone.

Balancing Functionality and Inclusivity

Designing features like emergency help buttons, accessibility functions, and live audio announcements made me appreciate the importance of inclusivity. I learned to create solutions that cater to diverse user needs while ensuring they remain intuitive and user-friendly for everyone.

Thank you for reading!

Other projects you might enjoy even more!

Davin Oh

Sydney, Australia

davinoh0930@gmail.com

+61 402 065 625