App design for agoraphobia
Using 5G to detect triggering environments and provide alternatives
7 million people in the UK experience symptoms of agoraphobia and avoid many everyday environments including public transport, open or enclosed spaces, and crowds.
As part of her final year project, recent Graphic Design graduate Nour Abosaif developed an app that uses 5G to instantly detect when users enter an environment they perceive as triggering. She developed the app ‘giffgaff gotU’ in response to a brief set by giffgaff, which asked entrants to pick a problem in the UK and solve it using 5G.
My work is motivated by a combination of user insight, technology, logic, and art.
After installing the app, the user can select their triggers and safe spaces. The app sends notifications to redirect users to their closest safe spaces or to distract them before they feel overwhelmed with real-time ETA. After the triggering situation, the user can reflect and either use the app to share wins or restore inner calm.
My career aim is to design for human connection, as I work my way to becoming an art director.
The app can utilise 5G to collect data in real-time from the user’s surroundings about population density, nearest bathrooms, and ETAs. Whilst the app works on notifications in response to environment, the user can decide if they want to be ‘moved’ or ‘distracted’.
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