01
Research
- Identifying Problems
- Factors contribution
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TrackGuard – Protect Your Vehicle
Responsible for the UI/UX design of the TrackGuard app
Case Study 2024
TrackGuard – Protect Your Vehicle
Responsible for the UI/UX design of the TrackGuard app
Role
User Experience Design
User Interface Design
Team
Rachel Pham, Riley Kwon, Hannah Vo, Chonin Aye, Ayumi Maehara
Timeline
Nov 2024 – Jan 2025
Tools
Figma
Miro
Illustrator
Google Forms
The Process
02
Synthesis
- User Personas
- User Survey
- User Journey
03
Ideation
- Solution
- Storyboard
- Low Fidelity
- High Fidelity
04
Final Designs
- UI For Launch
05
Reflections
- Designs Outcome
Identifying Problems
What is the Problem?
Car theft is a growing issue in Canada, impacting thousands of vehicles each year. This leads to financial loss for owners and lowers trust in public safety.
Who Does It Affect?
Safety & Security Impact
EVERYONE
The safety and security of vehicles impact car owners, their families, and the broader community.
Key Challenges
Systemic Obstacles
Rising Theft Rates
Increasing prevalence of vehicle theft across major urban centers in Canada.
Limited Access
Ineffective and limited access to current professional anti-theft measures.
Delayed Recovery
Persistently delayed or unsuccessful vehicle recovery efforts after a theft occurs.
Lack of Awareness
Minimal knowledge among car owners about simple, effective preventive steps.
Factors contributing
to the issue
Primary Severity
Systemic Financial Loss
The economic impact of car theft goes far beyond the vehicle's market value. Unrecovered assets, insurance deductibles, and rising premiums create long-term costs for both owners and providers
80%
Recovery Gap
↑12%
Premiums Increased
Emotional Distress
Causes stress and disrupts daily life and mobility, as cars symbolize freedom and convenience.
Logistical Disruption
Makes commuting and errands harder, adding delays and extra transportation costs.
Community Security
Makes neighborhoods feel unsafe and can fuel more criminal activity, affecting community trust.
Insurance Volatility
Persistent local car theft leads to higher insurance rates for everyone in the area.
User Personas & Pain Points
Zainy
Student
Age21
LocationHamilton
Tech LiteracyModerate
Bio
Zainy, a 21-year-old graphic designer and videographer, is a graphic designer inspired by great designs and loves to create new ones. She is also a talented videographer, taking photos and videos.
Motivation
Comfort
Convenience
Price
Goals
- Instant visual access
- Secure transfers
Frustrations
- Someone lies or scams her
- Someone being rude to her
Personality
- Supportive
- Independent
- Artistic
Interests
- Art Curation
- Minimalism
- Tech-Integrated Fashion
Eric
Engineer
Age30
LocationHamilton
Tech LiteracyExpert
Bio
Eric, a 30-year-old engineer and car enthusiast, enjoys car shows, racetracks, and DIY projects. He dreams of owning a classic Porsche and loves the thrill of driving.
Motivation
Passionate
Community and Connection
Personal Achievement
Goals
- Loves car upgrades but fears theft.
- Avoids events due to security concerns.
Frustrations
- Hesitant to invest due to theft.
- Limited time and security concerns.
Personality
- Passionate about cars and DIY projects.
- Enjoys connecting with enthusiasts.
Interests
- Muscle cars
- Sports cars
- Electric vehicles
User Journey Friction Points
Limited Control
LOW FRICTIONFalse Alarms
MEDIUM FRICTIONDelayed Alerts
HIGH FRICTIONSurvey Results
Survey Insights
Car Theft Concerns and App Features
01. Concerns & Awareness
User perception of theft risk in urban environments.
25%
Very Concerned
25%
Neutral
25%
Somewhat
Security Awareness Frequency
Rarely50%
Monthly25%
“Qualitative data indicates that users with personal history of theft show 2x higher engagement with security protocols.”
02. Prevention Tools
Currently utilized anti-theft measures among participants.
Market Saturation: Low
03. Willingness
Monetization and adoption intent.
Intent to Use
25%Very Likely
Monthly SaaS Value
50%
$3—$5
Range
04. Feature Prioritization
Stack-ranking functional requirements.
Most Useful
- GPS Tracking83.3%
- Real-time Alerts75.0%
- Security Tips41.7%
Secondary Interests
- Reporting Activity66.7%
- Law Enforcement Hub50.0%
User Journey
The journey map shows how users discover TrackGuard, set up their vehicle, and monitor it through real-time alerts. If theft occurs, they activate safety features, report the incident, and support recovery ending with a resolved situation and increased trust in the app.
| Stage | User Action | Thoughts/Feelings | Touchpoints | Opportunities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Awareness | User hears about TrackGuard from a friend, online ad, or news about increasing car theft. | "This sounds like something I need for my car's safety." | Social media posts, ads, app store search. | Leverage targeted ads, testimonials, and real success stories to build trust. |
Download | User visits the App Store, reads reviews, and downloads TrackGuard. | "Looks like this app has great features. Let me try it." | App Store listing, reviews, ratings, and screenshots. | Optimize App Store page with engaging descriptions and screenshots. |
Onboarding | User goes through onboarding to understand features and set up their profile. | "Okay, this app is easy to understand. It seems useful!" | Get Started screen, onboarding slides, CTAs. | Ensure onboarding flows are simple, clear, and visually appealing. |
Registration | User signs up with email or logs in with an existing account. | "This was quick and easy to set up." | Login/Sign Up screen with clear forms and social login. | Provide password recovery and autofill options to simplify registration. |
Setup | User enters car details (make, model, VIN, license plate) and connects GPS tracking. | "I feel more secure knowing my car is now being tracked." | Home page, Setup Wizard, Car Details page. | Provide visual confirmation (e.g., "Setup Complete!") to reassure the user. |
Daily
Monitoring | User regularly checks the app for updates or uses the live tracking feature. | "It's great to see where my car is anytime. I feel in control." | Home page, live GPS tracking feature. | Show daily/weekly car activity summaries to keep the user engaged. |
Alert
Notification | User receives a theft alert from the app (e.g., suspicious activity detected). | "Thank goodness I have this app! I can act immediately." | Push notifications, in-app alert screen, contact options. | Provide direct links to call authorities or insurance companies from the app. |
Resolution | User uses the app to recover the stolen car or prevent theft with real-time alerts. | "This app saved my car. I'm so glad I downloaded it." | Incident report form, GPS tracking to locate the car. | Include features to share success stories to build social proof and trust. |
Retention | User continues using the app and recommends it to friends and family. | "This app is amazing. I want others to know about it." | In-app referral feature, social media sharing. | Offer incentives for referrals or leaving positive reviews. |
Key Features
TrackGuard sends alerts based on the location of the car and its owner to keep you informed of any suspicious activity.
How TrackGuard Works?
Smart Theft Alerts
- Smart Theft Alerts
- Location-Based Notifications
- Automatic Picture Capture
Automatic Theft Defense
- Automatic Theft Defense
- Secure Ownership with Blockchain
- Community Alerts
Prevention & Monitoring
- Biometric Car Locking
- Interior Monitoring
- Theft Prevention Tips
Storyboard
The storyboard illustrate how TrackGuard effectively protects vehicles during a theft scenario. From sending alerts and activating alarms to capturing the thief's image and tracking the car's location, the app provides all the tools needed to deter theft, gather evidence, and support recovery. The process ensures user confidence and a successful resolution.
Low Fidelity
Our sketches prioritize a clean, user-friendly design with quick access to critical emergency features like “Activate Alarm,” “Track My Car,” and “Lock/Unlock.” Additional sections for alerts and reporting enhance functionality, ensuring users can navigate easily even in stressful situations.
High Fidelity
Our team designed high-fidelity wireframes and mapped a seamless user flow, leading to a polished presentation prototype in Figma that showcases the app's core functionality.
Design Outcome
72%
felt more secure with real-time tracking features
80%
of users said they would use this app
65%
preferred instant alerts over traditional security systems
My Key Takeaways
- 01
User needs drove the design, ensuring a simple and intuitive experience in high-stress situations
- 02
Personas helped align features with real concerns like safety, speed, and control
- 03
High-fidelity prototypes improved clarity and validated the full user journey
- 04
High-fidelity prototypes improved clarity and validated the full user journey
Next Steps
- 01
Conduct further user testing to refine usability and performance
- 02
Explore AI-powered theft detection and predictive alerts
- 03
Improve accessibility and visual clarity
- 04
Expand features based on user feedback