Rick Hansen Foundation

Rick Hansen Foundation

Rick Hansen Foundation

02
RESPONSIBILITIES
APP DESIGN
APP DESIGN
EXPERIENCE DESIGN
EXPERIENCE DESIGN
END-TO-END
EXPERIENCE DESIGN
EXPERIENCE DESIGN
DELIVERABLES

App Design

Slide Deck

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The Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF), a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a barrier-free world, approached our team with a pressing challenge: to develop a solution that would empower wheelchair users by providing accurate accessibility information and helping them navigate daily life.

PROBLEM SPACE

The problem space was complex. While the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) offered comprehensive guidelines, its complexity made it inaccessible to the average user. Combined with poor urban planning and inconsistent definitions of accessibility in existing apps, these barriers limited wheelchair users’ ability to navigate daily life, fostering exclusion and frustration. Valuable information existed, but its usability fell short.


RESEARCH INSIGHTS
Through research, user interviews, and analysis of existing tools, we identified three key insights:

Through research, user interviews, and analysis of existing tools, we identified three key insights:

INSIGHT 1
Effects of poor urban planning on wheelchair users

After looking into a peer-reviewed study conducted in Norway we found that, solely due to the inaccessibility of spaces, wheelchair users are kept from performing certain tasks. This neglect in urban planning excludes wheelchair users from the community and makes them feel like second-rate citizens.


Effects of poor urban planning on wheelchair users

After looking into a peer-reviewed study conducted in Norway we found that, solely due to the inaccessibility of spaces, wheelchair users are kept from performing certain tasks. This neglect in urban planning excludes wheelchair users from the community and makes them feel like second-rate citizens.


INSIGHT 2
Detailed but confusing accessibility guideline by RHF

After conducting user interviews and exposing the interviewees to the Rick Hansen Foundation accessibility certification documents, the interviewees found that the guidelines is extremely extensive and detailed, however the information it provides for a location is often too long and hard to understand.

Our participants noted:
“After looking at the final rating score of 71% I still have no idea how accessible a place is and if I can even get into the front door”

“The Rick Hansen certification report is just too long. I’m not reading all that just to go to a restaurant”


Detailed but confusing accessibility guideline by RHF

After conducting user interviews and exposing the interviewees to the Rick Hansen Foundation accessibility certification documents, the interviewees found that the guidelines is extremely extensive and detailed, however the information it provides for a location is often too long and hard to understand.

Our participants noted:
“After looking at the final rating score of 71% I still have no idea how accessible a place is and if I can even get into the front door”

“The Rick Hansen certification report is just too long. I’m not reading all that just to go to a restaurant”


INSIGHT 3
Inconsistent definition of accessibility in current app space

Existing apps like Google Maps lacked a standardized definition of accessibility. For example, while two locations might both be labeled as “wheelchair accessible,” photos revealed stark differences in their actual accessibility features. This inconsistency forced users to speculate about a location’s suitability, creating unnecessary stress and uncertainty.


Inconsistent definition of accessibility in current app space

Existing apps like Google Maps lacked a standardized definition of accessibility. For example, while two locations might both be labeled as “wheelchair accessible,” photos revealed stark differences in their actual accessibility features. This inconsistency forced users to speculate about a location’s suitability, creating unnecessary stress and uncertainty.


To address these challenges, we designed a mobile app with three core solutions centering around the ideas of empowering users, simplifying guidelines and creating consistency:

Empower: A Platform for User Feedback

We created features and feedback forms that allows wheelchair users to share their insights on accessibility directly with the Rick Hansen Foundation. This feedback mechanism not only empowers users to participate in decision-making but also helps RHF identify and prioritize areas for improvement. Understanding users’ time and energy constraints, we designed the feedback process to be quick, intuitive, and precise.

Decreasing Survey Burden

By dividing questions into mandatory and optional sections, we reduce reviewer burden and encourage more honest, focused feedback on a location.

By dividing questions into mandatory and optional sections, we reduce reviewer burden and encourage more honest, focused feedback on a location.

By dividing questions into mandatory and optional sections, we reduce reviewer burden and encourage more honest, focused feedback on a location.

Quick Prompts

Presenting individual questions in carousels encourages users to provide accessibility feedback despite time constraints. This method enables the application to accumulate information gradually over time.

Presenting individual questions in carousels encourages users to provide accessibility feedback despite time constraints. This method enables the application to accumulate information gradually over time.

Presenting individual questions in carousels encourages users to provide accessibility feedback despite time constraints. This method enables the application to accumulate information gradually over time.

Simplify: Condensing Complex Guidelines

To make the RHFAC guidelines more user-friendly, we broke them down into smaller, digestible subsections. While preserving the integrity of the nationally recognized standard, we reduced cognitive load by presenting only the most relevant information. Icons, designed in alignment with Google’s Material Design principles, were used to represent accessibility categories. These visual cues allowed users to grasp key information at a glance, minimizing text clutter and improving usability.


Standardize: Creating Consistency in Accessibility Definitions

By leveraging the RHFAC guidelines, we established a standardized definition of accessibility within the app. This consistency ensures that users can trust the information provided, eliminating the guesswork and frustration associated with inconsistent app data.

Content Presentation

After categorizing the Rick Hansen Foundation accessibility guidelines, we focused on presenting the content in our mobile app. To avoid overwhelming users with excessive text, we utilized collapsible menus, icons, and colors to highlight essential information at a glance.

After categorizing the Rick Hansen Foundation accessibility guidelines, we focused on presenting the content in our mobile app. To avoid overwhelming users with excessive text, we utilized collapsible menus, icons, and colors to highlight essential information at a glance.

After categorizing the Rick Hansen Foundation accessibility guidelines, we focused on presenting the content in our mobile app. To avoid overwhelming users with excessive text, we utilized collapsible menus, icons, and colors to highlight essential information at a glance.

Google maps integrations

During the design process, we concluded that having a built-in navigation system would be too bloated for this application. Moreover, it was out of the scope of the app because there are other more suitable apps for map navigation. Therefore, we made sure there was a quick way of opening Google Maps after checking the accessibility of a location.

During the design process, we concluded that having a built-in navigation system would be too bloated for this application. Moreover, it was out of the scope of the app because there are other more suitable apps for map navigation. Therefore, we made sure there was a quick way of opening Google Maps after checking the accessibility of a location.

During the design process, we concluded that having a built-in navigation system would be too bloated for this application. Moreover, it was out of the scope of the app because there are other more suitable apps for map navigation. Therefore, we made sure there was a quick way of opening Google Maps after checking the accessibility of a location.

Full app walkthrough


Outcomes

The app prototype was met with enthusiasm from both users and the Rick Hansen Foundation. By combining user feedback, simplified guidelines, and standardized definitions, we created a tool that not only addresses immediate accessibility challenges but also fosters long-term social change.

This project reinforced the importance of user-centered design in creating impactful solutions. It demonstrated how technology can empower marginalized communities, promote inclusivity, and drive systemic improvements in accessibility