With my understanding of smartwatches as a whole complete, the next major step before continuing the design process was to establish a clear target demographic. After discussing ideas with Kyle and a few peers, I decided to focus my smartwatch app on users like myself, those who use wheelchairs. This direction allows me to design for a broader, more inclusive audience rather than a narrow user group. By focusing on wheelchair users, I can address key areas that often need more attention in wearable design, such as accessibility, travel, and interaction within different environments. This provides a strong foundation and direction for my research, guiding how I can create a smartwatch experience that is both meaningful and practical for users with varying mobility needs.
To better understand the needs and pain points of my target users, I began by creating a mind map exploring the daily challenges wheelchair users face. This helped me visualise the different areas where accessibility and usability could be improved through thoughtful design. Some key areas that emerged included environmental accessibility, mobility and navigation, digital interaction, and daily independence. Issues such as narrow doorways, uneven pavements, inaccessible bathrooms, and poor public transport design often restrict independence and comfort. Beyond physical barriers, there are also social and digital obstacles, such as a lack of public awareness, apps that don’t support accessibility, and technologies that fail to adapt to different mobility needs. Mapping out these challenges allowed me to see how interconnected they are and gave me a strong foundation for identifying where a smartwatch app could make a real difference in improving independence and inclusivity for wheelchair users like myself.
Following my initial mind map on the daily challenges faced by wheelchair users, I created a second mind map to explore the root causes behind these problems. This helped me move beyond surface-level issues and understand why accessibility barriers continue to exist in modern environments and technologies. Many of these challenges stem from poor urban planning, limited awareness, and a lack of inclusive design consideration during early development stages. I know from my own experience that, for example, environments are often created with able-bodied users in mind, resulting in inconsistent accessibility standards and overlooked details like kerb heights, narrow doors, or heavy entrances, meaning we have to take an alternative and longer route than we originally planned. Similarly, digital products and smart devices can fall short when accessibility isn’t prioritised in their design process, leading to interfaces that are visually appealing but not always practical for all users. By breaking down these root causes, I gained clearer insight into where thoughtful design can have the most impact. This stage was important in guiding my approach for the smartwatch project, ensuring that every feature, interaction, and visual choice would be grounded in solving real, underlying accessibility issues rather than just surface challenges.
To build on my research around accessibility and navigation for wheelchair users, I decided I was going to explore an existing accessible travel app that I actually use myself, Tabifolk, a global community platform that shares information on accessible travel. The app helps users like me discover and review destinations based on accessibility, encouraging shared experiences, and offering advice for accessible routes too. I created a mind map to examine key areas such as user opinions, app features, travel challenges, and potential gaps. Users value the honesty and reliability of first-hand reviews, but also note issues like limited regional coverage, inconsistent updates, and a lack of real-time accessibility information. This analysis gave me a clearer understanding of how digital tools can empower wheelchair users while also revealing areas for improvement, such as better navigation support, personalisation, and wearable integration. These insights will guide my smartwatch design towards a more adaptive and inclusive user experience.
To further understand how existing navigation tools support or limit users with mobility needs, I created mind maps analysing the pros and cons of current navigation apps. This helped me identify where accessibility features succeed and where they often fall short. On the positive side, navigation apps offer great convenience and independence, giving users quick access to routes, nearby amenities, and real-time travel updates. Features like smartwatch integration and community reviews can make travel smoother and more informed. However, I also discovered significant drawbacks; many apps lack detailed accessibility data, such as ramp locations, kerb heights, or step-free paths. Poor interface design, inconsistent information, and limited wheelchair-specific options also make these tools difficult to rely on. By weighing these pros and cons, I gained a clearer view of how navigation technology could be improved for wheelchair users. This analysis will guide me in developing features that prioritise clarity, accessibility, and inclusivity in my own smartwatch app, ensuring it better supports real-world navigation for users with mobility differences.
After analysing existing navigation tools and accessibility platforms, I decided to focus my smartwatch project on designing an accessible navigation app for wheelchair users. To begin shaping this idea, I created a mind map outlining the key features, design considerations, and goals of the app. My concept centres around helping users navigate safely and confidently by providing step-free route planning, real-time obstacle alerts, and accessibility information for nearby facilities such as ramps, toilets, and entrances. The mind map also helped me consider the user experience, highlighting the need for a clean, minimal interface with clear icons, high contrast, and simple gestures that support limited mobility. Additional ideas, such as voice and haptic guidance, quick-access shortcuts, and community-driven feedback, emerged as valuable ways to make the app both practical and engaging. By mapping out these features, I established a clear direction for how the smartwatch app could promote independence, reduce uncertainty while travelling, and create a more inclusive navigation experience. This stage gave me a strong foundation to move forward with wire-framing and visual development, ensuring that accessibility remains at the heart of the design.
To understand how users would interact with my accessible navigation app, I mapped out a user journey that follows a typical day scenario for a wheelchair user like myself, navigating a regular route with guidance. The journey begins when the user opens the app on their smartwatch to plan a route. They select their destination and adjust preferences for accessibility, such as step-free routes, smooth surfaces, and available ramps. As the user begins travelling, the smartwatch provides real-time navigation through voice and haptic feedback, allowing hands-free interaction. Along the way, the app alerts the user to potential obstacles like steep kerbs, construction zones, or inaccessible crossings, and automatically suggests alternative routes. Finally, the user can arrive at their destination safely and independently. This user journey demonstrates how accessibility, independence, and confidence remain central to the experience, ensuring the app not only guides users efficiently but also empowers them in their daily mobility.