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Redesigning UChicago Safe.

Three iPhones showing the UChicago Safe redesign: the home screen on solid maroon, the home screen over a photo of campus, and the quick actions menu.
Contents4 chapters
  1. 2026.5.9: What I'd change now
  2. The worst moment
  3. Two looks
  4. Before the app opens

2026.5.9: What I'd change now

Looking at it again, a few things stand out:

  • White labels on frosted glass over a busy photo can drop below a comfortable contrast ratio, especially in bright sunlight. The photo version needs a darker scrim behind the grid.

  • The tiles should be tested with Dynamic Type at the largest sizes, where two-line labels like "Emergency Procedures" will run out of room.

  • Every tile needs a clear VoiceOver label and order, because the person who needs this app most might not be looking at the screen.

  • Most of all, it should be tested with students. My rule about one tap is a guess until someone uses it at 1 a.m. on the walk back from the library.

I redesigned UChicago Safe, the University of Chicago's campus safety app. It's the app students use to reach campus police, share their location with a friend on the walk home, or send an anonymous tip. Here's how I approached it.

Two versions of the UChicago Safe home screen: one on solid maroon, one over a photo of campus.

Designing for the worst moment

Most apps are designed for moments when people choose to use them. A safety app may sit untouched for months. When someone opens it, they may be scared, in a hurry, or walking in the dark. They won’t stop to read or remember where a feature is.

So I set one rule for the home screen: every action must be visible and one tap away. No hamburger menu, no nested settings, nothing hidden behind a swipe.

The home screen is a three-by-three grid of large tiles, each with a bold icon and a plain label.

The top row holds the three things you'd reach for in an emergency: Emergency Contacts, Mobile BlueLight, and Friend Walk. The second row is for reporting and getting around: Report a Tip, Safety Toolbox, and Getting Around. The last row is reference material you read when you're calm: Emergency Procedures, Support Resources, and About.

Reading top to bottom, the screen goes from urgent to informational. A tab bar at the bottom keeps Home, Report, and Info in the same place on every screen, with search on its own.

Two looks

I made two versions of the home screen. One uses a solid UChicago maroon background that feels unmistakably official. The other places frosted-glass tiles over a campus photo, letting the Gothic architecture show through in a style inspired by Apple’s Liquid Glass.

The photo version feels more connected to the campus around you. The solid version is easier to read at a glance.

Help before the app even opens

The fastest tap is the one you don't need. I added Home Screen quick actions, so pressing and holding the app icon goes straight to Emergency Contacts, Mobile BlueLight, Friend Walk, or Report a Tip, without waiting for the app to load.

Pressing and holding the app icon shows quick actions for Emergency Contacts, Mobile BlueLight, Friend Walk, Safety Toolbox and Report a Tip.

A personal concept project. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Chicago. The University's name and marks belong to the University of Chicago.