Overview

At rising systems, we made a bold shift from service-based work to building our own digital products. As Lead Designer, I contributed to over 6 security related apps along the way and had the opportunity to primarily design RS Personal Alarm as our flagship product.

Goal

Drive customer interest, get (more) clients, boost conversions, and create the most trusted and effective lone worker app available.

Approach: Operate with a startup mindset

1. Fake it till you make it

We started by conducting internal workshops and in-depth market research to identify the core features for our first MVP. Next, I created a simple prototype to showcasing some basic features and demonstrate the general flow to potential customers. After receiving positive feedback and interest from most of them, I put together a compelling presentation for our sales team. The presentation was well-received, helping to validate our direction and confirming that we were ready to move forward with full design and development.

2. Patterns and pain points


To inform our design direction, I carried out several UX audits of comparable apps and services, identifying both effective patterns and common pain points. I also conducted visual and brand research to guide our look and feel. Working closely with the Product Owner, we finalized the first real feature set, and I moved on to creating a more detailed UI and all necessary user flows.

3. When using “bad UX” is the right call

I understand the argument that sliders can be harder to use and require more motor skills. However, despite these concerns, I made the decision to reintroduce the slide functionality because of these reasons.

Given our target user group and the specific scenario, canceling an alarm should require a deliberate and intentional action.

Interestingly, this simple UI element received a lot of positive feedback from our user group. They reported that when using other apps or alarm devices with buttons, accidental clicks often occurred when the apps were active.

4. Design that prioritizes usability and safety

Lone workers who rely on PNA systems often operate in environments with unique hazards. To minimize cognitive load and ensure ease of use, unnecessary elements are removed from the home and alarm screens.

High color contrast enhances readability, even in low light or vision-impairing conditions, such as when wearing safety glasses.

All displayed text (except for settings) has a minimum size of 20px, ensuring it's legible during machine operation, movement or in emergency situations.

5. Leading the Go-Live process

I conducted keyword research to develop a targeted SEO strategy and set up Google Ads campaigns to align with it. I also led the creation of our product page, preparing all necessary assets including visuals, copy and other key elements. This also included the submission to the Apple and Android app stores.

To enhance the user experience, I tracked user behavior using tools like Hotjar and Plausible, using the insights to make data-driven improvements to both the product page content and ad campaigns.

6. Expanding the design team

Serving as designer, marketer and product tester, I acted as the main contact across teams, synthesizing feedback, presenting insights and managing deliverables for three additional safety related products simultaneously. To maintain quality and accelerate progress, I hired an additional product designer to support the team.

7. Iterate and improve


Based on feedback from ramp-up clients, we realized a redesign of the app was essential. With the team expanding to include another digital product designer, I established design guidelines to maintain consistency across the app and all customer touchpoints.
Working hand-in-hand with the development team, we refactored and redesigned the entire app efficiently.

After extensive automated and manual testing, RS Personal Alarm was successfully updated and became a trusted favorite among our users.

Impact & Results

Through consistent weekly demo calls with potential customers via our website, we managed to attract one of Germany's largest chemical and pharmaceutical companies to our platform.