LightLink
LightLink is a UX design project that helps Ann Arbor residents quickly locate and rent essential power resources during outages. Inspired by challenges from severe weather events, the app emphasizes user convenience, sustainability, and community resilience.
Role
UX Researcher,
UX Designer
Tools Used
Figma, Figjam,
Miro
Timeline
09/2024 - 12/2024
Problem
Ann Arbor experiences frequent power outages due to severe weather conditions. Existing solutions like DTE Energy’s outage updates only provide information but do not help residents access immediate resources.
Solution
The Power Outage Resource Finder app addresses the challenge of accessing essential power resources during outages. The platform enables residents to quickly locate, book, and share backup power resources such as generators, power banks, and charged lamps. By integrating real-time data, community-sharing features, and instant booking functionality, the app ensures users have timely access to critical resources while promoting sustainability and resilience.
Key Features
Community Resource Sharing
Enables users to lend or rent out their power resources securely.
Real-Time Resource Map
Displays available power resources with live updates and location tracking.
Advanced Filtering
Search by proximity, cost, type, and availability for quick access.
List View for Easy Browsing
Users can switch to a simplified list format for easy navigation.
Instant Booking System
One-step reservation process for immediate access to power resources.
The Process
Research
Ann Arbor experiences many power outages with slow recovery times, affecting residents and businesses. I analyzed existing power outage solutions in Ann Arbor, including DTE’s Outage Center, generators, solar panels, and microgrids, identifying gaps in reliability, sustainability, and community-wide support.
Building on these insights, I conducted initial brainstorming and sketches, generating eight unique solutions that explored diverse approaches, such as solar-powered shelters and incentive programs for renewable energy adoption.
To refine my approach, I created user personas, considering different needs and behaviors to ensure a user-centered design.
While early ideas included solar-powered shelters and incentive programs for renewable energy adoption, persona analysis emphasized practicality and immediacy, leading to a shift in focus. The need for real-time resource access emerged as a priority, influencing the transition to a solution centered on resource-sharing and real-time availability.
Design
During the low-fidelity prototyping phase, paper prototypes were used to test these workflows. User feedback identified navigation challenges, such as difficulties in locating the user’s position on the map and resetting filters. As a result, the design was updated with a prominent location marker and a simplified “Reset Filters” button. The final digital prototype incorporated these improvements while adding dynamic features like real-time updates section.
Our solution presented a realistic, scalable, and cost-effective approach to strengthening Michigan’s entrepreneurial network. Judges praised the feasibility of a mobile app compared to infrastructure-heavy alternatives, highlighting its ability to be quickly implemented and widely adopted.
Project Impact
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Reduces downtime for businesses and residents.
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Encourages sustainability through resource-sharing.
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Bridges the gap between individual solutions (generators, solar panels) and community needs.
Takeaways
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Community-driven solutions enhance crisis resilience.
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Personas shape product features and decision-making.
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Iterative prototyping improves usability and feature clarity.