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GotTOGo
Making Bathrooms Accessible
For my Year One Capstone project, my team and I tackled the frustrating situation of trying to find a washroom when you are in a public space. Our goal was to help users not only locate nearby bathrooms but also make informed decisions about which one to visit.
PROBLEM
Despite ongoing efforts to enhance access, Toronto's current restroom strategy lacks location details, real-time updates, and comprehensive feature information.
OUTCOME
GotTOGo is an application that helps users locate restrooms within the city—but it doesn’t stop there. Users can contribute to the community by leaving real-time reviews about their experiences, providing valuable insights for others. By leveraging crowdsourced information, GotTOGo ensures users have up-to-date restroom details at their fingertips.
TEAM
5 Designers
ROLE
I conducted user interviews, analyzed data through affinity mapping, and translated insights into wireframes for user testing.
SKILLS
Design Thinking
Interviewing
Wireframing
Prototyping
Usability Testing
Final Design & Solution
Over four months, I developed a mobile app to help users find the nearest bathroom. This project is designed to enhance their bathroom experience by providing key information at their fingertips.
EMERGENCY ACCESS FAB
5 out of 10 participants mentioned that proximity is their main concern in an emergency. To address this, I added a FAB button that, when tapped, quickly directs the user to the nearest bathroom in case of an emergency.
FINDER MAP & LIST VIEW
A map view displays all nearby bathrooms within the user’s vicinity. Users can swipe up to switch to a list view of nearby bathrooms, where they can click for a more detailed profile of each washroom
RATINGS & REVIEWS
Users mentioned they want the most up-to-date information when making decisions. To support this, I added a rating and review feature, allowing users to share real-time feedback on washrooms for others to see.
CUSTOMIZED SEARCH & PREFERENCES
Users can customize their search to find washrooms that match their immediate needs or set long-term preferences in their profile for a more personalized experience.
FAVORITES & ALERTS
Users can favourite washrooms for easy access and receive updates on any changes, ensuring they always have the latest information.
Final Design & Solution
Over four months, I developed a mobile app to help users find the nearest bathroom. This project is designed to enhance their bathroom experience by providing key information at their fingertips.
EMERGENCY ACCESS FAB
5 out of 10 participants mentioned that proximity is their main concern in an emergency. To address this, I added a FAB button that, when tapped, quickly directs the user to the nearest bathroom in case of an emergency.
FINDER MAP & LIST VIEW
A map view displays all nearby bathrooms within the user’s vicinity. Users can swipe up to switch to a list view of nearby bathrooms, where they can click for a more detailed profile of each washroom
RATINGS & REVIEWS
Users mentioned they want the most up-to-date information when making decisions. To support this, I added a rating and review feature, allowing users to share real-time feedback on washrooms for others to see.
CUSTOMIZED SEARCH & PREFERENCES
Users can customize their search to find washrooms that match their immediate needs or set long-term preferences in their profile for a more personalized experience.
FAVORITES & ALERTS
Users can favourite washrooms for easy access and receive updates on any changes, ensuring they always have the latest information.
The User needs a way to: locate a suitable bathroom nearby so that she can access it quickly
The User needs a way to: check what amenities are available so that she can ensure her comfort
The User needs a way to: assess bathroom cleanliness so that she can guarantee hygiene
The User needs a way to: find expected wait times so she can explore other alternatives beforehand
Define
USER NEEDS
As we worked through the design process, my team and I pulled together need statements from our primary research. These statements became our guide, helping us stay focused and giving us a clear benchmark to measure our final design against.
Research
SURVEY
I wanted to conduct a survey with a large sample size to gauge the scope of the problem space and to determine whether I was addressing valid concerns. I distributed the survey on social media and 36 respondents passed the screening criteria.
INTERVIEW
To explore Torontonians’ thoughts and feelings about bathroom accessibility, my team and I conducted 10 semi-structured interviews. We created a controlled environment to ensure privacy and comfort, encouraging participants to share their experiences openly.
The goals of our research were:
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Identify common challenges in locating washrooms.
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Determine what features users consider when searching for a washroom.
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Understand potential barriers users encounter.
FINDINGS & RESULTS
97%
Of respondents used public restrooms at least once a week
9 Mins
Is the average time spent looking for a washroom
80.6%
Identified cleanliness as major concerns
5 of 10
Of respondents prioritize
proximity when in an emergency
4 of 10
Mentioned accessibility concerns such as small stalls and high sinks
USER JOURNEY MAP
Realization
Stop previous activities &
Search for a bathroom
Discovery
Looks around for restaurant.
Asking people for directions
Decision
Explored and found a bathroom.
Sees there is a line
Activity
Going in to stall.
Checking for toilet paper.
Using bathroom
Conclusion
Flushing Toilet.
Washing Hands.
Leaving bathroom.
Dissatisfaction
Relief
Frustration
Mild Urgency
Discomfort &
Impatience
“I drank a TON of water”
“I need to find a bathroom soon”
“I’m not going to make it in time”
“I hope the bathroom is clean”
“No washroom signage”
“The bathroom better be close”
“Finally, its my turn!”
“This is dirty, but I have no choice”
“Why doesn’t the hand drier work”
“I’m ready to get back to my day”
Define
USER NEEDS
As we worked through the design process, my team and I pulled together need statements from our primary research. These statements became our guide, helping us stay focused and giving us a clear benchmark to measure our final design against.
The User needs a way to: locate a suitable bathroom nearby so that they can access it quickly
The User needs a way to: assess bathroom cleanliness so that they can guarantee hygiene
The User needs a way to: check what amenities are available so that she can ensure her comfort
The User needs a way to: find expected wait times so she can explore other alternatives beforehand
Ideate
EXPLORING SOLUTIONS
We explored a range of solutions—from practical to out-of-the-box—to address our target user's needs and pain points. Once we had a solid list, each team member voted on ideas that were feasible and most impactful. From there, we mapped everything out on a priority matrix to see where our best opportunities lay.
IDEAS
Live Toilet Map
A map that shows all the bathrooms near by
Bathroom Influencer
An influencer that blogs about bathrooms
Status Updates
People can share real-time updates
Bathroom Reviews
A review system with comments and ratings.
Two standout, home-run ideas:
1. A way for users to leave reviews about their bathroom experience.
2. A map that visualizes bathroom locations and lets you know how crowded they are.
Design
LOW-FI SKETCHES
With an idea in mind, I sketched out some low-fi designs and their user flows. These sketches helped me map out and refine how I wanted the interactions to come together.
Usability Testing
EXPLORING SOLUTIONS
After creating the prototype, my team and I tested the app with 10 users to evaluate ease of use, icon clarity, emergency access, alternative task methods, and user familiarity with saved information.
FINDINGS
Before
Confused on the difference between FAB and See Nearby. Don’t think this icon is the best representation of bathrooms
After
Removed "Search Nearby" button to reduce redundancies with FAB. Updated the icon to a toilet to better align the bathroom representation
Before
Users are confused about how to find recently viewed or saved bathrooms. Confused by its location in the profile.
After
Added a prominent "Favourites" button for quick access to bathroom users would want to visit again.
Lessons Learned
I AM NOT THE USER
Acknowledging that I am not the end-user, I would involve users in the design process sooner to incorporate diverse opinions in initial iterations. In the future, I will conduct user tests earlier and more frequently in design iterations.
COLLABORATION IS KEY
Working with a diverse group taught me the value of passionate debates in making effective design decisions. In the future, I aim to keep collaborating and learning from the lived experiences of others.
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