Skills
Product Development
Year
2022
Femme Up! – A Digital Companion for Survivors
A human-centered app designed to empower recovery through thoughtful design and contextual support.
Sexual violence is a significant global threat to women, and societal taboos often make the healing process even more challenging. With the rise of technology, there are new opportunities to support survivors. In this project, I developed Femme Up!, a human-centered app supporting survivors on their healing journey. It delivers personalized, context-aware guidance based on location, emotional state, and recovery stage—helping overcome common barriers to seeking help. I led the research, design, and development of the concept.
Final Master Project – 2022
Survivors of sexual violence often face overwhelming barriers when seeking help—stigma, lack of information, fear, and emotional distress. Femme Up! addresses these challenges by offering a sensitive, digital-first solution to support recovery in a safe, accessible way.
Research-Driven Design
To design a meaningful solution, I conducted in-depth research including interviews with survivors, social workers, psychologists, and journalists. I explored the societal and emotional factors affecting recovery and examined existing digital tools to identify gaps.
Key findings included:
Assaults often happen at home, by someone known to the survivor.
Shame and fear create strong barriers to disclosure.
Many survivors lack access to clear, trustworthy information.
Talking about the assault can be an empowering part of healing.
Survivors need reassurance: You are not alone. There is help.
Society also needs a message: Violence is not tolerated.
From Insight to Product
With a human-centered design process, I defined the context of use, user needs, and core functionalities. The app targets women aged 18+ in abusive situations or post-assault recovery, offering support tailored to their specific phase of healing.
Core Features
Personalized Guidance: Gamified flow delivers relevant content based on user input, mindset, and recovery stage.
Hide Button: A discreet exit function redirects to a neutral site like a cooking page—crucial for users living with perpetrators.
Emergency Button: Instant access to emergency services and location sharing.
24/7 Chat: Direct contact with Hilfetelefon in 17 languages, integrated into the app.
Soothing Tips: Grounding exercises and calming techniques help manage post-assault anxiety.
Language Options: Downloadable in multiple languages (prototype in English).
Neutral Branding: Discreet icon and name designed for safety and privacy.
Design Approach
The visual design is emotionally intentional. Information is structured based on time since the incident, from immediate checklists to long-term legal and emotional support. The evolving color palette mirrors the healing journey—from soft tones offering comfort to bold hues that signify empowerment and hope.
