Information is fragmented
Threat details, maps, local updates and shelter information are distributed across separate services. People check additional sources to identify the threat and determine whether it concerns their location.
Sky Alert
A mobile app that combines air-raid alert details and nearby shelter information.
Play with prototype
Context
An air-raid notification signals danger, but rarely provides enough context
for an immediate decision. People move between Telegram channels, maps
and local chats to understand the threat and find shelter information.
Research
The research focused on how people respond to air-raid notifications,
assess personal risk and decide what to do next.
Methods
3 exploratory interviews · 3-week observationCompetitor review · Firsthand use during air raids
Key findings
An alert starts a search for context
People check additional sources to identify the threat and determine whether it concerns their location.
Finding a shelter is only part of the task
People also need to know whether a shelter is accessible, where the entrance is and what conditions are like inside. These details matter when preparing for a potentially prolonged attack. During an immediate threat, the priority is reaching shelter quickly.
Constraints & trade-offs
The project was developed as an interactive product prototype. Decisions involving live data and notification behavior were considered at the product and interaction level without technical implementation.
Shelter availability
Verified live availability data was not accessible, so real-time shelter status was excluded from the MVP. The prototype shows shelter locations and available access details without presenting an unverified status.
Notification safety
Users can adjust notification behavior by threat type. Quiet hours apply only to non-critical updates, while critical alerts remain active. Changes that reduce notifications include a clear safety warning.
Technical scope
Source management, notification settings and personalization were designed as interactive flows. Backend behavior, data synchronization and notification delivery were outside the prototype scope.
Solution
The mobile experience combines active alert details, location-specific information, nearby shelters and navigation in one connected scenario.
Live alert details
The active alert shows the available threat information
and its source.
Location context
Map-based information helps users assess the situation around their location.
Shelter details
Each location includes the practical information available
for making a choice.
Direct navigation
A selected shelter can be opened directly in navigation.
Design system
A compact design system keeps alerts, shelter information, navigation and system states consistent. It includes typography, color roles, spacing, reusable components, variants and variables.
Critical states
Emergency flows also need clear responses when connection, location or current shelter information is unavailable.
No internet connection
The last available data is shown with its update time.
Users can retry the connection.
Location unavailable
Users can enable location access or choose a location manually to find nearby shelters.
Alert ended
The end time and latest update are shown for the selected area. Maps and shelter information remain available.
Access details unavailable
Missing access information is clearly marked. Known shelter details and navigation remain available.
Validation
The main scenario was tested with three participants to evaluate whether they could understand the alert, find a suitable shelter and start navigation without additional guidance.
Reflection & next steps
Designing for emergency use showed that the product must answer two questions quickly:
what is happening and where the nearest shelter is.
- Information that cannot be verified should be clearly marked or excluded.
- Before development, the concept should be tested with a broader group and reviewed with emergency response specialists. The next stage would define reliable official data sources and test notification comprehension, accessibility, offline behavior and the shelter information update process.
