Buoy

2025
2025

🏅

Graphis Inc. New Talent Honorable Mention – Logo

2024
2024

🏆

Constance Mui and John T. Sebastian Award for Outstanding Research in Honors

2024
2024

🥇

Loyola SCD Design for Good Award

What I Did

Branding, App Design & Prototyping, Motion Design, Exhibition Design

Each year, hurricanes and floods overwhelm U.S. government emergency responders, forcing impacted communities to organize and carry out search, rescue, and emergency response themselves across disorganized networks during active disasters.


Buoy helps coordinate search-and-rescue efforts between ad hoc civilian responders and people in need of aid, increasing certainty and transparency that help is on the way.

Introduction

Growing up in South Louisiana, I experienced my fair share of hurricanes and floods. In these disasters federal aid can't save everyone, people must rely on their friends, family, and even strangers to rescue them from floodwaters. My own experiences in Lousiana's 2016 and observing Hurricane Harvey's destruction in Texas (2017) inspired this project.

Problem

Almost 99.9% of search-and-rescue in the U.S. is done by volunteers, according Chris Boyer theExecutive Director at the National Association for Search and Rescue. Unfortunately, disorganization and lack of communication between civilian search and rescue groups waste valuable time when people could be rescued.

Solution

Throughout 12 weeks, I aimed to create a design solution that was a personable, communal approach to disaster response. My project, Buoy, directly connects people who need to be rescued to civilian rescuers in their local community and uses community reports to keep disaster information up to date.

Design Process

Conduting Competitor Analysis

Reviewing government and third-party relevant app examples and their visual approach to solving emergency-based design problems. I also reviewed what emergency information these apps found vital to educate users on.

Reviewing relevant app examples and their visual approach to solving emergency-based design problems.

Clime

Red Cross
Weather

Zello

FEMA

Frontline

Wildfire

Citizen

PulsePoint

Respond

Top Takeaways

  • Apps mostly hone-in on one function.

  • Focus on before or after disaster events (not during).

  • Most functions locked behind a "member" paywall.

  • Lots of information overwhelms UI

  • Most connect people with information, not other people.

  • Apps mostly hone-in on one function.

  • Focus on before or after disaster events (not during).

  • Most functions locked behind a "member" paywall.

  • Lots of information overwhelms UI

  • Most connect people with information, not other people.

Connecting with Interviews

To build Buoy empathetically, I interviewed frontline rescuers and victims of water-related disasters. I also considered my own experiences in disasters as well.

Top Takeaways

User Persona

Corinne

Hebert

Corinne Hebert

Age

Location

Hometown

Education

Occupation

Status

23

23

Broussard, LA

Broussard, LA

San Jose, CA

San Jose, CA

UL Lafayette

UL Lafayette

Law Firm Receptionist

Receptionist

In a Relationship

In a Relationship

Needs

Since I’m not from Louisiana, I need to be prepared for hurricanes and floods because I’m fairly new to them, which includes knowing what emergency resources are available to me. I need to be able to know that, if it comes down to it, someone will help me during hurricanes, even if it’s a stranger.

Since I’m not from Louisiana, I need to be prepared for hurricanes and floods because I’m fairly new to them, which includes knowing what emergency resources are available to me. I need to be able to know that, if it comes down to it, someone will help me during hurricanes, even if it’s a stranger.

Frustrations

I’m not properly prepared for dealing with Louisiana and the South’s severe weather: severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flash floods, and hurricanes. I don’t have many friends or family that could help me in times of emergency. If my road floods, I’ll be trapped because my car is too short to drive through water.

I’m not properly prepared for dealing with Louisiana and the South’s severe weather: severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flash floods, and hurricanes. I don’t have many friends or family that could help me in times of emergency. If my road floods, I’ll be trapped because my car is too short to drive through water.

Mapping out Storm Scenarios

In an effort to isolate the best and worst cases where Buoy would have to be used, I used my own experience and interview findings to map out possibilities in water disasters.

*These are the most basic versions of these scenarios. There's a potential for them to be much more complex.

I also used this scenario map to educate people who were unfamiliar with hurricane and flood experiences.

In an effort to isolate the best and worst cases where Buoy would have to be used, I used my own experience and interview findings to map out possibilities in water disasters.

*These are the most basic versions of these scenarios. There's a potential for them to be much more complex.

I also used this scenario map to educate people who were unfamiliar with hurricane and flood experiences.

Low-Fidelity Wireframes

Rescuee

Sketches and flow if the user were to request a rescue.

Sketches and flow if the user were to request a rescue.

Rescuer

Sketches and flow if the user were to go rescue others.

Sketches and flow if the user were to go rescue others.

Key Changes After Feedback

  • Expanding rescue request filtering system.

  • Adding functions for Rescuees after their rescue.

  • Limiting the number of "rescue requests" Rescuers can view at a time.

  • Arranging messages to better facilitate audio messages.

  • Expanding rescue request filtering system.

  • Adding functions for Rescuees after their rescue.

  • Limiting the number of "rescue requests" Rescuers can view at a time.

  • Arranging messages to better facilitate audio messages.

App Architecture & User Flow

Buoy's final app flow, refined and iterated by weeks of faculty, peer, and personal critiques.


The "Rescuee Side" uses a main user flow, so Rescuees don't have an added mental load of making too many decisions during intense situations.


Rescuers have a more traditional app structure available to them to be able to jump between rescuing and communicating with other rescuers.

Buoy's final app flow, refined and iterated by weeks of faculty, peer, and personal critiques.


The "Rescuee Side" uses a main user flow, so Rescuees don't have an added mental load of making too many decisions during intense situations.


Rescuers have a more traditional app structure available to them to be able to jump between rescuing and communicating with other rescuers.

Usability Testing

To prepare for all types of disaster situations, I user-tested Buoy with people ranging from 11 to 50 years old. During testing, I aided the users as little as possible and encouraged them to think aloud to hear their thought process.

Each user performed 5-7 scenario tasks for both the Rescuer and Rescuee sides of the app and was asked a few follow-up questions.

I conducted 2 rounds of formal user testing with many quick, informal tests with faculty and classmates in between.

Feedback & Key Changes

  • On the Rescuer side of the app, since the “Available Rescue Requests” widget was down by default, the users didn’t look at it.

  • Adding post-rescue location check-in.

  • Color-coding "Waiting for Rescuer…" notifications.

  • Prompting users for more information about their rescue situation (Food, water, etc.).

  • On the Rescuer side of the app, since the “Available Rescue Requests” widget was down by default, the users didn’t look at it.

  • Adding post-rescue location check-in.

  • Color-coding "Waiting for Rescuer…" notifications.

  • Prompting users for more information about their rescue situation (Food, water, etc.).

Optimizing for Exhibition Spaces

For a short time, people could preview Buoy at my Senior Capstone Showcase, but many users weren't familiar with Figma's capabilities and limitations.

To make sure users still had positive interactions after running into limitations, I added pop-ups to tell users about prototype capabilities and what certain functions Buoy would do if they tapped a button that wasn't fully prototyped.

Final Product

Minimal Design

To limit adding any more stress to emergency situations, Buoy's simple, clean design uses minimal color and images.

To limit adding any more stress to emergency situations, Buoy's simple, clean design uses minimal color and images.

Syncing with Phone Settings

To reduce steps that Rescuers and Rescuees have to go through, Buoy prompts users to allow access to their phone's accounts — like Apple IDs.

To reduce steps that Rescuers and Rescuees have to go through, Buoy prompts users to allow access to their phone's accounts — like Apple IDs.

Get Rescued

Go through a rescue scenario as a Rescuee

Keep Your Rescuer in the Loop

If your rescue emergency isn't immediately life-threatening, Buoy pushes Rescuees to input specific information about their situation to help Rescuers understand their circumstances.

If your rescue emergency isn't immediately life-threatening, Buoy pushes Rescuees to input specific information about their situation to help Rescuers understand their circumstances.

Collecting Rescuee Emergency Information

In the case of a life-or-death scenario, Buoy prompts the Rescuee to call 911 for official services. After contacting EMS, Buoy sends out a "SOS" alert to its civilian rescuers and brings Rescuees back on track for waiting for a rescuer.

In the case of a life-or-death scenario, Buoy prompts the Rescuee to call 911 for official services. After contacting EMS, Buoy sends out a "SOS" alert to its civilian rescuers and brings Rescuees back on track for waiting for a rescuer.

Stay Up-to-Date with Live Weather and Rescue Alerts

While Rescuees wait for their Rescuer, they can view and receive notifications about their emergency or nearby rescues.


While Rescuees wait for their Rescuer, they can view and receive notifications about their emergency or nearby rescues.


Waiting for Rescuer…

Waiting for Rescuer…

Buoy also informs Rescuees how to signal their need to rescue if they lose cell service or their phone dies. In the case of no cell service, Buoy will push the user to launch system SOS software — such as Apple Emergency SOS — if their device supports it.

Buoy also informs Rescuees how to signal their need to rescue if they lose cell service or their phone dies. In the case of no cell service, Buoy will push the user to launch system SOS software — such as Apple Emergency SOS — if their device supports it.

Helping Rescue

Go through a rescue scenario as a Rescuer

Organizing Rescue Requests

To reduce mental load about picking Rescuees, only 3 rescue requests are visible at once. Once the Rescuer fulfills a rescue request or a request is canceled, then a new request will become visible.

To reduce mental load about picking Rescuees, only 3 rescue requests are visible at once. Once the Rescuer fulfills a rescue request or a request is canceled, then a new request will become visible.

Rescuer Maps & Rescuee Information

Rescuer Maps & Rescuee Information

Community Updated Rescuer Maps

Rescuers can choose to customize their map to show certain layers, add emergency alerts and notifications, or confirm alerts created by other Rescuers.

Rescuers can choose to customize their map to show certain layers, add emergency alerts and notifications, or confirm alerts created by other Rescuers.

Rescuer Map Modifications & Alerts

Rescuer Map Modifications & Alerts

Rescuer Directions Map

Rescuer Directions Map

Prioritizing Audio Messaging

Since many Rescuers won't be able to type out a text message because of time or having their hands occupied, Buoy's design offers an emphasis on voice messages, with their button size and location, over traditional text messages.

Since many Rescuers won't be able to type out a text message because of time or having their hands occupied, Buoy's design offers an emphasis on voice messages, with their button size and location, over traditional text messages.

Coordinate with Other Rescuers

Rescuers can communicate with their own rescuer group or unknown rescuers nearby — like a proximity chat.

Rescuers can communicate with their own rescuer group or unknown rescuers nearby — like a proximity chat.

Rescuer Channels & Chat

Rescuer Channels & Chat

Live Activities

Watch Faces

Although they weren't a part of the project's original scope, I did a visual exploration of digital watch faces since many Buoy user won't have both hands available to operate the app.

Although they weren't a part of the project's original scope, I did a visual exploration of digital watch faces since many Buoy user won't have both hands available to operate the app.

Exhibition

To keep the exhibition wall interactive, I designed the space to display varying heights of floodlines and storm surges. Viewers could stand in front or against the wall to see much underwater they'd be during certain flood events.

To keep the exhibition wall interactive, I designed the space to display varying heights of floodlines and storm surges. Viewers could stand in front or against the wall to see much underwater they'd be during certain flood events.

Still lookin'?

:)

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© Ella Balhoff 2026