Emergency app UX/UI design: Hlomo
Hlomo was a concept for rethinking emergency response in South Africa through trusted community networks. Our founder co-founded it over seven months at Sammi Studio, handling strategy, UX/UI design and front-end development. The idea: one tap alerts neighbors and professional responders at the same time, through a calm, simple interface.
- Client
- Hlomo
- Category
- UX/UI & Product Design
- Timeframe
- 2022
- Role
- Co-founder, strategist, UX/UI designer and front-end developer
The situation
Calling for help shouldn’t need a manual, and the existing call center system is hard to navigate in a high-stress moment.
Vulnerable groups, including older people, refugees and people with disabilities, often struggle with jargon or poor network coverage. And people need to trust that an SOS will actually reach someone, fast.
What we built
- 01A single-tap SOSA bold button that works offline and confirms clearly once the alert is sent.
- 02An emergency circlePre-selected trusted contacts and organizations, set up before you ever need them.
- 03Dual notificationsNeighbors and responders alerted together, with clear icons and color cues.
- 04Cash and cashless optionsSo anyone can respond, whatever payment method they use.
What happened
The concept came from secondary research and empathy mapping, then went into Figma designs. It was never tested with real users, and we’re upfront about that.
When someone is panicking, fewer taps and clear feedback beat any clever feature. Offline fallbacks and retry cues aren’t extras. A calm palette and short words matter more than you’d think.
What we’d tell you
